I shall continue to let others worry with the Latin and making of name tags. I just propagate and grow for fun. I select on sight when in bloom or in a catalog on line.
Feeding teas weakly weekly starts with a number of products you can make tea from. Compost tea...yours is the right price and excellent. Worm cast tea...yours is at the right tea. At most lawn and garden centers you can buy kelp and fish liquids individually or all in one product.
Here's nickel lesson on tea. No mater what we talk about the trick is to hold up a clear glass or other container to the sky and look through the tea. It should be no darker than any tea you would drink. Weak tea is about half as strong. The safe window is quite wide. No how hard is that?
If you know a farmer or can buy a bale of alfalfa soaking it in water makes a good tea. You may pull a smaller amount of green growing plants and use that...with permission of course.
In the North East there is a rest period from bloom time to about the middle Februrary. I do not feed between January and the middle of Februrary. Sometime soon there after they start to show new growth. This is when I start feeding again and also do my major pinching back for cuttings and shaping up the plants.
You may have to adjust your acknowledgement of a rest period for those called Easter types. Mine all look the same and bloom roughly from Thanksgiving to about Easter. I was not aware of there being a line of specific and different plants designed to bloom in the Easter time period. I am not interested in developing another cactus just for the Easter time period. By that time I am seeing Crocus and Daffys. My attention is then turned and thinking outside plants.
Holiday Cacti General Discussion Forum
Thanks Doc for clarifying about the weakly weekly tea. So you begin that regimine around the middle of Feb ....
Question: When do you stop the weakly weekly tea regimine?
I did find it interesting to learn about the differences amongst the holiday cacti. But by the time March rolls around, my focus will be elsewhere.
MARY
I MISSED ONE POINT that works well for me. In the feeding period I make the last feeding in each month one that is acid based for acid loving plants. I use the same organic one that I use on roses, azalias and blue berries. I use a skimpy half of a teaspoon full for a four inch pot working it into the top quarter to half inch soil. The use of organic fertilizers almost totally eliminates fertilizer burn. Keep an eye on the plants. If they turn to dark green and show very fast growth back of on the fertilizer no matter which kind you use.
Thanks Docgipe, That helps a lot. I was about to start feeding my holiday cacti and orchid cacti too soon. Our last frost here will be in early March, so I may start feeding again by the end of january.
Carolyn, I am sure if the ammonia were to highly concentrated, it would burn your plants, but the nitrogen in most fertilizers comes from ammonia, so the plants really do well with it.
I have a couple of epi cacti and dragon fruit cacti that grew over 6 feet long one year using that formula. It worked wonders for just about all of my plants.
Thanks for the info on tagging. I never knew you could do that.
JB, I thought Thanksgiving cacti and Christmas cacti were the same "zygocactus" and the easter cactus was a rhipsalis. Are there differences between the Thanksgiving and christmas cacti? Maybe I should go read some of the links again.
I had 4 different colors bloom this season. here are a few pics. They aren't great, but I took them with my cell phone and very little light.
This one is the white, it has just a tiny stripe of fucshia down the center of each bloom.
This one is that weird pink that isn't rose and isn't fuschia. Don't know what it really is.
This is the fuschia colored one. I don't know what happened, but my yellow cactus didn't bloom this year. Maybe it will turn out to be an easter cactus and I will still see flowers.
Hope everyone has a great new year!
Morning Everyone, Happy New Year!
Just finished watering all the houseplants and I came to the conclusion that I have too many plants in the house. But, the greenhouse is full, so now what? Oh well. I will worry about that in a month or so.
ibartoo, how is it in SC these days? We still have plenty of snow here, I could send you some if you want me to.
O.K. Let's try and get our cacti identification correct. Yesterday we posted a few really good links on the History and Identification of these babies. . The ones I find most helpful on identification are these:
http://cactusepiphytes.pagesperso-orange.fr/z_page_les_cactu...
It shows you the pictures of the leaves of the most popular Schlumbergers, and there you will see that the Thanksgiving Cacti is the Schlumbergera truncata and the Christmas Cacti is Schlumbergera x buckleyi..... then if you go to this link,
cactus.biology.dal.ca/paulS/christmas/christmas.html#christmas" target="_dgnew"rel="nofollow">http://cactus.biology.dal.ca/paulS/christmas/christmas.html#...
