Christmas cactus is in season

Q. What makes a Christmas cactus bloom?

A. Holiday cactuses add some bright Christmas cheer to the holiday season and a pop of color as our Midwest winter sets in. Many of us buy a Christmas cactus in full bloom around Thanksgiving and think we've bought a Christmas cactus. It is likely that you've bought a Thanksgiving cactus. Either way, they can both produce a beautiful display of flowers if cared for properly.

The difference between the two can be seen in their leaf structure and pollen color. The Thanksgiving cactus, known by its botanical name, Schlumbergera truncata, has a leaf structure made up of pointed teeth along its edges while the Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera buckleyi, displays a smooth sided leaf structure. Additionally, the Thanksgiving cactus produces pollen which is yellow while the Christmas cactus will display bright pink pollen.

With some care, Christmas cactuses are designed to bloom every year around the holidays. To ensure that yours blooms, keep these helpful hints in mind.

• Watch your light exposure. This cactus is considered a "short day" plant, which means it blooms best when given no more than 8 to 11 hours of light each day. Be sure your cactus is not subject to a lot of indoor and/or streetlight exposure at night.

• Water weekly. While these beautiful plants come from the cactuses family, they do not like extremely dry soil. Water plants weekly as you notice the top inch of soil is drying out.

• Control their environment. They also flower best when exposed to cool temperatures between 60 and 68 degrees.

• Fertilize. Consider fertilizing in April and October with your choice of houseplant fertilizer. There is a wives' tale that suggests that holiday cactuses love a small amount of coffee. I haven't tested that theory yet.

It's also important to note that once the buds begin to form and your plant prepares to bloom, you handle it with much care. Once buds begin to swell, cut back a bit on your watering. Allowing your plant to dry out during bud formation should result in more vibrant blooms. Also, while buds are forming, do not move your plant. Give the buds time to form, swell and begin to bloom. Once your plant blooms and shows off its vibrant burst of color, you can move it but be sure to put it on display where it will be showered with bright, indirect light. It's time to enjoy your Christmas cactus in all its glory.

As your flowers fade, continue to care for your plant, watering it weekly as the top layer of soil dries. Your ongoing care will result in colorful blooms year after year. As spring rolls around, give your cactus a boost of houseplant fertilizer. When summer makes its arrival, perform some light pruning. Just trim off a section or two from each stem with your fingers or garden scissors. This will encourage strong stem growth and hopefully more flowers next season. Once summer evening temperatures are above 50, set your cactus outside in a shady spot for some fresh air. Our long summer nights and the cooler temperatures during late summer will foster flower development. However, as fall nears, be sure to bring your plant inside once the temperatures start to drop below 50 degrees. And then, as winter once again sets in, get ready to enjoy the flurry of vibrant flowers your plant produces to welcome in the next holiday season.

­ - Wendy Reiner

Q. What kind of live tree is best for Christmas?"

A. Once you've decided on a live tree, you need to turn your attention to the size of the tree. Outdoors, 7 feet may not seem like much. Indoors, with the added height of the stand and the top ornament, you may need to cut a hole in the ceiling to accommodate it. Width too is an issue so take a tape measure with you to the tree lot.

There are three options to purchase trees in the Chicago area: tree lots, tree farms and home delivery. Tree lots can be found at most big box stores and independent operators around town. Our family has purchased trees from the same grower, who comes down from Wisconsin to Bartlett, for close to three decades. When you find a good lot, stick with it.

Tree farms are located mainly in the collar county suburbs. Be sure to dress warmly as some hiking around will be necessary. Lastly, ordering by mail or online is clean and neat, but adds time to the process and takes the fun out of picking out your own tree.

Common trees locally are Fraser, Noble and Douglas firs; White pines, balsams, and Scotch pines. Firs and balsams have strong branches that will hold ornaments nicely, while White pines have a beautiful, soft look to them but they can shred those mouth-blown ornaments. Firs can be very dense and difficult to get ornaments into. Scotch pines are getting difficult to find as they have had cultivation issues the last number of years. Ornament support and placement is about the only practical difference in trees. All trees will hold their needles well if kept watered, Fraser fir in particular. Keep trees well-watered to reduce any fire hazard.

Once you're home, set up the stand and fill it partway with water. Premixed preservative solutions, or home remedies may do some good, but the most critical thing is don't let the tree dry out. A fresh cut of 1 inch off the bottom should be done within several hours before you set the tree in the stand. A tree will take up a lot of water the first few days and then taper off. Be sure to have the stand reservoir clean. Bacteria form clogs in the trunk like in cut flowers. A tablespoon or two of bleach in the water will prevent that. Just remember it will also bleach out the Oriental rug underneath the stand if you splash it about.

Christmas trees grow about 6 inches a year, so a 7-foot tree represents about 15 years of time invested by the grower. Expect to pay about $10 a foot for a quality tree. Trees can also be had for less. Just remember, it's one and done. All the trees available are here the day after Thanksgiving. Bargains can be had and if the tree is going to be in a corner or against a wall, it doesn't need to have four perfect sides.

Be sure to place the tree away from heat vents (or cover the one next to it) and fireplaces. It's always a good idea to put a waterproof mat down under the stand to guard against spills and catch any sap that may drip.

More than 30 million live trees will be sold this year in America. Please be sure to discard of your tree responsibly. When recycling trees, always be sure to remove any lights off the tree. Trees can be turned into mulch or serve as habitat, both for birds in the garden or fish in the pond.

Selecting a tree can be a wonderful family Christmas tradition, give your home that incomparable Northwood scent for a few weeks in the middle of winter, and then recycle it.

- Matt Steichmann

• Provided by Master gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines. Call (847) 298-3502 or email northcookmg@gmail.com.