The Easter cactus, whose botanical name is Hatiora gaertneri, is a very grateful and, above all, relatively undemanding houseplant. It grows in structured shoots and forms magnificent flowers in the months of March and April, around Easter time. It is no great art to actually make it bloom - provided, of course, that the location and care are right.
Art
Hatiora gaertneri, the Easter cactus, belongs to the cactus family. It originally comes from Brazil and is found there mainly in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Typically it grows in the wild, especially at higher altitudes from 350 to 1,300 meters. That may be one reason why it differs significantly from most other cactus species both in form and in demands. The plant is particularly popular with us because of its structured, lush green shoot segments and the magnificent, funnel-shaped flowers that usually develop in March and April and last for several weeks remain. The German doctor and botanist Karl F. Gaertner honored.
Note: The Easter cacti, which we cultivate as indoor plants, are usually special breeds or Varieties of Hatiora gaertneri that do not occur naturally in this way.
blossom
Similar to the so-called Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus is cultivated in our apartments mainly for its flowers. Often you are waiting for them to appear
Fertilize
Basically, cacti should only be thinned very sparingly. Of course, this also applies to the Easter cactus. It is best to use only cactus fertilizers from specialist retailers and administer them according to the dosage recommendations of the respective manufacturer. It is only allowed to fertilize in the period from April to September. Fertilizer sticks with long-term fertilizer are to be given preference over liquid fertilizers.
to water
The Easter cactus should only be watered very sparingly. Like all other cacti, it stores the water in the plant body and releases very little liquid on the way of evaporation via its shoots. Usually it is sufficient to water it about once a week. After watering, the water residue must be completely removed from the coaster. The basic rule is: The surface of the earth may dry out, but the soil should not dry out completely. It is also advisable to spray the Easter cactus once a month with slightly lukewarm water to remove dust. However, it must then be wiped dry with a cloth. Otherwise, the refraction of light in the tropics can lead to considerable burns on the drive links.
Plant substrate
- conventional potting soil
- sand
- volume
These three components are then thoroughly mixed together in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. The soil, sand and clay should be distributed as evenly as possible. In the plant pot, it is recommended to combine it with drainage made of stones or potsherds. It is important that the irrigation water can always drain off well and that there is no waterlogging.
Location
Cacti love the sun and can usually cope with permanent, direct sunlight without any problems. With the Easter cactus, however, it looks a little different. Sure, he too generally likes it warm and bright. The blazing midday sun, however, doesn't get him at all. Even a strong air flow is by no means his thing. The ideal location for Hatiora gaertneri should therefore meet the following requirements:
- bright, with morning and evening sun
- no direct midday sun
- protected from draft
- generally warm location
- enough space to unfold
The temperature at the chosen location should be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius from October to flowering. If the Easter cactus is placed on a window sill, there should always be a certain distance from the window pane. The pane of glass itself has a certain filter function in relation to the sun's rays. This function is reinforced with a little distance from the pane. In summer Hatiora gaertneri can also be placed on the balcony or in the garden. However, you should gradually get used to the new environment.
Tip: Initially only place the plant outdoors for a few hours during the day. After about a week, it can then be left outside permanently in summer.
Shortly before and during the flowering period, the location should not be changed under any circumstances. Moving the planter a little bit can lead to delayed flowering, not to happen at all or to a very short period of time. It is best to move the plant in this
Time not at all.Note: If the Easter cactus is outside during the summer, it has to go back into the sheltered house at the latest when the temperatures drop below ten degrees Celsius. The plant has practically no cold tolerance.
Overwinter
Hatiora gaertneri absolutely needs an extended rest period during the winter months. So it has to be overwintered. From the beginning of November it will therefore be moved to a location with less light. The temperature there should be in a range of ten to 15 degrees Celsius. The lower limit must not be undercut under any circumstances. The fertilization is completely stopped during this time. The watering must also be reduced considerably. The rest phase should definitely extend until mid-February.
Repot
If the Easter cactus becomes too big for its previous planter, it must be repotted. The repotting itself should always be done in early spring. Great care must be taken to avoid damaging the root system. When repotting, the entire plant substrate should also be renewed. In the first year after repotting, you can safely do without fertilizing.
Multiply
Hatiora gaertneri is extremely easy to propagate. One uses the principle of cuttings propagation. How to proceed specifically:
- Cut a ten to 15 centimeter long shoot from one or two limbs
- use a very sharp knife
- Avoid bruising at all costs
- put the offshoot in cactus growing medium
- Bring to a bright place
- Avoid direct sunlight
You can easily make the growing medium yourself by mixing potting soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 1. The substrate should always be kept moist, but under no circumstances should it be really wet. After around four to six weeks, the first new shoots should develop on the offshoot. Alternatively, the Easter cactus can also be grown from seeds that are available from specialist shops. They are simply placed on the moist, not wet substrate and then covered with a hood (greenhouse principle). After about three weeks, seedlings will develop. Once these have reached a size of two to three centimeters, the hood can be removed. The cactus offspring can then cope well with the normal room climate.