That will explain why the Thanksgiving Cacti is also called Zygo-Cactus. It has to do with the flowers being asymmetrical (zygomorphic).......much too complicated for my old mind, but it does make sense.
The Thanksgiving Cacti is sold in many places as a Christmas Cacti , because that name makes them sell best, and they bloom before Christmas and usually are in bloom a full month before the real Christmas Cacti. You can tell by the leaves on the T-Cactus
the difference. They have pointed soft points on them.. the actual C-cactus leaf has no points.
Look at the difference on the two links.
I hope this helps you tell them apart. When you read about them I am sure you will be able to tell the difference. It is so interesting. The Easter Cacti is also a bit different in the leaves.
When you have time, you should take a small sample of the leaves of your beautiful plants and send us pictures so we can see if you have Christmas or Thanksgiving Cacti,
Those pictures are great and thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Must get back to posting tax information. Blah, I hate the IRS. JB
JB - all I can think of is Scarlett O'Hara LOL. But I'll think about that tomorrow.....
Could you please repost that link? I cannot pull it up.
Thanks
Carolyn, I copied that from Mary's post. Here is the link I use when i want to see it.
It is called Recognition and Culture of the Holiday Cacti they are notes by Paul Brunelle.
It this does not work, please let me know.
I'm afraid you lost me with Scarlett O'Hara??????????not sure what you were referring to.
http://cactus.biology.dal.ca/paulS/christmas/christmas.html
JB--
Aren't you PROUD? We are over 50 Posts already! In just a few days!
I am glad you kept it here on the MAF....The rest of the DG people will come--if they care to explore....
The reference to Scarlet O'Hara was from the movie "Gone with the Wind".
Surely, you have seen it???
Scatlet was a bit scatterbrained--and if she didn't want to deal with any issues on any
particular day--she would just say--"Fiddle dee--I will worry/think about it tomorrow"....
Loved that link you rovided--I read through most of it--but looking at all the "Monthly photos" got too
long and I gave up.
I "Bookmarked"----Carolyn--is that different than tagging a site???
I have so many categories in my "Documents" where I save everything i wan to keep.
I found the link especially valuable b/c it morphed from X-mas cacti into other Epis--of which
I have 3 different ones---Ric Rac cactus and two Red Epis ----ALL have amazing blooms!
Thanks--Gita
Here is a bloom on my Red Epi in June, 2009.
This is great! Love this post!!!
Another shot---
BTW--I think this huge bloom spread was the "swan song" for this plant....
It almost, completely died while in the house the following winter--got all dessicated..
I rescued what I could and in the spring--started a new HB with the more promising
left-over pieces as well adding some that I had rooted. It WILL live again!
Hope it will also bloom as spectacularly as it did in 2009.
Here is a bloom from my RicRac cactus in 2006.
This particular plant got too huge for me to deal with--so I donated it away to the
Rawlings Conservatory here in baltimore--where it lives happily on a rock above a huge pond
in the Mediterranean House.
It's progeny--by now also huge--hangs in a corner of my LR. I have high hopes that it will
bloom for me this coming Summer--as it is getting really pot bound....
Hey Gita................beautiful plants, now please tell me what they are? A RicRac is from what family, or genus....I know what you call your Epi..............that is a Easter Cactus, Correct? but the RicRac you lost me.
They are wonderful specimens and I would never give them up. You could have built an extra room for your Ric Rac...........but now you are sharing it with so many people. How wonderful of you to donate it.
Yes, I am glad so many people are dropping in and participating. Everyone is welcome and we will all have a gazillion questions which I hope they will take the time to answer.
You are right about that site being so long and full of information. I go back to it ever so often and just dream of owning a collection like that.
I guess some people consider CC just a houseplant, when in fact, it is a wonderful garden plant for those in the right Zone. Even for those in our area, they are happiest when taken out in the Spring and brought back in to bloom in the Fall. I think when more people realize they are not just Holiday plants, the interest will grow even more. We will see if after the holidays, the interest is still here. I am so glad I stayed here on the MAF and I do hope other DG people find us. I think Melody will stop in now and then to see how we are doing. We just may end up getting a listing someplace to guide them here. LOL
Must leave you all for the night. My kids and I are going to an early dinner to celebrate the New Year. They are on duty tonight for the emergency squad in our little Township so we must be back before all the drunks get on the road. ^_^ Happy New Year to all!
