Mid-Atlantic Gardening: HOLIDAY CACTUS GENERAL DISCUSSION - PART #6, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
JB---If I am a silly goose---you are a honky monkey!

Been raking leaves. Just came in to take a break and see who is writing what.
Then I will go outside and suck/shred them up and bag them for posterity and good mulch in 2 yrs.
It is such a gorgeous day!!!made it up to 65* by now. This morning was cool--in the 50's.
Changed clothes once already.

I just re-potted the Red CC and the Salmon one into slightly larger, prettier pots in fresh, yummy mix.
I want to see any squirrels knocking these over!
I cannot tell you how many times the Salmon one has been knocked down from my tall plant stand!
It was just in a 5" plastic pot. Never any damage!
This plant is so sturdy and strong. Thick stems and segments. Very upright growth as well.

Both are just starting to show the miniscule bloom "nubbies" (my spell check loves these terms!).
I put the Salmon one in a heavy, decorated (Aztec-like--but NO colors, just natural) sand-colored pot.
Put the Red one in a black and charcoal designed, very heavy pot.

A couple of days ago I re-potted the OLD fuchsia/white one as well. Its stems are already somewhat woody.
Put little stakes in and tied the plant to them while it settles in.

JB--the picture I posted of the fuchsia/white one was from many years ago (2005 and 2006). It is no longer that big or lush.
Here is the weird part---I have ONLY ONE baby growing from this one. I was surprised when I took
inventory. I think it is because the Mama one is old and did not have too many healthy, firm tips to cut and root.
I gave away one to Ruby also--she asked for one.

As far as sending you the big Red one--that would be difficult. But--after it blooms--I can send you some cuttings.
I have several Salmon "juveniles" growing well. No problem sending you a few again.
You could look for a red one on sale at the Big Box stores or anywhere else. Then you will know
what you are getting.....

I really cannot tell from the "nubbies" if the ones I have marked 'white" are really going to be white???
One of them has a "nubbie" that is totally pale--possibly white? Some that I have marked as "white"
seem to have a touch of rose to the "nubbies"...Several pots are marked as Pink???? or white????.
We will see. That is why I wanted to wait one more week. Maybe the "nubbies" will be "bud--dies" by then.
Collecting broken off sections on a rack jammed with potted CC's is a hit or miss--as far as colors go.

Making bows! That is hard on the hands....By now--I could not do it any more--have Arthritis in all my fingers.
I worked for a florist one spring season (back in 1987) and whenever we had nothing to do, we all made bows.
Hundreds of bows! Every color of bows! They were all on the picks--as everything they sold went out the door
with a complimentary bow stuck into the pot.
This florist is an institution in Baltimore. Been around for close to 100 yrs. It is family owned.
VERY popular and very expensive. But--it is also in a part of town where that is the norm. Towson.
They have greenhouses (in another location) and grow their own annuals and such, which they also sell.
People think nothing of having a custom arrangement of garden plants made for them for mega-bucks.

To this day--whenever I go to the BIG, annual Spring Flower and Garden Show here at the Timmonium Fairgrounds--
I get to see my old boss--Joey Radebaugh. He always has remembered me. That is sweet.
Now and then--if I am cruising down their street--I stop in and get to say "Hi" to all the gals still working there.

Here are a couple of links to their location. Gita

http://www.radebaugh.com/ and http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/radebaugh-florist-greenhouses...

Remember when I sent you this? One of the pink babies bloomed in May of this year.
Should see more.....soon...