The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), also referred to as the Thanksgiving cactus, is an epiphytic succulent cactus that can survive in plant hardiness zone 9 of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Christmas cactus, a seasonal favorite, has trumpet-shaped flowers with white, orange, pink, or red petals that are naturally pollinated by birds but can also be done by hand. Even though certain Christmas cacti kinds are self-fertile, hand-pollination will produce more diverse offspring. For successful pollination, you will need a minimum of two Christmas cacti, ideally of different hues.
The stigma and the anther are the two reproductive components that may be seen on flowers. A Christmas cactus’ scarlet stigma sticks out from the middle of the blossom. The stigma is situated adjacent to the pollen-coated anther, which is affixed to the end of a different tube known as a filament.
The day after the flower opens, gently rub one Christmas cactus’ anther with a cotton swab. Verify if some pollen has stuck to the cotton swab. On the second Christmas cactus, rub the stigma’s sticky top with the pollen.
Cacti self-pollinate, right?
There is no need for even two blossoms if a species is self-fertile. Some plants may self-pollinate on their own without any help, while others require an intermediary to move pollen from the anthers to the stigma. For instance, even if only one flower opens at a time, my Echinopsis ancistrophora always sets seed when it blooms outdoors because hover flies visit it. When I took it indoors to bloom, it occasionally failed to produce pollen (and the flowers lasted longer).
Can a cactus be pollinated by its own pollen?
Because cactus blossoms don’t persist long, wind or insect pollination is more challenging. Cacti are unable to produce fruits and seeds without pollination. When you self-pollinate cacti, you have complete control over the outcome, whether you’re aiming to develop a novel hybrid or develop a particular cactus variety. Hand pollination is the only way to guarantee that the two types you are attempting to cross pollinate, as hybrid pollination does not always result in the production of viable seeds.
Once flowers start to develop, put your two cactus plants next to one another. You can try to create a hybrid with the same type of cactus or with two different types by crossing them. Choose which plants you want to pollinate if the cacti are outside. Although more pollen can be transported when the plants are close to one another, this is not necessary.
To get ready, soak your brushes in rubbing alcohol to get rid of any filth or bacteria, then let them air dry.
Check your flowers every day for pollen. The stamens, which are frequently fluffy threads encircling the part of the flower where the stigma are located, are where pollen grows. The flower’s petals show a thin dusting of pollen.
The second cactus flower’s stigma should be painted with pollen. The stigma, which resembles tiny fingers in appearance, are thicker than the stamens. In order to help them capture the pollen, the tops are typically slightly open and sticky. Wait another day before attempting to pollinate if the stigma tops are not yet open to give them time to do so.
Wait for the brush to dry after cleaning it. The second cactus bloom should be used to complete the process, with the pollen being applied to the stigma of the first cactus after dusting the stamens for pollen.
Nylon stockings should be placed over both cacti to stop pollination by other cactus plants. Only if you want to try and influence the kind of seed the plants produce is this important. If your primary objective is to induce the cactus to produce fruit or seeds, keep the plants exposed to attract insects and wind, which will aid in additional pollination.
How is a Christmas cactus cross-pollinated?
Growing seeds from your own plants is usually a lot of fun, and right now, during the winter, your Schlumbergera cacti, sometimes referred to as holiday, Christmas, or Thanksgiving cactus, may be in full bloom.
It’s the ideal time to have fun pollinating the flowers on your Schlumbergera cactus while they are all gorgeously flowering to see if you can get seeds. The process of pollinating the flowers is really simple, and I’ve included a few films I’ve created for my Cacti & Succulent You Tube channel called Desert Plants of Avalon where I demonstrate the process in detail.
All you need is a Schlumbergera cactus that is in bloom, preferably with at least two flowers on it. In my personal experience, I have always found it more successful to cross pollinate the flowers on the same plant or if you have two different Schlumbergera that are flowering at the same time, for example, a red flowering one and a pink flowering one.
Although I have had wonderful luck pollinating Schlumbergera blossoms and have typically had seed when I have done so, I have discovered that many of my more recent Schlumbergera purchases have not been successful in producing fruit and seeds for me. I’ve heard that some of the more recent hybrids on the market are more difficult to pollinate for seed, but I don’t yet have enough proof to support that. Please let me know if you have had success pollinating the flowers on the more recent Schlumbergera hybrids that are currently available.
If you have only one flower, it is best to take the pollen from that flower and gently dab it onto the stigma of the other flower or flowers. If you have more than one flower, it is best to take the pollen from the one flower and gently dab it onto the stigma of the other flower or flowers. All you need to do is use a clean, tiny brush, such as a tiny paintbrush, lip brush, or q tip cotton bud, and load the pollen from the flower.
Here is a picture of one of my Schlumbergeras, Schlumbergera ‘Golden Charm,’ in bloom with the bright pink stigma hanging out. The stigma is the portion of the flower that hangs out almost like a tongue, hehe. Hopefully, this will demonstrate what the stigma looks like.
Here is a step-by-step video I prepared on how to pollinate Schlumbergera Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus flowers for my cactus and succulent You Tube channel, Desert Plants of Avalon:
Simply dab the pollen from the one flower or flowers from one Schlumbergera cactus onto the other stigma on the other cactus flower if you wish to cross-pollinate two distinct flowering Schlumbergera cacti, such as a white one crossed with a red, pink, or orange one.
Here is a video I made on how to cross-pollinate Schlumbergera cactus blooms for my Desert Plants of Avalon You Tube channel:
If pollination was successful, the base of the flower where it emerges from the end of the leaf segment will start to swell up and turn a darker green color within a few days. If not, the blooms will naturally begin to droop and dry up before falling off ( see photo below )
The fruit may not fully mature for several weeks, months, or even a whole year. When the fruit is ready to be harvested for its seeds, the fruit pod will typically become very soft and frequently turn a dark crimson color, resembling a delicious tiny berry.
