Mid-Atlantic Gardening: HOLIDAY CACTUS GENERAL DISCUSSION - PART #6, 2 by JBerger

JBerger wrote:
Sorry to have been among the missing but this is the beginning of our only Sale season and we need to make it between now and Christmas Eve, or wait another year and see if things get better. The hurricane and noreaster we had all within two weeks gave these babies a shock but they hopefully will suvive. We have over 500 baby trees that thank God has some washout but not too much that could not be fixed. They all look pretty sick and it will be Spring before we can tell if they are alive.

I have only one that I really think is as close to a true Christmas Cactus as any I have seen on eBay or anywhere else. I would love to get my hands on a real one but there is a hybrid in so many of them that you can hardly find them. I think there is also a question in my mind what is really a true CC. The one I have that I have named Petra's Pink is the only one of all of mine that begins to bloom at Christmas. In fact, it is only now showing tiny buds and it has a month to go, so it is pretty much on time. I sent pictures of its leaves to the Cactus Guide.com and they agree that it is different but that there are signs of a hybrid in the shape of the leaves.

I feel the only Schlumbergera that is close to a True Christmas cactus is S. russelliana and that blooms late December into February. That is the one that I think I have but mine has a Hybrid in it someplace. LOL
You could drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is a True. If you read the book Christmas Cacti by A.J.S, McMillan and J.F. Horobin you will be even more confused..........so find one that blooms close to Christmas and just be happy...who cares what it is called. I am getting too old for all this knowledge.

My pacemaker is working and I am still healing. Had no idea a small procedure like that could take so much out of you. They tell me it will be at least two months before I am allowed to put my left arm above my head to reach for anything. Can't you see me remembering that? Have a wonderful day my friends and love those plants. They will love you back. JB

This is the Petra's Pink stem and you can see it does not have the hybrid points on it. It is a much thinner and finer plant than most of the old hybrids. Hope this helps.