This is a fun and info packed thread. ( (applause))
JB - Scarlett O'Hara always said 'I'll think about that tomorrow'. I just saw that movie again, which is why it reminded me. I did not mean anything bad by it as I love the movie and have to watch it again every so often.
You are so right about the Holiday Cacti being used as garden plants. I did get quite a few of mine in a trade with a nice gentleman from California. He said he had them growing out in his backyard.
I love the pictures Gita. I have to ask - are the flowers on the Ric Rac Cactus always that color or are there different types? I love the Ric Rac and have been trying to get some in trade for a while.
I have 2 Red Epis---but only the one has bloomed...
This past spring I transplanted them both into a 10" HB to give them some fresh soil
to grow into--as well as a bit more room. They had both been in a cramped 6" ceramic pot.
I am hoping to see the other one bloom as well--as I do not know just what that would
look like.
I got both of these as single leaf-cuttings from "kachinagirl" in CA--as well as my NBC. in 2006.
Out of all 3 of these--only the one has bloomed...
Here they both are right now.......hanging in front of my large LR window....Looking good!
I KNOW one--or both of these--will set a bloom long before I ever take them outside....
It has happened in the last 2 years,,,
Carolyn,
I do not know if the Ric Rac has other varieties. OH! Yes I do! Mine is the "Anthonyanus" one.
There is another Ric Rac and it's blooms are sort of yellowish.
However--the leaves are opposite each other in that one--as the one I have,
the leaves are alternate to each other...like in the ric-rac trim you buy in sowing.
Go to PF to see. I only have the one I have--and that is the bloom color on the one I have...
JB--The Ric Rac and the red Epis, etc...are all in the "Orchid Cactus" family.
In the link you provided--I said I liked how it "morphed" into all the Epiphytes as well.
Also--IF you had gone to the Orchid Cactus Forum--the search for information, on just
Holiday Cactus would have gotten "lost"--as this classification of plants is sooooo HUGE!
I bet you that the Ric Rac is among all those pictures there--somewhere....in that link....
Here is a picture of my Ric Rac in it's winter location. Far away from the windows--and kept fairly dry...
This is hanging in a corner of my DR. It is bigger than it looks!
Gita
Gita
It is beautiful! All of your plants are lovely and so healthy looking.
Hey, I just stopped in to say Good Nite and see what is happening.
Carolyn, I never thought you were being ugly with Scarlett, I just figured I missed something. Honey. at my age I am pretty sharp, but there are times when I feel like I am a day late and a dollar short . It is funny that I never really remembered Scarlett as you all say. It has been so long since I have even thought of Clark Gable and Gone with the Wind that now I think I want to see it again. Oh God, where will I find the time?
Gita, those plants are out of this world. How to you keep them so healthy. Again, I missed something in reading all the information. I do not remember reading about the Orchid Cactus, yet I know there is a connection. I need to study the connection. Maybe on here someone could help me connect the dots. I am not a cactus fan, but these plants are so special, I could spend a lifetime learning all I could about them. I need to find the connection for sure. Put that down as something you need to help me with please.
I am so happy people like it here and are pleased with the information and the companionship. I see no reason why we can not all be one big happy family, except, I want Gita's plants and she will not give them to me. WAAAAAAA
I must go to bed. It is almost 8 PM and I like to lay in my comfy king size bed with my buddy Barney and watch TV until I fall asleep. Wake up in time for the ball to drop on Time Square and then eat something and go back to sleep until dawn and then up and running again.
I had the best broiled scallops for dinner. I brought some home for the cats. I also had sweet potato fries and a crab dip with garlic bread plus a few glasses of Merlot. A delightful crispy salad with oil and vinegar dressing....... Tell me that isn't the way to send out an old year and get ready for a new one. I am stuffed. BURP!!!!! I am so bad!
