Christmas cactus.

[solay]

Here is a picture of the cactus I have in full bloom now.

[Lacerr]

WOW, I've never seen one so huge and so many blooms!!! its incredible!!

[fred]

very nice solay
we have a few in bloom here and its almost winter but they don't look as good as your plant having said that this is there second flowering since summer.

I just thought I would also mention that the Christmas cactus is also known as a Zygo cactus. hehehe but hey when it blooms like that its Christmas

its good how many of us grow these wonderful plants as well

[solay]

Thanks, I've had it for many years and at one time I thought of getting rid of it. But I think I will keep it after all. I'm not a cactus lover in general but this one blooms like crazy. I keep it out all year even when the temp. drops below 30. It still survives.

[orchid_girl]

It is gorgeous!!! I love the color!!

[fred]

solay just a quick question for you... do you re-pot your very often ?
I ask this for the simple reason we have about 7 Christmas cactus they had not been re-potted for I think about 3 years I re-potted them with out buds and now they are flowering once more... Its not the flowering season here lol

ahhh that reminds me when I was at my mothers last time my Father had a cactus that he had for many years the flowers are like the Christmas Cactus only a lot bigger. I will have to take a pic of that one to see if one of our knowledgeable members can give me the name.

[solay]

Fred, I've had that in the same pot for at least 6 years or more. Never been re-potted. When I first got it it was in a small 4" pot. It stays in full sun and seems to bloom better with more light.

Your father might have what they call a orchid cactus. They are Epiphyllums. I got one from a friend in bloom last year. She grew it from a clipping.

[fred]

I am not sure with my fathers cactus solay
I will have to get a pic up so we can see... I did however grow this one on from a clipping like you have mentioned. I have done the same with the Christmas cactus they all came from my Father 5 years ago..
I could only have clippings as its illegal to bring plants into the state shhhhhhhhhh from the mainland so mums the word lol ... this thread is not about orchids but the same rule now applies for bringing orchids into our state.Its all about Quarantine Rules now..

[arleneg]

Wow! I'm surprised that's in bloom! How did I miss that when I was there?! I got a large clipping from my mom. It flowers in the fall.

Last weekend, she gave me another 'zygo cactus' like cactus, but larger. She doesn't remember what it's called since she threw away the name tag. I plan on taking a pic and hope some member here can help i.d. it.

[sandra]

This Zygo cactus is different than the Christmas Cactus's that bloom in winter (northern hemisphere). They're both members of the Zygo family, just a different variety. These have been for sale now and always referred to as "Summer" or "Easter" cactus's. The flowers and blooming times are different.

I love these. You have got yourself a stunning plant there Solay.

[fred]

sandra you are probably right with that
but here in Tassie they are known as Zygo Cactus
when buying one they all have a huge tag saying Zygo cactus and nothing else
hmmm silly duffers lol
I think I may have both varieties.. very interesting

hmm are they supposed to flower twice a year ?

[sandra]

Originally Posted by fred

sandra you are probably right with that
but here in Tassie they are known as Zygo Cactus
when buying one they all have a huge tag saying Zygo cactus and nothing else
hmmm silly duffers lol
I think I may have both varieties.. very interesting

hmm are they supposed to flower twice a year ?

Well, our Christmas Cactus would be your Summer Cactus and visa versa Whatever they're called, they're all still Zygos...I think we're the duffers here Fred.

I know the Christmas Cactus variety can bloom twice a year but I've only had that happen once. Since living in this house, with the lousy light on the patio and the stifling hot weather in summer, they only bloom once a year with budding starting around Thanksgiving (November).

....although, we had a late and unseasonably cool winter (for Fla.) this year and just last week, one of mine, put out one lonely but pretty flower for me.
Here....

[solay]

Sandra, I like the way you have a two tone bloom. I never paid much attention on when mine blooms. I think just once a year. They are so common that I never thought it special. Thanks for the compliment. I guess I won't dig it up and toss it after all. The thought had crossed my mind.

Arlene, you missed it cause I was so busy trying to rush. You'll see it next time you visit me.

[arleneg]

Sandra -- I love the color on yours! Mine is two-toned (pink/white), too, and blooms around November.

Cindy -- Oh yeah.

[sandra]

Well, aside from the flowers being completely different on the summer ones vs. the winter ones, the other difference is that all the winter ones are 2 toned except for the whites unless you count their pink anthers.

Solay, I can't believe you would think about getting rid of yours. No matter how common, they're still spectacular!

