We are over 200 posts and hopefully we will continue to enjoy each other and share our thoughts, experience and pictures.
I am so happy to see so many wonderful comments and good information being shared here. Thank you all for being a part of this discussion. Keep 'em coming!
We came from here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1146809/#new
Holiday Cacti General Discussion Part #2
Good morning JB. Thanks for starting this continuation thread. Hugs to you as you learn new things and when you learn to get a pic in the title of a thread let me know!
I have no holiday cacti but if and when I do I know where to come. Again thanks to all as I've enjoyed following your discussions. Judy
Judy, there are enough of us that we can certainly see to it you get some cacti....in fact, if you send me your mailing address, I will put you on the list of people I am sending to as soon as the weather warms up to shipping temperatures. I have several small plants that are trying to survive in the greenhouse I will be happy to share with you. Thanks for your help. JB
Thanks for your gracious offer! May I take a rain check?
I do have a question tho, just incase like Gita and others a broken branch or piece on a greenhouse floor leaps in my pocket...
What size cuttings do you all take? Will a 12 inch branched piece root easily, too? How quickly do these cuttings grow? Do they double in size in a season, or...?
Thanks, judy
Thanks for asking that Judy! never thought about that, since I am new to these, but it would be great to know how fast they grow!
What size cuttings do you all take? Will a 12 inch branched piece root easily, too? How quickly do these cuttings grow? Do they double in size in a season, or...?
Judy and Skell, I can only speak for myself because as in many things, everyone seems to do things differently and I always say I will tell you what works for me. It may not be the best way to do it, but it works for me.
Having said that, I prefer to take smaller cuttings because then I have more control over how and when I can sell them. I take cuttings from 3 to 6 inches usually. That is on cactus only. The speed that these grow are again, depending on where they are, how much light and fertilizer they have, etc. I usually put a date on my tags so I can keep track of how old they are. I usually keep them three to six months or more before I sell them as starter plants. It depends on how they look.
In that time they have rooted and some have gotten new little growths. I have some two year old plants that are the same type plants, but different sizes in growth. Some were raised inside the house, others in the greenhouse, so again, it will depend on the plant and where you have it . (That is just my opinion).
I start my cuttings in cocoanut coir and some in potting soil, that too makes a difference in how long it takes to root and how fast they grow. I am not trying to confuse you, but to keep it simple, I like a smaller cutting because then it does not droop or look sad. That way I can sell them as soon as I am sure they are rooting.
When I take my black pussy willow cuttings, I cut them longer. Same with Jasmine and hibiscus. They do not droop. It is soon time to take the pussy willow cuttings because they will be showing their little catkins soon. Depending on the stupid weather. These I start in water. One in each test tube usually. That way I can keep an eye on the individual cutting instead of sticking them all in a glass. Which is fine if you prefer doing it that way. I find that this way I do not damage the roots when I separate them if I have them all together in one container.
Later, JB
skell--
I have rooted larger sections--like after an accident...
I do not know, exactly, the time frame..as I tend not to pay too
much attention to the plants until Fall.
The little sections--like I mailed out--which are just 2 or 3 leaves
big root pretty easily.
Do the gentle tug-test on your cuttings. If you feel any resistance--
they have started rooting.
They will grow now--slowly--during the winter, spring and fall--
and some of them will actually bloom. I think I posted a picture
of one such cutting back in the previous Thread.
I willsend this--and then hgo back and try to find it...
Gita
OMG! I just realised that I haven't paid you for those yet! I'm so sorry! I'll get you some money out tomorrow first thing! I don't know how I could have spaced that out. Must be that darn CRS sickness I keep suffering from.
skell--
I spaced out too--I forgot to mail JB her cuttings!
She reminded me--and I feel so bad! Will do it asap...
So you see--I have forgotten something as well.
I always think that $1 something not reimbursed will
hardly change my life....not going to spend time thinking about it....
Take care, Gita
Morning People! This is another cloudy day and during my morning GH check I took some shots of the Christmas Cactus that are still surviving this wicked winter.
This shot is the one of the Pink and Magenta/white that were started Sept. 2010.
How did you like that. No picture. Sorry. Here it is now. These were started March of 2010, which makes them almost 1 year old. The next pic will be the ones started in Sept. and June of 2010.
Now these are the summer and fall cuttings of 2010.
