Schlumbergera (Xmas Cactus)

[Hummer344]

These cactus seem to bloom earlier and earlier. Last year the pink one bloomed before Halloween and now this year the red one joined in. Does this make the Halloween Cactus? I also have a white one that is about to bloom. Been feeding them the same stuff that I feed my orchids. Wish my orchids would bloom like these two plants.Thought I would share a couple of pictures.

[articuno75]

Holy wormtea! I wish the one I have looked like that. Hehehe. I'll show these pics and tell it that when it grows up it has to look like that. LoL (Mine's in a puny three in pot)

[Hummer344]

Jenny,
The big pink one belonged to my mother and was almost dead when I got it. That was over 10 years ago. The red one I started from a single cutting about 5 years ago. I seem to have better luck with these then I do with some of my orchids.

[brookn]

I have one that's in a bulb pan, about the same size as your smaller one. I am hoping for a show like that this year!

[Caliope]

Wow! you're doing an amazing job with them. I have one that is in bloom right now too but sadly it doesn't look as good as yours. Mine is pink.

Do you grow them outside or do you bring them in at this time of year?

Thanks for the tip on feeding them like my orchids that might be the trick.

[luindo18]

Hi Hummer,

Very beautiful. The red one is pretty. Mine is blooming too.
No flower for last year until I figured out how to take care of it.
The red one is on my wish list thanks.

[dr_frnkblck]

Is there a specific way to make them bloom? I have one I've grown from a cutting that's easily quadrupled in size that hasn't bloomed in the 3 years.
I'd say it was bigger than luindo18's.

[norris]

Hummer, those are great blooms and great plants!

[luindo18]

dr frnkblck, last year I put mine at bathroom .. no flower at all. Then summer this year, I brought outside (shade area) and start to bloom at October. I think this plant need dark more than 10 - 12 hours per day. I hope this help.

[lmartiny]

I have heard to let them dry out to prompt bud growth. But mine get whatever else is out in the yard and they are all forming little buds but they are not has advanced.

[dr_frnkblck]

Mine definitely doesn't get a long dark period or a drying out period, I'll have to try both.

[Hummer344]

Hey Doc,
I have them on my patio in the back with my orchids. they get LOTS of filtered sun in the morning then shade in the afternoon. I water them weekly along with my orchids. At the begenning of Sept I move them to shade only. They stay outside all year (to big to come inside) but I protect them with a tarp if freezing temps are expected. They have no drying out period. As stated above, I feed them with the orchid food I use including a little worm tea.

[fred]

thanks for posting David
we my wife and I have about 5 of these in bud at present as well
we have ours in full sun under lazar light though

[articuno75]

These have to have a cool period, kind of like Phals. I can't remember the range, but I think there has to be several nights in the low 50s to make them bloom.

[patticake]

Mine are all budded(tiny) My baby that I grew from seed doesn't have buds, but it's still less than a year old. A friend gave me cuttings from her yellow one that I had given her cuttings from! Mine all died when my house froze 2 yrs. ago. I've started re-growing them. I have a really cool seed pod on one that I crossed last year. It will be another year before it's ripe. I'll post some pics when mine bloom.

You're right about the drier, cooler darker period. Mine are in the house, and I don't really do anything different except hold back on fert., and water at a minimum, starting Sept.

Dave, Yours are gorgeous!! I guess they ARE Halloween cactus!!

[dr_frnkblck]

Patti- when you say water at a minimum, what is a minimum? Once a week? or less? Normally I keep mine wet pretty much most the time. I'll stop watering today and move it across the room from a window and see if that helps...

[patticake]

I water them normally like any of my plants- as soon as they approach dry. Lots of sun, too. September, I stop fert. and only water them enough to keep them from wilting. maybe every 2 weeks? I keep them in a room that doesn't have lights on in the evening, as that will affect them too. I still keep them at the window, since it gets cool there at night -they're just in a room that we're not in watching tv, etc.

[Caliope]

My Christmas cactus started blooming around Halloween and they are still blooming and it's nearly Valentines now.

Anyone else still have them in bloom?

[NancyG]

Once they start blooming do you keep them on the dry side. I had mine outside and it did beautifully for awhile and then a bunch of the buds dropped off.

[Hummer344]

Believe it or not, my big cactus is still blooming.
Nancy: I don't water mine very much at all during the winter. After a couple of rains I move them under the eves so they don't get any more water. don't know about the buds but it might be heat related in your area.

[Caliope]

I keep mine on my covered porch. The original buds bloomed and then fell off but the remaining buds are still blooming and a few have yet to bloom. I don't water it very often right now. But... I have never had the blooms keep it up for so long.

[CharliesAngel51]

Thanks for this thread. It reminded me that I have one that needs to be repotted. It didn't bloom too well this year but it does still have one bloom on it. I guess it just doesn't want to give up. LOL
Mine is on a east facing porch. Gets sun until a little after noon. I water it when I think of it, feed it Miracle Gro once in a while and quite often neglect it. I never bring it inside or protect it in any way from the weather, hot or cold. Mine is pink. I want to get a red one. Maybe I will be able to find one next Christmas time.

Maybe with better care it could look like yours, beautiful!!!

Margaret

[Hummer344]

CharliesAngel: In your area they should bloom really good. In Sept, move them into a very low light area. Also, on fertilyzer, I feed mine with a balanced orchid food. Makes things easier. When I fert. my orchids, my cactus gets a shot(if I remember)

[CharliesAngel51]

I will certainly try the orchid food. I always have that mixed. I don't keep the Miracle Gro mixed. Mine usually blooms really well, just not this year. It was neglected more than usual.

[hulaorchid]

Bummers! mine has just finished blooming! but I think I have a seed pod!!

[Caliope]

How cool is that? What does the seed pod look like. I've certainly never had one show up on mine.

[hulaorchid]

Well my plant is the magenta flower color. It looks like a rose hips(magenta colored) if you ever seen them. I'm not sure thats what it is. I'm going to have to investigate!

Hummer344 -do you have any info on this

[CharliesAngel51]

I have certainly never seen anything like that on mine and I have had it for several years.

[sunshine]

Here is my Christmas cactus from last year.





Right now my cactus is blooming. In September I will find a dark/cool corner
in the house and give it just enough to live until about the end of October. Then bring it out and water and fertilize. I like a 17-17-17 time released.

I do believe they like their feet pinched in order to bloom. This has been in the same pot for awhile. It seems very happy. If it's happy, I'm not disturbing
it When I go this it was in a 4 inch pot at the local grocery store around
Christmas,

[articuno75]

I still can't get over how everyone's bloomed this year and mine just brain farted. I'll just have to hope for this coming winter.

[Hummer344]

Look at my first post on this. The biggest plant in the picture: Would you belive that there is still a blossom on this plant. Operant word is: A blossom. Its about ready to fall off.