Love you all, thanks for visiting with me and my friends and please stay well and safe and Happy New Year. JB
See you all tomorrow.
When does the Ric Rac bloom? What color(s)?
I know I am going to have to review this entire thread ... but not tonight!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!
MARY
JB, you made me hungry!
Mary, the ric rac is like most of the epi's it won't bloom until it is rootbound. Mine is huge, but it hasn't ever bloomed.
I love to put the epi's in hanging baskets and hang them from my oak trees. They seem to love the dappled light and they get watered every time I water the other plants, so they are happy. Right now my greenhouse has more epi's and plumeria in it than anything. LOL, I just don't bring the plants in the house. For some reason once a plant comes in the house it is like a death sentence. I cannot keep one alive indoors. I don't know why.
Here is a link to a post I wrote on my blog when my queen of the night epi bloomed. Check it out if you get a chance.
http://sandypetals.blogspot.com/2010/09/if-only-computers-had-smell-o-vision.html
JB!
Where did you get the idea that i will not give you any plants??????
I LIVE to share plants!!!!! D-mail me and ask what you would like to have----for postage.
I am SOOO generous! Ask--and you shall receive! What would you like to have?
How do I keep them healthy? I take ALL my plants outside for the Summer--ALL of them!
Minding their light requirements--of course....
I think the plants love the fresh air and the humidity. That is what makes them look so healthy.
I bring them in whenever there is cold weather warning--or a bit sooner...have to play it by ear.
I do not have great light inside my house. Medium--at best...Because of my patio roof,
the light is cut--even if I have patio Windows in the roof. Yet--they all make it.
Believe me! I do not do anything special with my plants...I tend to ignore them....
Seldom fertilize them....Water them as needed only.
Luckily--my plants tend to stay free of any insect problems. I have never had any major
issues in this category--only my Brugs get mites---sometimes....
and I have to spray those...
Gita
Here is a picture from 2009 of my budding red Epi. Too straggly for my taste....
To the left of the Epi is my Ric Rac cactus. They share hanging on this pole I have...
It holds my pull our laundry lines.
You can also see my patio pretty well on this shot...plus my fave seat in the house--the Porch Swing....
hanging there---AHHH! Resting on it in the hot summer...sitting there swinging...with a cold beer! Heaven!
I remember the days when someone opened a subject that most posters stuck to the subject adding their two cents or keeping to the sidelines as a learning lurker. Not so any more. I think it is a sorry clear state of the union observation indicating no respect for any forum members attempting to be specialized. Could it possibly be that some of those who left this site did so to possibly regain a sense of order and respect to the thread or forum subject indicated in the header?
More than a few forums are seemingly chaired by "my way or the highway" leaders. More than a few seem to enyoy forum busting and even brag about it. None sit at the right hand of God because they seem to think they are God apparently in His chair. Frankly I have considered evaporating myself. When I die I want to come back as a female tick. I will then teach my offspring to chew on those I have on my list. I shall then crawl under a leaf and lay another thousand eggs because I heard a voice in the wind utter the comment, "good job my daughter".
Doc!
WHY would you say all that????? Having a bad hair day?
This Thread was started by JB so there would be a place to discuss all aspects of the Holiday cCactus,
which also include other Epipylums. They are ALL in the Orchid Cactus family!
She has been very happy with all the responses and the Posts made here.
What was it here, on this Thread, that caused you to make those statements?
OR--If your observations were from some other Thread--why post your opinions here?
You know we all look up to you and respect your knowledge on gardening...
Please explain?
You just threw ME for a loop!!!!
Gita
QUOTING THE FIRST POST
The purpose of this Thread is to give those of us who have a passion for the Holiday Cacti (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter) an opportunity to ask or answer questions, have discussions or merely show pictures of our prize possessions.
JB,
Do you feel that this Thread is going off-course because I have posted pictures of
other Orchid cactus? X-Mas cactus are in the same category.
Please comment if you do, as it appears that I am guilty of digressing to the Orchid cactus.
I will cease and desist if others feel I have digressed too much.
One of the last links posted had a lot more on it than just Schlumbergias....
I wanted to share the two I have had bloom.
Gita
Gita, I have to stand with Doc on this one.
