Crazy Cactus

Linn County Master Gardener, Lisa Slattery, shares tips on caring for houseplants during the winter:

      I have this crazy Christmas cactus that had over 100 blossoms on it for a spectacular show at Thanksgiving. It was gorgeous. Guess what? That crazy plant is about to bloom again! This time I only count about 20 buds, but it's a nice surprise, especially when it's cold and snowy outside. So what's going on here? It's a perfect example of how sometimes, despite your best intentions as a gardener, your plant won't necessarily do what the garden books say it will do.

    Even though the holiday cactus is a specific type of houseplant, all houseplants can get stressed out over winter. So, plan to take a few extra steps to ensure that your plants (and you) will survive and be ready to enjoy warmer weather soon.

     Humidity is the one thing our Iowa winter homes lack and it's important for plants. Run a humidifier if you have one. You can also group plants together to raise humidity in the area of the plants. Another option is to use a pebble tray. Place potted plants on top of a tray (a cookie sheet will work) full of pebbles and water. Keep the plant roots out of the water. Misting isn't an option because it can actually dry out the plants more quickly.

    To compensate for lower winter light levels, move houseplants closer to windows but don't let the foliage touch the cold window. Be sure to rotate your plant regularly. You can also invest in special grow lights but it's not necessary.

    Don't bother fertilizing in the winter since plants are in a resting period and don't grow much. You can start fertilizing again in April when the days get longer.

     Houseplants prefer typical inside temperatures ranging from 55 to 70 degrees. Make sure your plants aren't located in cold drafts from windows or doors, they won't like it. Lastly, water when soil is dry to the touch. Too much or too little water can stress out your houseplants.

I'll keep you posted on my crazy cactus. Hopefully the rest of my plants will rest happily for the duration of the winter and be as beautiful as the crazy one come spring.