Table of contents
- kind
- blossom
- Fertilize
- Pour
- plant substrate
- Location
- hibernate
- repot
- multiply
The Easter cactus, whose botanical name is Hatiora gaertneri, is a very grateful and, above all, relatively undemanding houseplant. It grows in branched shoots and develops magnificent flowers in the months of March and April, i.e. around the time of Easter. Actually getting it to bloom is not a great art - always provided, of course, that the location and care are right.
kind
Hatiora gaertneri, the Easter cactus, belongs to the cactus family. It originally comes from Brazil and is mainly found in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. It typically grows in the wild, especially at higher altitudes of 350 to 1,300 meters. That may be one reason why it differs significantly from most other types of cactus, both in terms of shape and requirements. The plant is popular with us mainly because of its articulated, lush green shoot segments and the magnificent, funnel-shaped flowers, which develop mostly in March and April and last several weeks remain. With his botanical name, the German doctor and botanist Karl F. Gardener honored.
A notice:
The Easter cacti that we cultivate as houseplants are usually special breeds or varieties. Varieties of Hatiora gaertneri that do not occur in the wild.
blossom
Similar to the so-called Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus is cultivated in our homes primarily for its flowers. There is often a long wait for them to form around Easter time. The plant usually blooms in March and April. However, for this to actually be the case, the site conditions and care must be right. In addition, the plant must have had a sufficiently long rest period. If these factors are not or not sufficiently taken into account, there can be considerable delays in flowering. Often it is then completely absent.
Fertilize
Cacti should always be used very sparingly. Of course, this also applies to the Easter cactus. It is best to only use cactus fertilizer from specialist shops and administer it according to the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Fertilization may only be carried out between April and September. Fertilizer sticks with long-term fertilizer should be given preference over liquid fertilizer.
Pour
The Easter cactus should only be watered very sparingly. Like all other cacti, it stores the water in the body of the plant and only releases very little liquid on the way to evaporation via its drive members. As a rule, it is sufficient to water it about once a week. After watering, the water residues must be completely removed from the saucer. The following applies in principle: The surface of the earth may dry out, but the soil should not dry out completely. Incidentally, it is also recommended to spray the Easter cactus with slightly lukewarm water once a month to remove dust. However, it must then be wiped dry with a cloth. Otherwise, the light refraction of the water droplets can lead to serious burns on the drive links.
plant substrate
Hatiora gaertneri thrives best in loose, permeable cactus soil. You can either get these ready-mixed from specialist retailers or prepare them yourself at home. For this you need:
- conventional potting soil
- sand
- volume
These three components are then thoroughly blended together in a 2:1:1 ratio. The soil, sand and clay should be distributed as evenly as possible. In the plant pot, the combination with a drainage made of stones or potsherds is recommended. 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, things are a bit different. Sure, he also likes it basically warm and bright. The blazing midday sun, on the other hand, does not suit him at all. Even a strong air flow is not his thing at all. The ideal location for Hatiora gaertneri should therefore meet the following requirements:
- bright, with morning and evening sun
- no direct midday sun
- protected against penetration
- generally warm location
- enough space to develop
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 windowsill, there should always be a certain distance to the window pane. The pane of glass itself has a certain filter function in relation to the sun's rays. With a little distance to the pane, this function is even stronger. In summer, Hatiora gaertneri can also be placed on the balcony or in the garden. However, you should gradually get him used to his new environment.
Tip:
Initially place the plant outdoors for just a few hours a day during the day. After about a week, it can then remain outside permanently in the summer.
The location should not be changed shortly before and during the flowering period. Even the slightest movement of the plant pot can, under certain circumstances, lead to flowering being delayed, not occurring at all, or only being for a very short time. It is best not to move the plant at all during this time.
A notice:
If the Easter cactus is outside during the summer, it has to be brought back into the sheltered house at the latest when the temperature falls below the ten degree Celsius mark. The plant has practically no cold tolerance.
hibernate
Hatiora gaertneri absolutely needs an extended period of rest 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 fallen below under any circumstances. Fertilization is completely stopped during this time. The watering must also be reduced considerably. The dormant phase should definitely last until mid-February.
repot
If the Easter cactus is 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 damage to 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. The principle of cutting propagation is used. Here's how to do it:
- cut a ten to six inch long shoot from one or two members
- use a very sharp knife
- Absolutely avoid crushing
- put the offshoot in cactus growing substrate
- put in a bright place
- avoid direct sunlight
The growing medium is easy to make 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 form on the offshoot. Alternatively, the Easter cactus can also be grown from seeds that are available in specialist shops. They are simply placed on the damp, not wet, substrate and then covered with a hood (greenhouse principle). After about three weeks, seedlings will form. If these have reached a size of two to three centimetres, the hood can be removed. The cactus offspring will then already be able to cope well with the normal room climate.
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