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| Christmas Cactus | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 30 2004, 09:14 AM (208 Views) | |
| mychrissy | Nov 30 2004, 09:14 AM Post #1 |
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Chrissy
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I have a Christmas Cactus that looks like it may bloom soon. I want to make sure it's blooming for Christmas. Any ideas? |
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Chrissy | |
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| sylley2000 | Nov 30 2004, 10:36 AM Post #2 |
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
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chrissy, According to an article I just read, "During flower bud formation, stop fertilizing and only water enough to keep the leaves from becoming shriveled. Once buds do form then you can keep the plant in normal light and temperatures. Keep it evenly moist and fertilize every other week with a mild fertilizer solution." Never had much luck with the flowering cactus. I usually plant the amaryllis, it's not as fussy: ![]() Good luck with your flowering cactus, they are lovely. Sylvia |
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| cmoehle | Nov 30 2004, 12:58 PM Post #3 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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The cactus in my yard tend to blossum after long dry spells followed by a good rain. I fertilize plenty. Not sure that helps with what I assume is an indoor plant. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| mychrissy | Nov 30 2004, 01:01 PM Post #4 |
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Chrissy
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Thanks Sylvia, I've never had much luck with the Christmas cactus before either, but just noticed it had buds on it. What a shock......I didn't kill it. I will follow your advice about not watering until it looks like it needs it. I guess the best thing I did with this cactus was to leave it alone. The amaryllis is a beautiful plant. I bought two artificial ones in Steinmarts's a couple of weeks ago. It's a pretty good imitation. |
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Chrissy | |
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| sylley2000 | Nov 30 2004, 01:38 PM Post #5 |
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
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I would fertilize it every other week with a mild fertilizer solution because it has buds on it, and not stop 'til it blooms. It's very encouraging that it has the buds--you must have done quite a bit right for it to get to that stage...just remember that it is a cactus and shouldn't be overwatered. Jeez, listen to me giving somehow advice about getting it to bloom! Just carry on with what you have been doing Chrissy!!!! Sylvia |
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| mychrissy | Nov 30 2004, 01:47 PM Post #6 |
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Chrissy
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That's funny Sylvia, I haven't done anything. Just came back from being away and noticed it had buds. Right now my main concern are the poinsettia plants. They have been on the front porch and the many of the leaves have turned red. I know they have to be kept moist. Chris, You're right, it is an indoor plant, actually it's been outside for awhile in a small pot. I just forgot about it. |
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Chrissy | |
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| Heathertee | Nov 30 2004, 03:37 PM Post #7 |
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Heather-Central Connecticut
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I have always had Christmas Cactus and so has my Mom. She has a huge one that must be 3 feet across. In our experience they bloom when they darn well feel like it, no matter what we do. Hers is budding right now; an old, deep-pink-flowered one. Mine just finished blooming; it is a newer, tangerine-flowered hybrid. Although the buds on hers are small, I know from experience that it will have only about 20 flowers on it by Christmas; the big bloom will be around the 16th. IMO it has to do more with the length of the daylight it gets, than anything else. They will not bloom until root-bound, which can take a couple of years after re-potting, so don't be in a hurry to repot until it is really too large for its pot. |
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| mychrissy | Dec 1 2004, 07:45 AM Post #8 |
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Chrissy
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Heather, I think I read somewhere if you want the cactus to bloom, keep it in the dark for a certain amount of hours. That could also be the way for force it to bloom. |
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Chrissy | |
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| Heathertee | Dec 1 2004, 09:49 AM Post #9 |
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Heather-Central Connecticut
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That might be worth a try. I would have to cover it with a black trash bag; no way am I moving that monster twice a day! Besides being way too heavy and too big to go in a closet, I would knock all the buds off, moving it... |
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| karmasasha | Dec 2 2004, 03:50 PM Post #10 |
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Andrea in Minnesota, USA
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I saw one that I was told was over 50 years old. It was covered in flowers. The woman, in her 70's said that since they were not fertilized on the desert she never did either. |
![]() ![]() Women Who Behave Rarely Make History | |
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| mychrissy | Dec 2 2004, 06:34 PM Post #11 |
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Chrissy
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Andrea, I know they really don't need a lot of care and I probably tend to overwater plants. Come to think of it, I don't think I fertilized this cactus. |
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Chrissy | |
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| karmasasha | Dec 2 2004, 08:18 PM Post #12 |
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Andrea in Minnesota, USA
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I sure the woman would say that is why it is budding so well. The plant had been her mothers and she firmly believed in not adding anything except a little water. |
![]() ![]() Women Who Behave Rarely Make History | |
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| Heathertee | Dec 3 2004, 06:45 AM Post #13 |
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Heather-Central Connecticut
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Chrissy, I water our plants thoroughly every Monday, then check them on Thursdays to be sure they aren't too dry, and give some a little water then. Once a month I feed them with Miracle-Grow in solution when I water. if I don't do it this way I forget and they either dry out or get waterlogged. What I really hate is when I go away and my sister promises to water them and forgets...takes months to get the poor things back to normal. |
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| mychrissy | Dec 3 2004, 09:14 AM Post #14 |
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Chrissy
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Heather, I think I remember the cactus in your kitchen and if I'm not mistaken it's quite large. I have to check my cactus on the porch to see how it's doing. It's hiding in the dark. I'll report back. I'm better about overwatering plants in the house, but it's difficult to ask someone to take care of them, my daughter does when we're away. THey don't love them like we do.
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Chrissy | |
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| Heathertee | Dec 3 2004, 10:11 AM Post #15 |
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Heather-Central Connecticut
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Chrissy, the one in the kitchen I can handle (it is in my office now). The one in the living room is the one I refuse to tote around. It is three feet across. It's just started to bloom its old-fashioned pink double flowers. I'll post a picture of it soon. |
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