The Lady Of Autumn: A Weather Folklore

by Jaime McLeod

The ancient Greeks believed the seasons were each ruled by a different goddess. Learn about Xarpo, the lady of Autumn.

We’ve already looked at the story of Persephone, which explains why there are seasons. Beyond her story, though, the ancient Greeks also had a series of goddesses, collectively named the Horae (Hours), who controlled various aspects of nature and time, including the seasons.

Among them was Xarpo (also spelled Carpo or Karpo), goddess of autumn and the harvest. She had two sisters, Thallo and Auxo, goddesses of spring and summer. All three sisters were attendants of Aphrodite, goddess of love, and guarded the path to Mount Olympus. Xarpo was specifically responsible for ripening crops.

How To Care For a Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, or Easter Cactus

by Catherine Boeckmann

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a popular houseplant that blooms indoors in the winter, so it’s popular at holiday time and makes a great gift, too. Unlike regular cacti, however, this is not a plant from a dry, hot, desert location. Instead, this is a succulent native to tropical rainforests, where they grow on tree branches and soak up the high humidity, dappled sunlight, and warm temperatures.

The bottom line: Don’t treat a Christmas cactus like a run-of-the-mill cactus! It’s important to water these cacti more regularly but also to be cautious of keeping them too wet.

Potting Christmas Cacti

When selecting a pot for a Christmas cactus, be sure to choose one that has a drainage hole in the bottom. This helps to keep the soil from getting too wet. Christmas cacti grow well in most potting mixes formulated for succulents. The important thing is that your potting soil drains well.

Where to Put a Christmas Cactus

Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. An east-facing window or a bright bathroom is ideal. Too much direct sunlight can bleach the sensitive leaves. A daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an evening temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C) is preferred. Christmas cacti prefer a more humid environment, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a good spot to keep them. In the summer, Christmas cacti can be placed in a shady spot in the garden or on an unheated porch until temperatures get below 50°F (10°C). Keep them out of direct outdoor sunlight.

How to Care for Christmas Cacti

Plan to water every 2 to 3 weeks, but only water when the top one-third of the soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry. (Use your finger to check!)
When the soil is sufficiently dry, soak the soil until water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Place a tray underneath the pot to catch the water. After 10-15 minutes, discard any excess water in the tray so that the pot doesn’t sit in water.
It’s especially important to water well while the plant is flowering.
From spring through early fall, feed every 2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. Feed the cactus monthly in the fall and winter to encourage successful blooming.
Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound.
If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil—they root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents!