Christmas Cactus showing off.......
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I can't speak for Mary O, but I have several...some bloom at Christmas and one at Easter! Crazy! They are succulents (cactus family), so only get limited amounts of water. No plant food. The buds come when the amount of daylight lessens. Even a porch light can keep the buds from setting. That's it. Sometimes plants need to almost be ignored to thrive. Mine are outdoors unless there's a freeze.
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 495
BeUtiful plant! Mine is wimpy with just a few blooms. I know they are usually called Christmas cactus but I think there are actually different varieties out there. Possibly really a November or Thansgiving cactus. Mine always blooms in November and really likes being outside in partial shade in late summer and early fall
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,265
Yours is the prettiest Christmas Cactus that I have ever seen. The color of your blooms are beautiful. Throughout my adult life, on and off, I have owned a gazillion houseplants, including Christmas Cactuses. I have heard of putting 2 teaspoons of Castor Oil on them in October to get them to bloom. I have heard that pouring cofffee or tea on them (hold the cream and sugar) will encourage blooms. They supposedly like Rhododendron food. What I know for sure is that they like a pot that causes them to be a little root bound, and if you want them to bloom, you need to create a situation that will promote dormancy. The soil needs to be slightly dry (no moisture below 1 inch of the top surface of the soil). It needs to be kept in a dark room that is on the cooler side (about 55 degrees). Once you see buds, then move it out of the darkness and into a sunlit room (but never into direct sunlight or it will become droopy). I think that everyone who owns a Christmas Cactus wishes it would bloom as profusely as this plant! You definitely worked some kind of magic to cause it to be this healthy!
#28
Your plant is absolutely stunning! I have two of them, a red and dark pink. The pink is over 10 years old, is quite large, but sometimes looks wimpy. Having read they like less light, I may move them from my east window to the hearth where light will be limited. Maybe that will encourage the blooms. I may also hold off on the weekly watering schedule.
Thanks for the great info SewingSew!!
Thanks for the great info SewingSew!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post