Here is a video I made on how to determine whether your Schlumbergera flowers have been pollinated for my Cacti & Succulent You Tube channel, Desert Plants of Avalon:
Here is a video I made on how to harvest Schlumbergera fruit to collect seeds for my Cacti & Succulent You Tube channel, Desert Plants of Avalon:
Once the seeds have been harvested, it is time to sow them. Growing these plants from seeds rather than cuttings takes much more time, but it is also far more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Cacti can be grown from seed in a variety of ways, but I prefer to grow my seeds in pots that are then put into “baggies.” This keeps the seeds and young seedlings moist at all times without having to worry about the soil drying up. Depending on their size, I remove them from the clear bags in around 3 to 6 months and treat them like young seedlings, ensuring sure the soil is always moist but not waterlogged.
All cacti seeds should be sown in the spring, but if you have grow lights and additional warmth, you can start sowing them at any time of the year.
Here is a video I prepared on how to grow cacti from seed for my cacti and succulent YouTube channel, Desert Plants of Avalon, which features Schlumbergera and other varieties of cacti:
Good luck pollinating your Schlumbergera cactus blossoms, and please let me know if you are successful in growing these stunning cacti from seed in the comments section below.
Here is a video I prepared for my Cacti & Succulent You Tube channel, Desert Plants of Avalon, detailing the progress of the Schlumbergera Christmas Cactus seedlings I started from seed in June 2018.
Happy Sowing and Growing Guys, and loads of love and plant power from around the Emerald Isle.
Will a Christmas cactus naturally bloom?
Give your loved ones a gift they will cherish for years to come, season after season. This lovely zygocactus, sometimes known as a Christmas cactus, is available in cheery hues and sizes. Watters Christmas Cactus is a lovely flowering plant for the holiday season with a swirl of hues in shades of golden, pink, red, and white. Just in time for the Christmas celebrations, our head grower has a keen sense of color. The vibrant colors that these blossoms offer will delight you.
You might believe that a cactus would make a unique Christmas plant. In the middle of winter, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgessii) is a most welcome sight when it is covered in blossoms.
Your Christmas cactus will bloom on its own with very little maintenance. It might not, though, bloom in time for the holidays. You must force your plant into dormancy around 8 weeks before you want flowers if you want it to be fully displayed throughout the holiday season. Although it seems difficult, it really doesn’t take much work. Remembering to do it is the most difficult part.
GETTING YOUR CHRISTMAS CACTUS TO BLOOM
You’ll probably need to encourage your Christmas cactus out of dormancy and force it to bloom in order to have it blossom at Christmas.
Reduce watering by mid-October. Just water when the ground feels dry, which is usually about an inch below the surface. When forcing, avoid fertilizing.
Maximum Light
Reduce the quantity of light the plant receives gradually. The plant can continue to get indirect sunlight throughout the day, but at least 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness are required for the flower buds to open at night. (If the temperature in the room is higher than the recommended 50 to 55 F, add a few more hours of darkness each day.) Your Christmas cactus should be placed in a closet or room with a door that is kept closed at night. You will also need to take the extra precaution of covering the plant with a dark cloth or bag if light leaks in from under the door. Keep doing this treatment for six to eight weeks. You ought to then notice flower buds forming on the stems.
Once you spot blossom buds, take your Christmas cactus out of the shadows and place it close to a bright window. Make sure it is not near any drafts or it will lose its buds due to the cold.
Within a few weeks, the flowers ought to begin to open. The plant should continue to bloom for four to six weeks, and each blossom should remain open for at least six days, if not longer.
GROWING TIPS
The Christmas cactus is a native of tropical rainforests, in contrast to the desert-loving cacti that many of us are accustomed to, and it need frequent water to stay healthy.
Grow your Christmas cactus as a hanging plant or set it somewhere with space for it to dangle to stimulate new stems. Don’t be concerned about bumping into it. The plants of the Christmas cactus lack thorns.
- Although Christmas cacti have been known to bloom lavishly when placed in a bright, frosty window, they prefer diffused light. They can easily adjust to changing growing environments.
- Water the plant well, letting the extra liquid drain through the drainage hole. Between waterings, let the soil almost fully dry out. Never allow moist soil to stand. When the leaves begin to pucker and shrivel, the soil is too dry.
- The Christmas cactus also requires humidity, especially in the dry conditions of warm dwellings. Either spray the plant or set a tray of stones in water underneath it. The water should not come in contact with the pot’s bottom.
- Feed Watters Root & Grow at half the suggested strength once a month as fertilizer. When the buds form, withhold this cactus feeding; continue it after flowering.
- The Christmas cactus doesn’t care too much about the temperature. They prefer temperatures between 70 and 80 F. 55 to 65 F during the growing season and during setting buds.
OTHER TIPS
- Avoid opening doors frequently and drafty windows. They dislike rapid drafts and, if exposed to them, will shed their buds or flowers.
- After flowering, minor pruning gives the plant new life.
- If Christmas cacti are maintained slightly pot confined, they tend to bloom better.
- If your Christmas cactus blooms occasionally throughout the year, don’t be shocked. That’s what a joyful Christmas cactus does.
- This plant has an incredibly long lifespan and is simple to grow from cuttings.
- Older plants bloom even more frequently than young Christmas Cacti do.
- Neglect seems to be beneficial for Christmas cacti. Avoid the urge to fuss over them.