BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter December 2006 - A day at the fair

A month or two ago I was at a church fair and as so often happens I found myself browsing through the book stall. A small book about growing indoor plants caught my eye and and my interest increased when I saw it was written by Vera Higgins. Mrs Higgins, who died in 1968, was a highly regarded grower of succulent plants as well as a writer and translator and was President of the then National Cactus and Succulent Society and also the GB Society. Crassulas were one of her special interests and and in 1964 she wrote what was the only book dedicated to that genus until Gordon Rowley’s book (right) came out in 2003. Gordon’s book is, in fact, dedicated to Vera.

However, I’m digressing; the fact is the book I found had very little on succulent plants and I wasn’t too impressed with it and I decided I had no room for it so, with a final flip through the pages, I went to put it down. As I did so a rather yellowed newspaper clipping fell out. It was a reader’s query to a gardening section, a perennial frequently asked question so I thought I would reproduce it below in case anyone has Christmas cactus problems (like me).

"Can you tell me how I should treat my Christmas cactus to ensure that it flowers next year?" - A.C., NORTHFIELD.
[Northfield, where Mr or Ms A. C. lived is either close the Moray Firth, near Aberdeen, in the Scottish Borders or in the East Midlands, take your pick]

Although this plant is a true cactus, it is not an inhabitant of dry deserts. Therefore it needs different treatment from the usual run of cacti. While it continues in flower, keep it well watered. But as soon as the flowers have faded, reduce the water gradually and stand the pot in a cool airy place. This is a good time to repot if necessary. But it flowers better if the roots are restricted. During the summer it may stand outside out of direct sunlight. Water sparingly, and give an occasional liquid feed. Towards the end of the summer put it in a warm greenhouse or room, and give little water until the flower buds can be seen. Then the water supply should be increased and the plant given a liquid feed every week.

Alasdair, and the gardening correspondent of an unknown newspaper.