Blooming X-Mas Cactus

[solay]

It's blooming again. If you remember I was considering throwing this monster out last year but someone here convinced me to keep it. I've had it for so long, I guess it's a keeper. Blooms like crazy once a year.

Also I have a few Epiphyllums in bud now too. More pics. when they open.

[flowerchild]

Mine too!!!

[jay]

Wow. That is blooming like crazy.

I thought they bloom in the winter though. Am I wrong on this?

[trinigirl]

That is a monster! Great call to keep it, it's beautiful.

I love the rest of your plants too, I want a structure like that also.

[solay]

Don't know Jay. I may even have the name wrong but mine always blooms this time of year. Had it for a long time and been in that huge pot outside. Sometimes the winter low temps or the hot summer sun will damage some parts of it. doesn't seem to want to die though.

[tansyflower]

I just bought zygocactuses which look the same and are blooming here now (nearly winter). I just thought they were pretty as most things here now are starting to go into winter dormancy (so sad) and these have some beautiful colours.

Epiphyllums and zygocactuses are different I think. One is Easter cactus and one is Christmas cactus

[solay]

Humm.. so is mine a Easter or Christmas? I was tempted to get different colors of them but then again I wouldn't know where to put them. Even now I don't know what I'll do with all the Epiphyllums cuttings I have when they get big.

[tansyflower]

Well, the zygos are flowering here now, so maybe epiphyllum??? Or just a freak? Or maybe it just loves you!!

[solay]

LOL!!! I guess maybe it does love me for not tossing it out. I think it may be a Zygo too cause that's what they usually sell around here. Thanks.

[LouisW]

Solay you have an Easter cactus, which I believe is under zygocactus just like the Christmas cactus is. Big plants like yours often bloom sporadically year round with a big burst in the time indicated by their name.

Spring and Christmas cacti are very similar. if you compare their leaf pads they are slightly different but the easiest way to tell them apart is by their flower (and their blooming time of course). Spring cacti flowers have radial symmetry like a daisy does if you look at it straight on, and Christmas cacti have vertical symmetry like orchids do. Also Christmas Cacti have tubular flowers with the most intense color often being near the end of each petal, while spring cacti have homogeneous color on their petals and no tubular structure.

Epiphyllum are the plants you have hanging in the second two pictures. Epiphyllum does not include either Spring or Christmas cactus but is commonly referred to as Orchid Cactus, although I don't think that any of these plants are true cacti. Im not an expert but im fairly sure of all this

[solay]

Makes sense to me. So now I need to remember it's an Easter cacti. Thanks for the clarification.

[lmartiny]

Any cuttings you want to toss, send them my way.

[solay]

OK. I have one potted and rooted already. I keep breaking pieces off it and usually I toss them away but last year I stuck two in some soil. I gave one to my Grandpa but I can send you one.

[patticake]

Cindy, you can tell by the bloom on this that it's an Easter Cactus. The blooms have a lot more, and thinner, petals than a Thanksgiving (zygo)cactus. Christmas cactus have rounded lobes on the leaves, as does the Easter cactus, where the Thanksgiving cactus has pointed lobes on the leaves.

Easter- rounded leaves- many thin petals on flower
Thanksgiving- pointed leaves- fewer wider petals on flower
Christmas- rounded leaves- fewer wider petals on flower

These are the common names- They are affected by the shortening or lengthening of daylight and temperature difference- raising/lowering at night.

Yours is a gorgeous plant!! fantastic!

[tansyflower]

Oops sorry. Thanks for the clarification, Louis.

I was just out in the garden, and mine look sort of the same plant structure as the first pics, but with slightly different flowers. like Louis said. Definitely different to the second lot of pics.

[katrina]

Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti...or Holiday cacti...are all Schlumbergera (sp?). I have a couple of these...no clue as to the exact species.

The Orchid cacti...as Louis pointed out... are different...they are Epiphyllum. These are my favorite...and I do better with this group than I do the Schlums.

I would also like to add...none of them are not true cacti. More accurately...they are epiphytes...just like our beloved orchids.

Cindy ...I remember you buying those cuttings last year. They have come along really, really well. Great growing! Oh, and the Easter cactus is beautiful.

[fred]

beautiful blooms
I love them also and 2 of ours are in flower now ( reds ) and another in bud
they are great fun to grow

[vcuchick]

Originally Posted by solay

It's blooming again. If you remember I was considering throwing this monster out last year but someone here convinced me to keep it. I've had it for so long, I guess it's a keeper. Blooms like crazy once a year.

Also I have a few Epiphyllums in bud now too. More pics. when they open.

Solay,
I'm glad you posted this...maybe you can help me with mine...I'm trying to rehab my 87 yr old grandma's xmas cactus...she's had it forever but the assisted living folk almost killed it- no soil, no water, no sun...

I have it at my office now in an eastern window- planted in potting soil and I'm watering it about 1x every 1-2 weeks per the skewer method...the leaves are very very thin and have a purplish cast.

Any ideas on how to make this plant happy again? It's a family heirloom...

[tizzycat]

That's beautiful Cindy. I have a monster pink one of those that usually blooms just before Christmas. Must go and take a look, I usually overwinter it in the greenhouse. I keep thinking I'll get rid of it, but then it buds and flowers and gets a reprieve

[janet_a]

wow !!

[LouisW]

Tansyflower, since Australia has reverse seasons compared to the US, I imagine that you have a Christmas cactus. Perhaps you could post a picture to illustrate the difference?

Vcuchick, sounds like your doing Ok, except a zygocactus will need much more than an east window to bloom. It may grow slowly but they need plenty of light to bloom.

[NancyG]

Beautiful plant! do you keep it outside all year?

[solay]

Vcuchick I don't know how much help I'll be since I don't know much about them. Mine I've had for years but I've always kept it outdoors and gets full sun from morning till afternoon. I use to keep it in full sun all day but the leaves burned. It's in potting mix and I've not changed the soil. Pretty much add a little more on top sometimes if needed. I water every 3-4 days (but the pot is big and stays moist longer). I also let it get pretty dry sometimes. Fertilize when I remember and in Spring and Summer only. You might consider taking a piece and rooting a new plant too. Hope this helps. I agree they need lots of light to bloom.

[solay]

Thank you guys for the compliments on the Easter Cactus. Guess it's not going to get tossed out after all.

The Epiphyllums were not doing so well in the G/H (got rusty colored patches on the leaves) so I moved them outside. They are still pretty young but I got 3 buds on them. Will update when they open up.

[lmartiny]

Hey Cindy, after taking another peek at this thread I realize the orchid cactus is the epiphyllum. Guess the real name threw me off. Anyway, you sent me cuttings and mine has some buds too. Thanks.

[norris]

That is Beautiful!! If you're going to throw it out, I hope your throwing arm is strong enough to get it to Fullerton

[Plucky Purcell]

Beautiful! I love this family of cacti.

[hulaorchid]

It's beautiful!!
Mine is blooming too! Your right Solay they do not want to die! Mine is kind of ugly when not in bloom! Mine are ready for a repot!