secrets to holiday-cactus success, with matt mattus

17.08.2024 - 13:40 / awaytogarden.com

I WAS SCROLLING through Instagram the other day—yes, sometimes I just can’t help myself—when I saw a post by Matt Mattus about Christmas cactus. So even though it’s still high summer, it made me long for one of my own.

I haven’t grown a holiday cactus since my very old plant took a nasty spill in a move of houses years ago. Seeing Matt’s post also made me think it was time for a review of how to get those lavish bloomers to do their colorful thing, and that was what I asked him about when we spoke recently.

Matt Mattus gardens in Massachusetts and is the author of various garden books, including “Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening” and “Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening.” When he isn’t tending his own ambitious garden and greenhouse or hosting Open Day tours, he also provides consultation services, both virtually and in person, to help others with garden design and plant-care issues.

Read along as you listen to the Aug. 19, 2024 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts here).

holiday cactus help, with matt mattus

Margaret Roach: Hello, Matt, in this craziest of garden years ever.

Matt Mattus: And we’re going to talk about Christmas cactus.

Margaret: I know. What the heck? We’re just going to forget the rest of summer, Matt, and talk about Christmas cactus. So before we do, tell the truth, how many, quote, “houseplants” do you have?

Matt: Well, that’s a really liquid topic now because you know I have a greenhouse, so-

Margaret: I know.

Matt: We built the greenhouse so we didn’t have to have houseplants, but then gradually they moved back into the house. So we have a lot,