JB started this because there is a forum where all the cacti are decussed and she and others wanted to learn more about the Holiday group and keep all the info on one thread. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=8280373
Here is a link to that post.
I know you love to share your beautiful plants with us but maybe a mention of the ric-rack here with a new thread link taking us to that decussion would have been a better way to go.
Happy New Year
I may be the one at fault for posting the link to the pictures on my blog. If so I do apologize.
Then--I also do apologize to JB! It is the fault of my scattered mind...
Will try to stay on the straight and narrow....
PEACE!!! And a Happy New Year to you all!!
Gita
OK! Staying on topic---
Here are a row of small pots with my Thanksgiving Cactus starts in them.
This is the window just above my kitchen sink. Faces North--NO sun at all...
Cold too...but--easy to remember to water them now and then.
I expect all these to bloom next year...It is so cute when they bloom--being so tiny....
My apologies to the group as I digressed too......
I am wondering - I dont' ever get a second flush of flowers on my Thanksgiving Cacti that is as full and pretty as the first flush - is this the same with others? I am wondering if is because I don't fertilize them.
Your thoughts.
WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE. WE WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS ON THIS FORUM OR BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL ANSWER TO ME. I AM ONE MEAN OLD LADY WHEN I GET PISSED. HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL CONTINUE.
I started this thread because some wise "A" told me I was off topic on their subject. I was embarrassed and upset because I do have questions regarding Holiday Cactus and I wanted answers and pictures, everything we have here.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH GOING OFF SUBJECT AS LONG AS WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WE ARE DISCUSSING THE TYPE CACTUS THAT DOES NOT HAVE THOSE DARN PRICKLY THINGS ON THEM.
I am in total agreement with Gita because the link we are discussing brings us into so many different types that I personally want to learn where they came from and what they are. I never knew about Rhipsalis, nor Hatiora, formerly Rhipsalidopsis or Easter Cacti until I began reading and asking questions. That is what we want here. Freedom to ask questions about any type cacti and if we do not have that answer here, be polite enough to find a link to send the person to that wants to discuss that kind. Not tell them they are off subject in a rude and snippy tone.
*******
In the exotic bird world I was considered quite a good breeder. They started a group that taught online classes on breeding birds and I was ask to be one of their instructors on hand feeding day one babies. That means No Mommy at all and when I taught the class I made it open to anyone feeding any type bird so all bird lovers could join in. I tell you this because, in all areas of expertise there will be those of us who can relate but maybe do not know what kind of plants they have. We can offer information and referral to all type cacti lovers.
*****
Having said that, I want to thank Doc for being concerned, but gee, i was taken back with the way it sounded too and I am sure you are not that grumpy all the time. We want to be relaxed here and not only enjoy each other, but become trusting friends in the cacti world of DG. I found on the forum Succulent and cacti, there are people who think they know it all and love to remind you of that. That is not going to happen here. I can assure you of that.
We all respect each other or we are told privately to leave. Those are my rules and I am bound to stick to it.
I do not care if you have one little cutting or a greenhouse full of specimens we all drool over, we are treated equally in this group.
Now, Gita.............I tease a lot, and when I said you would not give me your plants, I was saying ALL YOUR WONDERFUL STOCK PLANTS, HANGING BASKETS, ETC. you would not give me............I know you share, but to give up ALL your wonderful plants, I know you will not do that and that was what I was saying. If it came out otherwise, I do apologize. You are known for your kindness and sharing.....your reputation preceded you my friend.
What a way to start the year, but if we cleared the air it is good. No hard feelings, no nasty comments, just peace and love gang and let's hope we can have a great year talking cacti (without prickly things) and enjoying each others information and pictures.
Must go and move some things around my GH because my Aimee Gardenias are not happy in the bird room and they need to be watered down with a hose, and sprayed for mealy bug and I can not do it in here. I like happy plants. Both of them are over 5 ft tall and how I am going to make room in the GH is beyond me. Groaning loudly.
Lady, thank you for your comments, but so far no one has gotten off subject here because we are still in the process of discussing Holiday Cacti and on the link we were discussing that we all were muddling through "History of Christmas Cacti" it takes you on a journey that discusses all the other cacti Gita mentioned. She even made mention of how it was done. So, not to worry, when someone comes on board and they are asking something we do not know,about a cacti we are not discussing, we will tell them where to find the answer and that may be on the Succulent and Cacti Forum. Until then, we will just enjoy their company and make new friends.
