How are your Holiday Cactus doing so far? Summer update 2019
Please, let's see how they are reacting to this summers weather and whether they are growing, in bud, or coloring up.
Pictures would make many smile)0
MIke
One of mine coloring up so bright it looks like it's lit up.
Comments (16)
tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
4 years ago
ssk22 Ohio 5b
4 years agoRelated Discussions
How's the Summer growing season been so far?
Comments (38)I thought it was going to be a 'normal' season (for a change), but felt kind of "off". There were no big heat waves (so far), almost NO thunderstorms, wild swings of precipitation (13 plus inches in one day in Central, LI, most of which fell in only a few hours), now getting drier and warmer. Yes, Poaky weeds are bad this year. I refrain from using Roundup and other chemicals so it is hand pulling or my new weeding tool (so no bending). Poison ivy is the exception, I use Roundup on it was I am NOW sensitive to it, but see it popping up all over...big time under my Metasequoia. I HATE those weed fabrics! Used to use them all over but, weeds grow through the thickest ones anyway. My Pin Oak is starting to shed some leaves, so Fall is in the air, I guess. We could use a protracted rain event...not the 10 inches in two hours kind! Enjoy the last (unofficial) week of Summer all. This post was edited by njoasis on Sun, Aug 24, 14 at 6:55...See MoreHow's your Easter Cactus doing...any blooms?
Comments (48)Laura, maybe yours will be late? I only have a few on my Red EC but my small pink one has several opened blooms, I have NO idea why the difference? Good to know other people's TC's are blooming late too. In FL its rare for them to be blooming this late in the season since by March its usually too warm for them to rebloom but its been a little "cooler" than normal for April...but that's ending,lol...we're suppose to be 90 degrees this weekend!! Not ready for summer yet......See MoreTime to start the flower show of Holiday Cactus 2019
Comments (70)Beth I think you’re asking how long to keep the fruit on the plants for? It does take longer then one would think. I wish I could give you an exact amount of time, but I can’t. Some cactus fruit like my big Opuntia will take close to a year to ripen, but generally the smaller the fruit the less time it takes, but the small ones still take months. I can definitely say yours are not ready yet. If I had to guess they should be ready by mid spring (May). This is a total guess;). I usually wait till they look dehydrated and sometimes they’ll have a split. Here’s some pics from Desert Plants of Avalon The fruit below I wouldn’t remove yet. But this one looks ripe for the picking. Lastly keep the fruit away from rodents and birds because they will eat them. I know from experience and it’s such a bummer;)....See MoreOk,now I'm starting to get a little angry at the cool summer so far..
Comments (21)Not sure the exact 4th was..but around 73/74F and pleasant like you say since I was pruning and only sweated- not soaked! This could turn around for the bay area but most bets are its going to be below average in highs-but as always these days,above average in lows in the bay area summers. Interesting. Europe has been cooler than average and I would guess some relationship in lows and jet streams....See MoreTom H
4 years ago
jstropic (10a)
4 years ago
poetiquette
4 years agoHey Mike.
Can you contact me please? The Legolas that I got from you never rooted and looks horrible. It's been a little over 2 months and I have only lost leaves. They dried up slowly, but this is where I am now.Believe it or not, this is the same cutting you sent me. I think it didn't have enough green leaves to produce enough energy to make any roots.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
4 years ago
Rob Blomquist
4 years ago
perle_de_or
4 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
4 years agoThis was taken June 19. Started from a cutting in Feb/March. Go Figure.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
4 years agoRob, how often do you fertilize?
Mike, I took some pics to add to your Thread! Here's my 40 year-old motherplant.She's on the back deck under a canopy, enjoying the weather and lots of water.
And this is the woody cutting that I rooted years ago.
I've kept this one in the greenhouse, and it seems very happy.
I really do need to repot it, prune it, and display it in a better pot.
Lastly, my only Thanksgiving Cactus...in need of watering.
This one is indoors, growing in fine orchid bark. That's the last piece of 'Legolas"
trying to root there...I sure hope it survives.
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoLovely thread folks, some really stunning stuff, like the opening shot, soooo dramatic!
Tropic, that white EC is so nice.
Josh, yours just keeps on trucking huh, I remember it from back then. I may have to christen it Behemoth Jr, ;>)
Well Mike,
Once again, I seem to do something a bit different.
Accidentally discovered these guys like Hydro, They're doing much better for me this way than in mix. Small & young, but growing vigorously w/ lots of new growth. I had shown this recently on a thread of mine called "Finally Thriving CC" that folks seem to have missed.
Another slightly larger setup.
Who knew?Rob Blomquist
4 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
4 years ago
stupidlazydog CT zone 5b/6a
4 years agoBeautiful plants everyone. Mike, your Cristen Aurea looks fabulous! I hope mine looks as good eventually. I don't have too many, and most are pretty newly rooted cuttings. I also have a couple of cuttings, not in this photo, that haven't rooted yet - one S. opuntioides and one S. 'Laranja Dobrada'
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Rob Blomquist