[sandra]

Come to think of it, I think the reds are solid and not 2 toned. Forget what I said up there.

[patticake]

Solay- Beautiful Easter cactus! The bloom shape and the leaf-stem segments are for what is commonly referred to as the Easter cactus. The segments are rounded, and the blossom petals are all the same- kind of radiating from a central point.
Christmas cactus has rounded segments, and blooms shaped more like the Thanksgiving cactus.
The Thanksgiving (zygo) cactus has pointed segments and blooms like those in Sandra's pic. (the bottom petals bend backwards more than the top ones do.) That's the type that my little seedling is from. (another thread)
The orchid cactus has huge segments, of all different sizes and very showy blooms! I'll try to get photos of each type and post sometime soon. My life has been overwhelming lately.... I haven't been on much.
Gorgeous plant, anyways!!!

[fred]

solay has logged off I was going to ask solay of she minded if I posted some pics of ours here as well.
so right now I am going out side to take some pics to show you all.

some in bud and in flower.. very interesting topic I think.
hehe no sandra we not the duffers lol I am lol

[solay]

I'm back on. Hee! Hee! I do that a lot. On off on off. Anyway, go right ahead Fred. I would love to see pics.

Patti, so I have a Easter cactus. Boy too many holidays. Please post pics of the different kinds. I would like to know how to tell which holiday is which. Thanks.

[fred]

thank you solay

here a just a few to show you lol spider webs and all lol





here is a pic of the one I was talking about with the bugger flowers.

[orchid_girl]

I am not sure wich on I have....I thik it's a Christmas catus but not sure. I'll go get some pics. I bought it on sale last year at the end of December out of bloom.
I love the blooms, I wonder which mine will have...hmmmm

[sandra]

Patti, I was hoping you'd chime in here because I know you're a biggie on this subject. Do you happen to know what these 2 varities are named?

Fred, your's is what is referred to here as the Easter Cactus. It's gorgeous. That bottom pic looks like an Epiphyllum, commonly called an orchid cactus. The blooms also come in a gazillion varieties.

orchid_girl, yours is most probably the Christmas Cactus if you found it the end of December. The ones like Solay's are the ones you'll find now.

I think the Christmas ones come in more colors. I bought a lavendar one last year, out of bloom. I can't wait to see what that will look like.

A Zygo by any other name....is still a Zygo.

[fred]

thanks for that sandra
they are very good bloomers.. i find that the Easter Cactus is easy to strike as well with one or two pieces..
has anyone else found that... maybe solay can answer that one as well.

[orchid_girl]

Well I know my christmas catus is reall easy to grow. Inadvertantly, between the kids, husband, cat and myself, we have all accidentally broke pieces off. All I did was stick it back in the pot and they grew with no problems.

[arleneg]

Originally Posted by fred

thank you solay

here a just a few to show you lol spider webs and all lol





here is a pic of the one I was talking about with the bugger flowers.

Beautiful!! I don't have one like the first pic, but do have one like the third pic, but in dark pink and a two-toned one (white/pink).

Last weekend, my mom gave me a cactus just like that last pic! Is it really called an 'orchid' cactus?! Mine is in bloom right now. Love them! When I get a chance I'll take a pic and post it here.

[solay]

Well, I'm no expert but I find that like Orchid girl said, they are very easy to grow from clippings. Just stick them in the dirt. Simple as that. Roots start to form and next thing you know you got yourself another plant.

I'll take a pic. of my Epi. too. Not in bloom though. It blooms large red flowers. I guess orchid cactus is just a nickname?

Fred, I think it looks better in a basket like you got them. That way you can really see the blooms.

[patticake]

Beautiful!
My little seedling is from a "Thanksgiving" cactus cross. I don't have the parents anymore-long story- but last year many gave me cuttings of theirs to replace the ones I lost. I especially love the butter yellow one. It's doing great! After this summer, I'm expecting blooms from it- I'll share. I'll post an up-date on my baby zygo-cactus soon... It's doing REALLY well!

I love all the different varieties of zygo! Care of Christmas Cactus

[fred]

very useful link patti thank you for posting

solay the baskets are my wifes idea we did have them in normal pots and my wife said ages ago to try them in a basket and they seem to do really well for us

[pikevi]

solay : That is a great looking plant! And so many flowers!

