I inherited an Easter cactus from my mother, that is a start from her grandmother's, that got smuggled here in a bottle from Sienna, Italy :)
It's enormous, but needs help. It's been in the same pot and the same soil for at least 40 years, and it's not nice soil, my guess is that it's a shovel full of regular old dirt. I have a lot of corky growth around the bottom, and the stalks? branches? are spaced out pretty widely...about 20 stems in a good sized pot--they're long and pretty, but there's a lot of bare soil. It did grow and bloom a little every year, but it just needs some help to be healthy. Any recommendations? Strictly for sentimental reasons, I really want it to be healthy and happy. I have a little experience with similar plants, I have a NOID epiphyllum and an Oxypetalum from the same Nonna, I've grown well for years, but mostly I'm a gesneriad person.
Any suggestions?
Repotting an Easter Cactus
Need more info. What kind of a pot is it in now? Is it hanging or on a stand? What size?
It's in a plastic pot, 14", kind of a low, wide dish-shaped thing. It has been on a stand, right now it's on a countertop till I decide what will be best for it.
The corky growth around the lower stems is normal, they like well draining soil but they like to be watered often. I am not sure about the fertilizing. I usually just give mine some regular stuff a couple of times a year but I have been lazy this year.
Sandy
I normally use Pro Mix Ultimate Container mixed with pine bark fines, and I'd add sand for this, does that sound reasonable?
How sensitive are these roots to being washed of the extremely cruddy soil? It's so clay-ey, I don't know how it survived!
Thank you all for your help~
I do not know as I have never tried. My late DGM has large ones that she used regular soil and feed with manure tea.
Sandy
I think that I would tie a long towel around the base of the plant, so that it is making contact with the bottom of the stems on the outside of them to use for holding the plant together and possibly supporting it during the move to another pot. (It is possible that there might be multiple plants in the pot, from multiple cuttings that were rooted) I would then cut the plastic pot(tin snips will cut plastic pots), gently removing it from around the plant. I would not worry too much about washing the roots, rather gently remove as much excess dirt as I could, then move (using additional people) to new pot. I would have the new dirt in the bottom of the pot to adjust plant height to match the pot and ground level needed. Once in the new pot, just add dirt around the root mass and on top, relying on gentle movement and pressure and watering to get the dirt into the right places.
The epis that I have transplanted have all had dense root masses, and did not seem to notice being transplanted, but they were much smaller plants than you describe. Also, I have only done a few.
Also, I have seen schlums with stems hanging down 6' or more, so I would suggest you seriously consider an investment in a quality hanging pot. Even if you set it back on the stand, continued growth suggests to me that a hanging pot will eventually be needed. If it is really longalready, you should get help during the move.
Clay seems to not have bothered it if it is doing OK and clay is also high on nutrients, so I would not worry too much about getting all of it out. Definitely add some pine bark fines to a quality mix. If you use sand, it should be coarse, sharp sand that has been washed thoroughly. Don't use the fine stuff that is sold for sand boxes or the stuff that is sold for construction. If you have to, you can filter sand to get course sand by washing it though some fiberglass window screen. The fine sand washes through while the coarser particles are retained. I like to sift my pine park through hardware cloth, which comes in two sizes, 1/4 and 1/2" openings. The stuff that fits thru 1/2" but not thru 1/4" is what I like for potting mix.
Go easy on the watering for a month or so after the move - you want any root wounds to heal and avoid rot.
Just my opinion but I hope it helps.
East Cactus Enthusiast: I have one Red Easter Cactus with a Aster like bloom. I would love to trade with others who might have other colors of Easter Castus. bob
give me a couple of months to get mine back in shape and I will be glad to send you some,.
Sandy
Thank you everyone for your help...Krowten, the towel idea worked very well in transferring the plant, it looked a little pouty for a couple of days, but now looks happier than it did before it was repotted. The new pot doesn't hang, but it's on a tall stand so the branches can drape naturally, but still get light.
Glad it worked out. You'll have to post a pic sometime.