This may answer your questions about how fast they grow. They are not the most speedy species for growth, but they are well worth waiting for. Enjoy your day and I will see you all later. I must get into town now. JB
Before part 2 gets too far along I wanted to list links to other recent discussions here that planted the seeds for this on going thread. Very good info and pics on each,
FYI
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1090103/?hl=christmas+cactus
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1141662/?hl=christmas+cactus
Just enter "christmas cactus" in the search forums box at the top of this page and you"ll find others!
Hi everyone, I'm just checking in. Haven't started any new ones or done anything plant wise, so I am all chatter today. Hope you are all warm and dry and feeling better. Linda
Back from town. Finally got off the farm. It was a week and I was getting cabin fever.
Judy, thanks so much for those links. I had seen them before, but you know, everytime I read one over again, I seem to learn or reinforce my own ideas. Doc is so great. He has some beautiful plants. I was pleased to see he buys from Whitton because I have ordered from them in the past and I was very pleased with the plants I got.
Linda, are you expecting rain or snow tomorrow night. I thought they said it was another coastal storm, yet I was just so overwhelmed with the word SNOW again, that I just did not listen to where is was coming from. LOL. I truly have just about had my limit.
Just can not seem to get interested. I am waiting for several plants to stop blooming so I can transplant them. I also have some small ones that need to go into bigger pots. Yet, no energy and interest when every day it is either snowing or cloudy and so cold. the sun actually came out today. You had to look quickly because it went in just as quick as it came out.
Hope you all check in even if you have nothing "plantable" to talk about. Let us hear from you anyhow. Hugs. JB
JB, it is supposed to be brutally cold here, but no snow that I know about. Yesterday was gorgeous! highs were in the upper 50's and Mom and I got out and spent the day together. It was fun.
I really need to get the greenhouse watered today. I tried to talk DS into doing it yesterday, but he bailed when his friends came over. LOL
I will check in later today.
Sea Ya
Good Morning Friends, IT SNOWED AGAIN. only about an inch, but now the wind has picked up and the temperature is quickly falling and the snow is blowing. This is the most frustrating winter I can remember.
I have decided after the Computer guy comes today I am going to transplant some young CC no matter what.
My African Gardenia is blooming and I am thrilled. I purchased it from Logees in August and it is beautiful. The one I had before got sick and I am trying to save it. It too has a few buds on it. If you are at all interested in fragrant gardening, this is one you need to try.
Must take a walk. I already did my Yoga, yes, I do Yoga, not hard stuff but to relax and help my anxiety. It is very helpful.
Did you all take a vacation or are you just so fed up with the weather you do not have anything to say. I hope you did not leave for good. It is difficult to concentrate on plants, seeds and other hobbies when you have this weather to contend with. It just takes all my energy to survive and get the supplies and keep appointments when it snows every other day.
Hope you are all well and just too busy to chat. Hugs. to all JB
JB--
I will post---not that I have much to say--but, have you ever seen a SHORT post from me?
I am long-winded. Rambling--would be a good description.
Sat. morning here....Slept 11 hrs last night. Ten hours is pretty common--unless
I have to set the alarm to go to work. Then I get up before 7AM. I usually work 9-6.
Tomorrow I have to, once again, set up[ my table at work with the topic being
"How to re pot your Houseplants". Last Sunday--I did ONE--even though I stood there from 10-1PM.
The day before (last Saturday) I did one 4" plant and talked to a couple of people.
This area has a large plant display--and my table is in the front. The problem is that
most people passing by have already made their purchases and are heading for the cash registers.
Anyway---I have nothing new to report on my Holiday cacti. They are all sitting in their little pots
on all my window sashes. I will get yours soon and mail it. Not going out in this 15* weather....
Been working on all my seeds. Have to get that done so I can strike it from my :must do" list.
I put give-away amounts in those little 3" zip bags. print name, basic care, size etc. on slips
and put them inside the baggie. Then all these baggies ho into a bis.-size envelope which
has the name of the plant and a picture of it on the front.
These all sit in a box which people are free to scavenge from. I call this method "hands free"
trading. I ask nothing in return...
Here's my box.....
Doc--are you huffing and puffing 'cause I have sinned again and digressed?
JB made me do it...She said we should post....:o) Just obliging.....
JB I made this for you! Enjoy
There's a site called spokeo.com that's a new online USA phone book with personal information: everything from pics you've posted on FB or web, your approx credit score, pics of where you live, income, age.
Remove yourself by searching your name, find the page for yourself, copy the URL and then go to the bottom of the page and click on the Privacy link
http://www.spokeo.com/privacy
to remove yourself.
MARY
It appears that my grandaughter did not include all the removal directions .... which are
How do I remove my information from Spokeo’s search results?