I have a few but they are all crazy.. They have bloomed about 3 times since Christmas, but the number of flowers has been very low, about 5-10 per plant.

fred : What is the name (common or Linnaeus) of the 'cactus' , the 4th picture , in your set of photos? I have one like that and I see a small red bud ( just one) showing up. I will take a shot of it once I get off the PC.

Thanks.

Here we go: The photos of the single bud on the 'cactus'

[patticake]

OOOO! That's gonna be pretty!! I love orchid cactus- They're so showy!

[arleneg]

pikevi -- That's going to be a pretty one. So far, I love the color!

I finally got around to taking a pic of my orchid cactus, which was recently given to me. There are 3 flowers, but two are on the way out.

[solay]

Arlene that is a pretty pink and the shape is different. I like it a lot. I thought of buying more but then decided I got too many plants to care for as is. Maybe one day we can swap clippings? I think both yours and mine are still too small for now.

[pikevi]

Thank you patticake and arleneg.

It has only one bud. I know it is an Epiphyllum species but I am trying to what the 'hybrid' name is.

Could it be Epiphyllum 'scoop of raspberry'?

Your pink flowers look nice, arleneg. Do you have a name for it?

[arleneg]

Cindy -- Oh, I'd like to swap clippings, but at a later time. Not sure if you noticed, my orchid cacatus is a clipping from my mom's cactus. So it's still fairly 'small'.

pikevi -- Sorry, no name for it since it was from my mom, who has a tendency to throw away name tags or don't ask what it is when a friend gives a plant to her.

[solay]

Here's a pic. of the one and only Epiphyllum I have. Have yet to bloom this year.

[arleneg]

Cindy,

Yours has a nice green color. The one I got was a lighter green. Do you know what color the blooms will be?

[solay]

They are red. I got it in bloom from a friend at work. Kinda like Fred's red one but larger blooms. Can swap in a year or so. Mine grew several new growths in a year.

[orchid_girl]

Sorry it took so long, but here is my little one. As I said I bought it last year on sale. I have no idea what the color is so I guess I'll have to wait and see

[solay]

Looks very healthy and has new growth too. Red, white, purple, pink, hummm...

[orchid_girl]

The new groth just started recently. I am hoping for either red or purple but I'll tke any of them....lol!!

[sandra]

Originally Posted by orchid_girl

The new groth just started recently. I am hoping for either red or purple but I'll tke any of them....lol!!

Do these come in purple? I've never seen a Christmas Cactus in purple. Where do I get them? I'll take 10!!!

[solay]

Don't take my word for it but i thought there was one in lavender or purplish.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by solay

Don't take my word for it but i thought there was one in lavender or purplish.

okey doke solay. I bought a lavender one, out of bloom last year. First time I ever saw this color...can't wait for the blooms on this one!

[solay]

Sandra that was quick! I can't wait to see the blooms too. I think I will keep an eye out for one since I think I prefer it over the red.

[arleneg]

There's one that produces lavender blooms?! I want one.

Sandra -- Is there a specific name for that plant?!

[fred]

I am going to be rude again have a look at the pics I took about 5 hours ago.



the whole plant the same plant in post 25

[sandra]

The thread has evolved into the topic of Christmas Cacti so what's rude about posting your pics, Fred? BTW, it's gorgeous.

Originally Posted by arleneg

There's one that produces lavender blooms?! I want one.
Sandra -- Is there a specific name for that plant?!

Arlene, the tag just read, "lavender" and if the tags weren't switched, it'll be my first one. Actually, I bought 2 and potted them together. I think I have every color they come in now and I suspect, there will be a lot to be found in lavender this Autumn.

[fred]

umm I think the question went to never seen a purple one I just had to post lol

[arleneg]

Fred -- I love the color on that! Thanks for sharing.

Sandra -- Wow...which colors do you have?

Maybe, the title should be changed to zygo cacti??

[orchid_girl]

Fred those are absolutely gorgeous!! I love the colors!! They are so bright!!

[patticake]

Fred, The color on your Easter cactus is gorgeous!

[sandra]

Originally Posted by arleneg

Sandra -- Wow...which colors do you have?

white, fuchsia, red, peach, yellow, coral and lavender.

[solay]

Fred, that fuchsia colored one with the stacked petals are so pretty. There's just so much variations on cacti.
Sandra, I'll be keeping my eyes out for different colors. I think lavender and peach sounds nice. I usually see them at the grocery stores.

[sandra]

The coral one is magnificent. It's like a orangey pink and so beautiful that I bought another one last winter.

[arleneg]

I'll have to keep an eye out for the peach and coral colors.