Christmas Cactus Care Guide
The distinctive look of Christmas Cactus makes it an interesting gift
While the poinsettia remains the most popular of holiday houseplants, a healthy Christmas Cactus in full bloom is a great gift idea for that special gardener. Along with a bounty of blooms, send these tips for keeping the plant looking its best:
Location
Most blooming plants will keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures. Keep the plant in a well-lit location away from heat vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air.
Soil
Well-drained soil is a must for Christmas Cactus. Use a commercially packaged potting mix for succulent plants or mix your own by combining two parts plain potting soil with one part clean sand or vermiculite.
Watering
Watering seems to be the source of most problems with the Christmas Cactus. Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch. Discard the excess water, then do not water again until the top half becomes dry. The length of time between waterings will vary with the air temperature, amount of light, rate of growth and relative humidity.
Light
While the Christmas Cactus can adapt to low light, more abundant blooms are produced on plants that have been exposed to high light intensity. Keep your plants in a sunny location indoors.
Pruning
Pruning your Christmas Cactus after blooming will encourage the plant to branch out. Remove a few sections of each stem by pinching them off with your fingers or cutting with a sharp knife. These sections can be rooted in moist vermiculite to propagate new plants.
Mail Order Wreaths
This is your last week for Mail Order Wreaths! Share a piece of Christmastime in Maine with a loved one by sending a fresh balsam wreath. For $35 you get UPS shipping anywhere in the United States, and your choose of bows and cones on a 24" double-sided wreath.
Meet the Webkinz
Choose from over 20 lovable pets to adopt
The hottest new toy of the holiday season has arrived at Estabrook's! Perfect for slipping into or stocking or surprising that special child on your list, the Webkinz are a cuddly collection of very special plush pets. Unlike normal plush toys, the Webkinz offer a unique interactive experience that goes beyond normal playtime.
Welcome to Webkinz World
When you bring your Webkinz home, look on it's tag and you'll find a secret code. This code is the password into Webkinz World, an online environment just for kids.
Miss Birdy will guide kids as they name and adopt their new pet, learn, play and have fun. There are rooms to build, trivia challenges to play and lots of arcade games, too. Kids can even earn Kinz Cash by playing the fun online games that they can spend on new furniture, toys and clothing for their online pet. It's all age-appropriate, friendly and welcoming.
There will be loveable new Webkinz arriving regularly, and at only $12.99 per pet, the great price means kids can collect them all!
To learn more about Webkinz plush toys and take a tour of Webkinz World, visit the official Webkinz web site.