The CC pics are both of the same plant...?

Those 3 are Phalanopsis orchids aka moth orchids.

The third plant looks like a Clivia minata.

Gill

Thanks Gill! I'll look up Clivia. The two CC's are different, at least I think so. The leaves are different. Maybe one is just in worse shape.

Just realized I uploaded two of the same photos. Here is the other Christmas Cactus:

repot everything in the appropriate mix. The clivia looks great--you can gently pull off the dried leaves. The orchids don't look too bad. the cactus will be fine with a new potting mix and proper care.

Yes, that was what I was saying, the first two pics are identical...showing the same Christmas cactus :-)

The pic on your last post is what is referred to in the US as a Thanksgiving cactus, aka crab claw cactus :-)

Google holiday cactus mix as they like their soil completely different from regular cacti as they're jungle based growing in leaf litter in crooks of trees.

Gill

Thanks everyone! Going to repot today. :)

& Thanks Gil, for the ID on the two cactus. It's cool to know that one is a thanksgiving cactus. I've only heard of the christmas.

Possible the CC is mixed in with an EC, provided is a link to help ID the holiday cacti

I'd be weary about the closet for storing them that long as mine never leave the same area before during and after flowering during the long dim winter months

Sorry, but I need to disagree w/ Alyssa about when to withhold the water. It's AFTER blooming, not before. Also I don't move them at all (it can cause new buds to abort if moved when they're first starting to develop).

Also 2-3 months w/out watering is FAR TOO LONG. These are tropical jungle cacti, not arid, desert types. I grew up where they originate. I assure you Rio (de Janeiro) doesn't not go 2-3 months in a row w/out water & would struggle if it did.

It'll stress the plant greatly to go so long w/out water while trying to set bloom. Am surprised a holiday cactus subjected to that hasn't died yet.

Thanks for the advice! I'll read up on both methods (dark room, and no movement) and feel it out from there. & Nomen, thanks! I now think the CC is indeed a EC based on that Pinterest chart.

I just re-potted, here's how it looks: (also, added in another orchid. Put two with the smallest amount of healthy root in the same pot.)

Great, now in a day or 2 now pls. give the Holiday cacti each BIG drinks of water, 'til it flows out the bottom. They look pretty thirsty.

I guess maybe that's why you took 'em but you scored well, especially on that Clivia -- woo hooo!!

Now that I really look at the Clivia, it's potted too high in the mix, see the white area of lower stems?

That area was previously covered up by its old leaf debris, that's why it's white. I'd dig down deeper & put the plant back down so much less of the white shows.

True about Rio and the rainfall and IIRC it doesn't get closet dark for 3 to four months either I notice you have dried and fallen oak and maple leaves on the ground already A very good time for sunning the up nicely but be a little careful if that sun should be to direct to long and or to hard, as mentioned don't be afraid to water even if it's daily in a fresh new bark soil that would dry out daily even at this time of the year.

Best of luck on the moth orchids they also look much better in the new soil. As caution you may want to ask in the right forum area about the two of them in one pot. I imagine it's survival of the fittest but even then sometimes if one is having a problem that same problem could spread and both could suffer.

Nice plant haul! They all look like they're in decent shape. The phalaenopsis orchids look very healthy. However, the orchids you potted look like they're potted a bit too deep. I'm rather new to growing houseplants, but I've seen many pictures and watched a lot of videos on YouTube on orchid growing, and yours look way to deep. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think they should be potted without any part of the stem under the media surface, like this-

(not mine, found on Google images)

If they stay like that, the constant moisture around the buried stem may start to induce rot.

Great comments, thank you all!

lmontestella, I thought that was the case with the Clivia. Thanks very much for your input. The root system on this thing is massive, and like I said I trimmed a bit, but it is still too much for that pot. I'll have to size up and make sure to cover the white.

nomen_nudum I had only considered the size of the shared pot orchids' roots, and not that one might have an issue that could spread to the other. Also, as they grow one could crowd the other and kill it off. I thought of that part after, but figured I'd repot once I saw some life in them. Maybe not best to repot so often though. I am out of pots for the moment, so they are going to have to stay like that until next weekend. (Going on a trip for the week.)

goldstar135 In that Google Image, it appears to have a root sticking up? Am I wrong? I thought I should pot deep enough to cover all of them, but now that I think of it... The newest one I added was in a moss and had roots sticking up out of the moss. Maybe that is the way, and you are right. I will have to read up on that and reposition them. Thanks for the info! :)

Yes, goldstar is right about orchids. They grow mostly on trees in habitat, not in the soil. I believe there is orchid forum here, post there.

No problem! ;)

So yeah, don't be afraid to leave roots sticking up out of the media. Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytes, meaning they don't grow in the soil-they grow attached to trees like rina mentioned. Their roots are used to hanging in midair. Just make sure you mist them whenever you water your orchid so the roots in the air don't dessicate (dry out).

Great, thanks you two! I just brought them all higher in the pot. I'll be sure to mist when watering. I'll update in a couple of weeks or so. :)

Clivias do actually appreciate a tighter fit in their pot than most plants and this induces flowering. As long as the roots will go in, it should be fine, they don't need lots of empty mix. Just place the root mass in and shake and dribble compost in and around for a fairly snug fit. If there's lots of free space, they will continue to expand their greenery by making new growth points and lots of lush leaves. If you want a huge bowl full of growths then plant in a big pot, but if you prefer the beautiful long lasting flower heads, smaller is best.

Gill

Just make sure the orchids are potted at the same level they were potted previously in the moss.

Hope they soon take off and bloom!

Oh, and to clarify-when you mist the aerial roots (roots not in the media), don't mist the rest of the plant, like the leaves. The water can promote fungal growth. If any water does get on the leaves, wipe it off gently with a paper towel. Make sure also that no water gets in the crown of the plant (top of the orchid, the space where new leaves emerge from) or in the joints of the leaves (where the leaf attaches to the stem). If water does manage to get in there, again just wick it away with a paper towel.

Basically, keep water in the media and on the roots-nowhere else. ;)

when it rains in the tropics the leaves on the phals are never getting wet ?

Well yes, they do, but in the wild I've read that phals sort of grow sideways, so any water would likely just fall off the leaves. I think there also may be more natural warm air circulation in the tropics than in a regular grower's home, so any fungal growth would probably be unlikely.