Schlumbergera kautskyi – Cactus Plant

Schlumbergera kautskyi is the most popular houseplant also known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus. It has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic organs. The stems are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have “teeth” of varying shapes along their edges and at the ends, which are truncated rather than pointed. The areoles, which have brown wool and short bristles, are where the flower buds appear.

It produces gorgeous purple flowers that are usually held slightly above the horizontal with the higher side different from the lower side. The fruits are four-angled, yellow-green in color with red tones and contains about 150 dark brown or black seeds.

Scientific classification:

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Schlumbergera
Species: S. kautskyi
Scientific Name: Schlumbergera kautskyi

How to care and grow Schlumbergera kautskyi ?

Light:

It thrives best in the bright, but indirect light. Direct sunlight should be avoided, as it can cause brown spots.

Soil:

It prefers to grow in neutral, Well-drained soil. Use a mixture of 1 part potting soil and 1 part fine-grade fir bark.

Temperature:

To set flower buds, the plant needs cool 60-65°F/16-18°C days and 45°F-55°F/7-13°C nights. Once buds set, 70°F-75°F/21-24°C days and 60°F-70°F/16-21°C nights. Plant death can occur at below 50°F (10°C).

Water:

Water regularly, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. After flowering, water sparingly until new growth begins in spring.

Fertilizer:

Fertilize every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. After blooms have dropped, stop fertilizing for a month.

Propagation:

Schlumbergera kautskyi can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Take stem cuttings from one to four segments. Allow the cut ends to dry for 24 hours before placing upright in moist perlite. Rooting occurs between 3-4 weeks. It is rarely propagated by seed, sow seeds in the spring.

Repotting:

Re-pot every year or every 2 years in the mid-summer. Never re-pot during the bloom or following resting period. Re-pot by removing only the loose soil around the roots. Transfer immediately to a wider pot.

Pests and Diseases:

It has no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus. Add an insecticide to the water 2 to 3 times a year to combat pests as well as a systemic fungicide to prevent the orange and brown spotting that sometimes affects them.