Finally Thriving Christmas Cactus
I've had trouble on & off w/ Holiday Cacti. Some time ago, I was favored w/ some cuttings of 'true' CC & set them to grow in various settings in my apmt, to try & learn how to grow them better.
I've got some pieces in mix of Bark, C&S mix & Perlite, which do OK. But I also started experimenting w/ them in Hydro, originally just tossed a couple of pieces into a bit of water to hold them 'til I was read to pot 'em up.
Wish I had better pix, but these are in Leca stones, w/a little bit of water & they're doing great!
Stopped to take more pix, so great it's working for me.
Another, larger set up.
Loaded w/ new growth tips.
Roots seem happy. Nice to have happy accidents w/ one's experiments such as this one.
Comments (8)
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Crossing Christmas Cactus with Thanksgiving Cactus
Comments (52)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....See MoreChristmas Cactus finally blooms
Comments (1)CONGRATS! Give it cool fall outdoor temps this coming fall, she'll set buds easily. Make sure you feed during the growing season too....See Moregeneral question re christmas cactus
Comments (7)Hi, josette-sc 8 I would suspect that your office is brightly lit, and of stable conditions that promote its over all condition and growth. Further more some Christmas cactus and other cacti sold in stores are hybrids, and tend to be easier to grow then non-hybrids. Nearly all of my cacti are non-hybrids, and a few do pose a challange to me. To tell you the truth, I get a lot of questions about how I grow my plants, and most often about my cacti. I do relate that setting them outside may seam like a lot of work for most people, but the end result does show up in larger faster growth and more blooms for someone who lives this far north, in relation to that most cacti's southern origins. farmerted361:)...See MoreOld Christmas Cactus
Comments (15)Light would be problem only if it was kept in very low light before op received the plant. But even then, it is in the corner that cuts down on light. Light coming thru the window panes is much less intense too, and even more so if windows have any UV protection (we don't know that). I also see another plant that seems to be in front of CC. So light doesn't seem to be the problem. Karen is correct. I have large TC (not CC, but they have similar needs), that I keep outside, and it gets quite a bit of sunlight. Color of segments gets reddish, but they do not shrivell. As you can see, segments are not wrinkly in much stronger sunlight than op's plant This plant was given to me in 2012, and every spring it goes outdoors. I am not suggesting to do same, just pointing out what happens to segments i lots of sunlight. I have few TC, 3 young CC and few Spring/Easter cacti. They all seems to react same way: if thirsty, leaves get droopy and may shrivell. I try not to get them to that point... mamapollina I actually do not see wrinkled segments. Is it possible for you to take close-up, clear photo of the problem?...See MoreKaren S. (7b, NYC)
4 years ago
KarenS, NYC
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoKarenS, NYC
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHey Rina,
This one's for you, happens to be a hydro pot of a CC (left ) & a TC (right). See the jagged points (crab claw like) on the right?
This is a recent pic (10 days ago), but I just checked what it's in cause I've got a few of these experiments in several places. This one is in actual small rocks (large pebbles) which sit inside another small cup w/ wet sphag at the bottom. Roots are happy too.
I need to take another pic tomorrow at different angle. The right hand one (TC) as 4 new segments, slightly more pale green, very pretty.
ETA: edited to correct it's the left one (CC) w/ the new segments, sorry, my mistake.
hibiscus909
3 years agoKarenS, NYC
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoGood to hear Hibiscus, why not? Hope you'll share progress reports.
The small rocks, or large pebbles I mentioned (not Leca) in this one.
Happy roots catching the west sphag kept in cup beneath it.
New TC segment on right, jagged points & lighter green.
This TC cutting was gift from plant friend, it supposedly blooms yellow she was told. Not such a common TC color as far as I've seen. Here's hoping.
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5