Home for Christmas
Right on schedule…
Our Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana) always delights. Here it is this year.
On our covered patio, it began blooming in early December. We feed it two times in November with a high phosphorus water soluble fertilizer. Pruning is minimal and done in late spring.
Christmas cactus is native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil. Being south of the equator, It blooms six months later there. It’s not a Christmas cactus in Brazil.
We do not normally endorse commercial products. This is an exception. Our plant food is shown. We have super blooms with it. Why? Probably due to the high percentage of phosphorus: 55%. It is the middle of the the 12-55-6 numbers on the label. We feed all of our flowering plants with it.
We have no affiliation with the company.
By law, all fertilizer must list the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in that order.
Nitrogen is for green growth. It makes “green,” green. It is as important to the chlorophyl in plants as iron is to our blood.
Phosphorus promotes root growth and flowers.
Potassium is for overall health. It builds strong cell walls.
In the last few decades the EPA has discouraged the use of phosphorus. Runoff into streams and lakes possibly causing “eutrophication,” excessive algae growth.
Today, most lawn foods have no phosporus.
Phosphorus makes up about 1% of your body. It is in your bones and teeth and DNA. We all must have phosphorus.
Our Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana) always delights. Here it is this year.
On our covered patio, it began blooming in early December. We feed it two times in November with a high phosphorus water soluble fertilizer. Pruning is minimal and done in late spring.
Christmas cactus is native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil. Being south of the equator, It blooms six months later there. It’s not a Christmas cactus in Brazil.
We do not normally endorse commercial products. This is an exception. Our plant food is shown. We have super blooms with it. Why? Probably due to the high percentage of phosphorus: 55%. It is the middle of the the 12-55-6 numbers on the label. We feed all of our flowering plants with it.
We have no affiliation with the company.
By law, all fertilizer must list the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in that order.
Nitrogen is for green growth. It makes “green,” green. It is as important to the chlorophyl in plants as iron is to our blood.
Phosphorus promotes root growth and flowers.
Potassium is for overall health. It builds strong cell walls.
In the last few decades the EPA has discouraged the use of phosphorus. Runoff into streams and lakes possibly causing “eutrophication,” excessive algae growth.
Today, most lawn foods have no phosporus.
Phosphorus makes up about 1% of your body. It is in your bones and teeth and DNA. We all must have phosphorus.
Flowers need phosphorus.
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