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The Grandmother Plants
Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus' claim to fame sometimes is the fact that they can, and have, been passed down generation to generation. It is not unusual at all for someone to have one that belonged to their grandmother or great-grandmother, hence the term "grandmother plant." Since Christmas cactus are among the easiest of the winter blooming houseplants to divide and share, the reputation is well deserved. Although classified as a tropical plant, it is an extremely easy, but beautiful and showy plant with which to begin if you are a novice gardener. With bright pink, red or pale whitish pink blooms, they are a rare treat during a cold, dark winter which may be why they remain so popular.
Although called Christmas cactus, in reality they are in the zygocactus family and many of them bloom for Thanksgiving. Vic often says that they should be called Thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus. There is a true Christmas cactus, genus schlumbergera, which only comes in red and is not generally available.
The trick to making a Christmas cactus bloom is the same thing as with a poinsettia- natural daylight. From September 25th on make certain that the plant is exposed only to natural daylight, receiving no artificial light from indoor lamps in the evenings. You'll want to be sure it receives approximately 12-14 hours of darkness each day to encourage the buds to develop and flower. Continue this dark, cool treatment for 6-8 weeks or until blooms appear. Once the blooms have formed, move your cactus to a sunny location. The more light you give it, the more blooms it will produce. Christmas cactus will bloom better if they are pot-bound as well, so don't be in a big hurry to transplant if the plant gets large. Keeping it dry and cool for this period of time will also help to initiate buds.
Keep the temperatures above 50 degrees and the correct amount of water which means don't over water. Since it is a tropical plant, you want to mimic the conditions found in the tropics- high humidity. You can do this by placing it in a pan of pebbles or having a container of water next to the plant. This is especially important in our dry climate.
If you want to start your own legacy with this plant, simply break off a piece to share with your family and friends. Take a short, Y-shaped segment from healthy plant foliage. Place in potting soil, moisten evenly and place in a well lit location, but out of direct sunlight. Transplant when the cutting shows signs of growth.
Among the most beautiful and vibrant of the winter flowering plants, the Christmas cactus is well worth the effort!
Cyclamen 
Cyclamen are among some of my favorite houseplants because they are unusual. Blooming in shades of red, pink, purple, and white, I have had a white one in a red basket on my Christmas hearth for years. And cyclamen are unusual among the plant world since they thrive in cooler temperatures which is what makes them ideal as cold weather houseplants. For a happy cyclamen, your daytime temperatures need to be below about 68 degrees and above 50 degrees at night. Native to the Mediterranean and North Africa, they are tropical plants and will not tolerate temperatures below 40 degrees. So if you have a house that you like to run cool, a cyclamen is a perfect choice. The generally available/produced cyclamen are not the same as their relative "species" type cyclamen which are often cold hardy, even in our area.
Proper watering is critical with these plants. Since they grow from a corm, which is similar to a tuber/bulb, you don't want to overwater or else you will cause rot. They are sensitive to both over and under watering. If it is planted in potting soil with good drainage, then water when the soil is dry to the touch or the plant begins to show signs of wilting. Water from below the leaves if possible. Fertilize every 1-2 months with a weak solution. Too much fertillizer can affect their ability to re-bloom.
Cyclamen will go through a dormant period, usually during the summer months because they don't tolerate heat very well. By April they will generally begin to fade and go into dormancy and you should stop watering the plant once this begins to happen. Place the plant in a cool, dark or shady place if it's outdoors and let it sit. Be sure there is good air circulation.
Beginning in September, you will probably notice some new growth starting. Once this happens, bring the plant indoors and resume a watering schedule. Once the leaves start to grow, resume normal care and your cyclamen should re-bloom in time for the holidays. | 
