A week ago, I was given a large Christmas Cactus that was full of buds. It started blooming soon after, really lovely blossoms that are white with a gentle pink inside. I have never seen a Christmas Cactus up close and personal before and have no idea how to care for this one in the best way possible once the blooming phase is over. The research I did on-line confused me. Of particular concern is that it seems to be in a very small pot (4 in square) for such a large plant. Is this safe? And does the plant really need to be put in a closet at certain times of the year? I'd hate to damage this handsome plant through simple ignorance.

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"In the midst of winter, I learned there lives in me an invincible summer" Camus (maybe a paraphrase)

There are what I call Easter Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, and Christmas Cactus. To me they are all the same plant, blooming at different times. They do like being pot-bound, just make sure the roots don't take over. I have always just stuck the stem cuttings in a pot of soil and most of them have "grown up" to beautiful plants. My daughter has one that is almost a magenta with white. Even the all-white ones are really pretty. One thing I heard is that once it starts budding don't turn the pot, as the buds are very sensitive and will fall off easily. Don't know if that's true or not!!!

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Mom 54 is absolutely correct in saying not to turn the plant once it has set buds. They will simply fall off if you do this.

I became like you, searching for different colors once I saw how beautiful the first one was. Now I'm on a mission each year after the season is over, looking for plants that are out of bloom so I can collect them at a lower price. Keep an eye out - even most grocery stores mark them down - I got several small ones last year for 50 cents!!! Put them together in one pot and they are doing well - no buds yet though.

Flowers on my original plant this past May:


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Lynne's knitting journal
"I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"

My Christmas cactus is about five years old and has not bloomed for the last two years. I have tried moving it to a darker part of the house in October to try and promote blooms for the holidays, but nothing seems to work. About a year ago my son thought he was doing me a favor and watered my plants and over watered the it. I didn't realize this for quite some time when I found stagnant water standing in the pot. I dumped the entire pot onto some newspapers to dry it out and then repotted it in fresh soil, but I don't think it is going to ever fully recover. Some of the leave still look sickly. Any suggestions, or should I try to find me a new Christmas cactus with the upcoming holidays?

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He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

These cacti love sun. What i would do is just keep my plant in a south or west window and leave it there. The sun will promote growth and energy to produce flowers. Robert

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"Two Green Thumbs"

How do you propagate a holiday cactus?

Well, it's easy. Cut off a piece of stem with two "leaves" on it. Then stick it into soil, water, wait, and watch it grow! It's so easy to root them--they'll start growing soon and is certainly a great way to expand your collection.

The cutting I rooted last spring now has pea-sized buds! Can't wait for it to bloom. Even the momma plant has lots of buds too !

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~Lily

It is interesting to hear the different experiences others have with their plants. I have 3 Christmas Cactus; one large (in my eyes) one small (belonged to my mother before she passed on) and another one in a small pot that kept falling over (losing earth at times) it's pot now sits in 2other pots, just so it will not fall over.
I treat all three the same; the large one gets some flowers every year -around Christmas; my mothers is in very poor condition and I plan to repot, however at the moment it has one bud on it. The one that is in many pots is in full bloom -BEAUTIFUL!- it looks like the picture above; every stem has a flower blooming or about to bloom.
How do I care for them -very poorly- I water them haphazardly, never put them out doors, move them from my east window (when I feel like it) to the west window and then if I think of it, I move them to the back of the room away from the west window. Excepting for when they are in bloom they are always on the floor -even in the winter, our cellar is not heated and the heat is
always turned down at night.
My big plant is still at the back of the room. The other two are now in the kitchen and living room -it is all open space.
If they lose their buds from being moved, then I should have lost all the buds on the one in bloom now, as I took it from the darkened area when it was in full bud; I have not lost one bloom.
I have to admit I am not the best house plant gardener, however I have been blesses this year.
IN LOVE AND LIGHT

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pinky

Mine's budding really nicely now and should be in full blooms of pink very soon! Can't wait! This is close to it's 3rd year now!

Here's one of ours that's flowered early this year since we had it outside in the cold.



Larry

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"It only takes one child to raze a village"