TERRIE’S CHRISTMAS CACTUS
Among the many flowers in Terrie’s gardens and porch plants is her Christmas cactus. Every year right on time they put on a glorious display of color. It’s amazing how precisely timed they usually are. She keeps hers on our screened porch and in shade outside.
These originally came from the coastal southeastern mountainous region of Brazil. There they grow on trees or rocks in shady locations with high humidity. There are between six and nine species there and they can grow to four feet high. They were cultivated in Europe as early as 1818. By the 1860’s some hybrids were developed that became popular as house plants. They can easily live 20-30 years and even in some cases as long as 100 years or more! The blooms last six to eight weeks.
As far back as I can remember in our married lives Terrie has had a Christmas cactus. Her mother, Tabitha Cox, kept them, too.
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