House pests

Christmas Cactus

There are 3 types of remarkably similar cacti called Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. What separates them are the blooming times.

Thanksgiving Cactus


The Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti need around 6 weeks of short days to initiate blooming. The Easter cacti need 8 to 12 weeks of short days required for blooming.

Christmas Cactus


There is a difference in their leaves also. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncate) have claw-shaped segments and the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) have rounded segments.
The flowers are different on the Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) are larger and daisy-like.

Easter Cactus


If your plants are dropping buds, I can be due moving the plant to another location changing light conditions. The plant due best being root-bound. If the plants turn reddish, the problem is usually too much sun or lack of water (do not overwater, have good drainage).

Pruned Christmas Cactus
House Plants

Pointsettia Plant

The most popular houseplant for the bringing in of Christmas is the poinsettia plant. The plant comes from the tropics so that should tell you it needs some warmth. The most common mistake is when you buy one and transport it to the car and back in your home, it might get chilled. Then that is when all the colorful bracts (top leaves) fall off soon.

After you get it home, remove the foil around the pot so excess water drains away. Place the poinsettia in an east window or south window (careful the light is not too intense). Keep away from touching cold windows or drafts from opening outside doors. Let the top of the soil dry until watering and mist daily.

The plant should retain its color until late spring. Then I throw the plant away. If you want to be challenged, cut back the stems, and move outside in the summer to a light shady area keeping watering and fertilizing. Keep pinching new stems back preventing the poinsettia from getting too big. Bring indoors in late summer. Keep the plant in total darkness from 5 PM to 8 AM starting October 1 until the last of November.

Plants are native to Central America to southern Mexico. Joel Pionsett a French physician discovered these plants and took them back to Europe. The plant has been hybridized to the many colors you see in today’s market beyond the typical dark red.

Is the poinsettia poisonous? The milky sap makes the plant bitter, deterring pests. If you eat the leaves anyway, a dog or cat eats some leaves they will become nauseated and throw up. It is still best to keep the plant away from pets and kids. Two seasonal plants that are toxic are the amaryllis and holly berries.

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House Plants

Air Plant

If you can not grow any plant indoors, try an air plant. The varieties come in many foliage colors, textures, sizes (2” to 12” tall), and flower colors. They absorb moisture and nutrients from the air through their leaves. This makes them a good air purifier for your home.


There are over 600 species found in the United States to the southern tip of South America. Their roots allow the plant to cling to rocks or trees feeding on the humidity of the forest and bird poop. As a houseplant, you can remove the roots if you do not want them to cling to something.


You will notice your air plant blooming once during its lifecycle. The plant will set out offshoots as more plants around the base of the parent. As these bloom, more and more plants form increasing the size of the plants.


You need to know a few growing tips. Do not plant in the soil as they will rot but they do need moisture. Mist them a couple times a week or submerge them into water once a week. Feed them once a month by dunking them into the water with a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro. As for light, 6 hours of bright light will meet their needs.


Near a bathroom window is good because they can get light and get the humidity of the shower. For these reasons, kitchen windows work well also.