first published December 3, 2009

When we think about plants that have deep historical significance on the Prairies, I’m certain that wheat, canola or forage grasses are at the top of most lists. But there’s one rather unorthodox plant that also deserves its place in Prairie history—the Christmas cactus.

The Christmas cactus?! Yes, I know that a plant indigenous to tropical climes seems an unlikely candidate to share a podium with wheat. But, then again, since Alberta’s first premier, Alexander Rutherford, loved Christmas cactus, it deserves honourable mention.

At the historic Rutherford House on the University of Alberta campus, cuttings from Premier Rutherford’s original 100-year-old Christmas cactus are still growing today.

Alberta’s first premier was a passionate naturalist. In fact, his passion for flora was instrumental in inspiring university students to plant trees, which are part of the verdant oases of American elms and other shade trees on campus today. And since Rutherford didn’t believe in sacrificing evergreen trees for Christmas, the cactus became his surrogate Christmas tree (and a self-decorating one when it bloomed on time).

Of course, the task of nurturing the 100-year-old cactus has long since passed from the family to the passionate staff at Rutherford House, who have taken cuttings numerous times when the plant has outgrown its pot. However, life hasn’t always been easy for this precious cactus. It’s had to endure the occasional dousing from visitors, who believed the poor cactus was in desperate need of a drink. Apparently, it’s also enjoyed the odd libation from time to time during the course of an evening event.

So, if Premier Rutherford’s cactus passion has inspired you to start your own heirloom houseplant, now is the perfect time. December is when they are in full bloom and available everywhere. Here’s what you need to know.

Watering
You’ll want to choose a healthy plant with a vigorous root system and keep it that way by avoiding the temptation to overwater. Christmas cacti are prone to crown rot if the soil surface stays consistently wet, so allowing the top 1–2 cm of soil to dry between each watering is really important. If possible, do not water from the top. Instead, place your potted cactus into a tray of water, and let the soil draw up its fill. However, remember to never let your Christmas cactus sit in the tray of water for more than an hour.

Getting blooms
It’s not usually hard to get a Christmas cactus to bloom, especially where we live. You can trigger the blossoms by providing cool, indoor night temperatures (12–14ºC) for a period of four to six weeks. Alternatively, 13–16 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day (which is easy to provide at this time of year) for two weeks will also set blooms. Remember, though, that Christmas cacti must receive plenty of sunlight during the day to have enough energy to produce flowers in the first place.

Once the blooms have set, don’t be tempted to move your cactus to a showier location or to rotate it too much. Because the buds turn towards the light, reorienting the plant can weaken bud necks and cause them to drop. Changes in the intensity and duration of light can also cause flowerbuds to drop.

Repotting
A Christmas cactus has a very fine root system, and can be grown in the same sized pot for years. However, the soil in that pot needs to be replaced every few seasons. This should be done after the plant has finished flowering.

There’s no denying that the Christmas cactus is a great holiday plant—even if you’re not ready to trade in your Christmas tree for one. And, although I concede that grains, oilseed plants and forage grasses helped build the Prairie provinces, the Christmas cactus most definitely deserves some recognition of its own. After all, I doubt there’s another plant that’s been subjected to (…er…I mean privy to) as many political discussions as Rutherford’s cactus.