Thanks, puglvr! It's maybe not as bloomy as the parents, but once I get it repotted and pruned next spring we'll see how it does then. If it doesn't shape up, out it goes. juliana, maybe we would have to do it after you get back, or try to fit in a mailing before you go. I have to look at the weather before May 15, but sometimes it can work earlier than that. Just remind me about it in April and we'll go from there. I'm thinking of repotting all my cc's and giving them a prune job, so it wouldn't be hard to put a couple of the trimmings in an envelope. Anyway, earlier would fit better for me if the weather cooperates. Once it's nice out, I had better be done with the fussing with the house plants because the acre veg garden calls.

Never seen a CC (Schlumbergera x buckleyii) for sale. For some reason this year, EC's are at BBS's, readily available nationwide. Very cool! By CC, do you mean TC (Schlumbergera truncata - that stores sell 'en masse' during the holidays?) Since they are sold with labels that say "Christmas cactus," it would be natural to call them that, and one really needs the botanical name for comparing these plants. I've had an EC for about 2 years and it has bloomed numerous times, both while outside and inside, which I'm told isn't uncommon. OTOH, going by what I've read in anecdotes on these forums, since I just managed to get a cutting of CC via trade less than a year ago, would rarely bloom more than once per year. For that reason, I'd choose EC, but - why not get both and pot together if space is an issue? However, the link I've included below says TC and CC are supposed to bloom twice per year. Rare is a discussion about that happening, maybe because most peoples' plants need to come inside to much less light, IDK. I couldn't possibly choose between TC and EC, you shouldn't either. Although they are called cacti, know all 3 of these are epiphytic jungle plants, and really don't like bone-drying or baking in intense mid-day sun at all. So... you need 3 plants... Here is a link that might be useful: 3 holiday cacti, care and recognition

Purple, I've enjoyed reading this thread and wanted to add my $.02 worth. The first thing I noticed is that the stems appear to be flacid.....wilty. That could be caused by over OR under watering.....whichever might cause the roots from being able to access water. In this case, I wonder if the water you're applying is evacuating before soaking the whole soil volume. One thing about these plants (all plants) is that though they need to dry out somewhat between drenchings, the potting soil must be completely saturated on watering day. This is true for all plants, even those cacti that are native to extremely arid regions. Have you ever seen "Medicine Man ", a movie starring that gorgeous specimen of manhood Sean Connery? It takes place in the rainforest of Brazil. There are scenes of my lovely Sean ziplining through the forest canopy, sharing the scenes with huge epiphytic cacti and other plants. Really neat movie. Plus, it stars Sean Connery. I get that it's difficult to understand how those prickly, barrel shaped desert cacti have ANYTHING to do those graceful rainforest plants. Here's what I "think " is a good analogy, but don't laugh at me toooooo hard if it really stinks. Take your dog into consideration for a moment. It's a mammal. So are you and the pesky squirrels in your yard. Big differences amongst those three mammals yet they share essential similarities. Still with me? Now, think of those incredible bottlenose dolphins familiar to anyone living in coastal areas. Superficially, they seem to have so little in common with your dog, but those porpoises are just another type of mammal. They live in a different environment, for sure, but the similarities are much more important than the differences. You just need to try to provide the kind of environment your dolphin needs. :-) Dorie

This is how I normally propagate my Xmas Cactus: I pinched off a section of the plant, about 3 nodes, and laid it on top of the soil in the same pot with the mother plant. A few weeks later, when I saw roots on the cutting, I potted it in another pot, using the same medium as that in the mother pot, burrying the rooted section in the medium and water normally. If I want a full pot, I plant several cuttings. If the mother plant is still small and cannot give me several cuttings at once, I pot only one cutting and wait for this one to grow. But it takes time, tho!