Zygocactus
In the winter, nights get longer and days get shorter, signaling the nearing holidays and the season of hibernation for plants and people alike. During those tough winter days we are motivated to remember some of the joys that certain plants have to offer us. It’s here where we revel in the excitement of a Zygo cactus bloom. When Christmas cactus buds begin to form, they first appear as minor beadlets developing at the ends of their swooping cacti stems.
Zygo Cacti are also more commonly known as Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving cactus. It’s an easy name to remember since it references their reputable and uncommon bloom time. These house plants perform their flower show in the dead of winter when we all need it most. Holiday cactus are triggered to bloom by cooler temperatures and longer periods of darkness, in fact, they require it. They need at least 6 weeks of short days and an uninterrupted 13 to 14 hour nights to know it’s their time to take the stage. Some people have forced blooms on theirs by simulating these 13 hours of darkness by putting them in a cool closet (because remember they like cooler temperatures too) and then placing them near a bright window for the remaining hours of the day. But this isn’t necessary if you are content with your plant’s natural cycle, especially since on occasion you can get a second push of blooms in January or February!
Ideally, you have found a comfortable home for them where they get what they need without a change to their surroundings, because these guys don’t like moving around much. This becomes especially true if they are working on developing their flowers. A move during this period could risk your blooms for the year and certainly isn’t worth it. They prefer indirect light, and regular waterings when their soil dries. This ends up being approximately 3 times a month depending on soil type and environmental conditions. Feel free to pot them up in normal potting soil or cactus mix, they will be happy in both! But don’t think it’s necessary to up-pot them frequently, they love a tight squeeze and will thrive in the same pot for many years with just as many blooms, if not more!
There is some debate as to the variations between Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter cacti, and whether there are any at all. The answer is, there is a difference! Oftentimes their common names are thrown around almost interchangeably, but if you want to get technical, there are distinguishing features to help you identify which is which. The most prominent lay in the stem structures that are demonstrated in the photo to the right. And in the case of Easter cactus, they additionally can use a couple of extra hours of dark to motivate their blooms. So, when you’re inevitably trapped in a rigorous debate about these Zygos, you’ll be fully prepared with a visual aid to get you the win.