Sermon is over, I hope I did not offend anyone, but if I did, I am sorry. When you get to know me you will find I am one sweet old lady, but do not push my buttons because then i turn into one mean old B****! Love you all. Happy New Year. JB
JB, I think we all had a group hug and started moving on with this great thread.
? When you take a cutting of your Holiday Cacti do you let the fresh cut scab over before potting it?
Lady, I was going to ask the same question of you all............I have never left the cut scab form before potting. In fact a few times I stuck them in water and rooted them in water.
Just lucky I guess. They root almost anywhere. I usually just stick them in coca coir and keep them really wet and warm to root them. I have also used just regular professional potting soil or MG regular potting soil. I do not have the space or time to buy different soils for different plants. My friend owns a Country Garden/Market and she sells me the soil she gets in the bales. Works fine. She starts all her cuttings in it also.
Must get out in that darn GH and move things around. I am putting it off and I must do it NOW.
Glad you had a group hug. ^_^
Gita, The plants on the window .............don't you have saucers under any of them. I did not see any saucers or did I miss that. I only have one good eye, so maybe I am not able to see them.
Cute little plants in the window! The cold doesn't bother them?
I enjoyed Gita sharing her other cacti pictures. I found that they share an interesting relationship with holiday cacti. Thanks Gita! I did not perceive your posts off topic …just a bit of diversity.
I also found some interesting links to share.
Rooting Christmas Cactus in water
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82738933.tip.html
Hybridizing holiday cactus (two links)
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cacti/msg1209275520777.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ca7/sierratses/page9.html
MARY
JB--
First of all--thank you for clarifying the "issues" here. I like your straight on approach!
You GO! Girl....
I just came and sat down--again--because my mind was in a state of unrest
about what all had just happened here. I knew you would not like it...
I was going to write one more time and remind everyone that followed your
discussions about how you hated to be reminded to "Stay on Topic" on the other Thread.
I was even thinking that, perhaps, the people that complained here--may not have been
following all the discussion you and I and others had re. starting this Thread right here.
It DOES include the words "General Discussion"--does it not?
And then! it happened here! I was, honestly, shocked!
We all tend to meander here on the MA--just like the Chesapeake Bay--
and no one has ever jumped in and complained.
Sorry you felt you had to do so, Doc. Now--shake it off and lets get back to having
educational conversations here--whichever way they may go. OK?
We all look up to you for good advice on so many things. Let's not let this come between any of us.
OK! To answer some of the above asked questions:
Lady and JB--Yes. I think it is a good idea to allow a fresh cut of any succulent to scab over.
It keeps the moisture in--and the rot out when it gets put into soil for rooting.
Remember the picture I posted of all the X-Mas cactus branches that broke off
and were sitting in my shop for over a month--and they were blooming?
When I was working for a grower--many times it was my job to take cuttings and
plant them to increase their stock.
One of the hardest to keep alive, as new cuttings planted in a mix, was the Desert Rose.
They would always rot out.
Then--one day, I decided to leave them all out for a day to scab over. I had heard that on
Allan Summers Radio "Garden Club"..He was very smart!
After that--we seldom lost any cuttings from this plant. SO! Yes! let them scab over.
My little plants on the window all are either pot-in-pot (outer pot not having any drainage)
or just in the taller clay pots. Clay pots are good--as any extra water will just evaporate
through the walls. Besides--at this stage--I am VERY careful not to water too much....
They have no roots yet.
I collect these small pots at work (HD) when they throw out--say--small Orchids-
Some of the Bell people actually save empty pots for me...
OK! I need to shower and get ready. Getting together with my daughter and SIL to
exchange out X-Mas gifts. We haven't done that yet...Bottle of Champagne is in my
fridge--so we can toast the New Year as well...
Big hug to all of you as well-- Gita
I have these small pots on 3 different window sashes.
Here--you can see how I have them pot-in-pot.
One good thing about the outer pot not having deainage is that i CAN go without a saucer.