Spokeo respects your privacy, and you can easily opt out of Spokeo’s public search if desired. Please note that since the information aggregated by Spokeo is publicly available, opting out of Spokeo does NOT remove the information from its original sources, which are hundreds of additional websites. You can remove the search results derived from performing any Name, Reverse Phone or Reverse Email searches here.
To remove your Name/Phone/Email Listing(s):
1. Locate the listing to remove (for name listings, please select the state, city, then exact profile match)
2. Copy the URL (the URL can be found on the top of your browser and should look something like “http://www.spokeo.com/search?q=Smith%20Sample#Sample:1219812367″)
3. Go to www.spokeo.com/privacy
4. Paste the URL
5. Provide your email address (this acts as a verification process for the confirmation to be sent to your Inbox) and Captcha Code (Image Verification Code)
6. Check you Inbox for the confirmation email, and click on the link on the bottom to complete the removal process.
7. The directory listing will become flagged and will be removed within 1 business day.
I am no longer in their listing. (I was before)
MARY
That spokeo is frightening. Why/who would possibly want that much info about you and your activities.
JB, I am thinking about you and the snow. The weather people are calling for snow for me, so I am sure you are getting it too. I never remember getting snow 3 times in 1 year. This is really weird. Does global warming really only exist during june, july, and august?
Gita, I like your seed box method. I need to do something like that with my seeds. Mine are in the little baggies, but then they are thrown in an expanding file and I have a hard time finding anything.
Has anyone ever tried growing christmas cacti, or orchid cacti from seed? They must make seed, or there would be no way to get hybrids. I will research it and see what I can find. If I find something interesting, I will let you all know.
I must make lunch, the guys think I have gone on strike.
Stay warm everyone, I will check on you later.
Linda
I appreciate the heads up on this. I just tried to remove my whole family and they limit the amount of times you can use the privacy links.
Linda, that will be fun if we can do it. We will be waiting for you to come up with something. LOL
I am still trying to get some things done. Had to go into town this morning to get my glasses adjusted. Then I had to go for gasoline. $2.97 a gallon. Then I had to feed the dogs, take the garbage out and try not to fall on my butt.
Now I am sitting a second before I do the inside birds. I wanted to take care of the outside birds before it did anything like snow again. It is too cold to snow, but it is very cloudy and it was 5 deg. this morning.That my dear friends is too cold for this old girl, but I went out dressed in layers and did fine.
Actually took a nice long walk carefully on the grass that was not frozen around the little tree field. It felt good to walk again on grass even if it was frozen and a bit icy
When will you guys start to plant your seeds? I will look in the seed book for CC seeds.
Oh Lady, I love my picture of the lamb, thank you so much. Keep those Think Spring things coming. please.
Gita, your box of seeds is really something. That must take some time getting all the info on the bags, seeds counted (or do you weigh them). Really nice
Mary, I am just going to let them use my information if they can. I am so tired of trying to keep things private that it makes me crazy. I pay the bank for protection and then I go on Facebook and post stuff. I am careful what I post but if they want to get into your system they will do it. Hackers are a mess. I spent most of the day yesterday having the computer guy working on my PC. I have to use a backup system because I have not only my stuff on my PC but the Horse Park of New Jersey files from the time they started. I spent two hours weeding out things I did not need any longer. Trying to save some money. LOL
Back later, thanks for all checking in. You are so sweet and friendly.
Doc must have given up on us. I wanted him to start a "Birds in our Garden" Thread in MidAtlantic Gardening but I have not heard from him if he will. It would be fun to keep track of the birds that show up in our gardens since we are all in the same area. I think birds and flowers go together. Just a thought. I go on the Bird Watching site but they get so involved I do not have time to deal with that. I just like to discuss the birds that are in my yard feeding on the plants and seeds I throw out, whatever.
iobartoo,
Thanks--it works good for me....I like being organized if i do something like this.
Once I get all my seeds in all the envelopes the last thing i will do is put all the envelopes
in alphabetical order. I only use the common names--don't know the others--
Veggies are in a front section of all the rest--divided off by a cardboard "wall"....
Lady--your card is SOOOO adorable!!!! Can I have your permission to copy it out?
Thanks, Gita
Sure Gita, As long as you don't make a profit on it selling it to a card company. LOL Just kidding about the profit.
JB--We cross-posted.....
Re portioning out the seeds--I don't count them or weigh them--
GOD! I would be here till next Christmas!!!! Can you imagine counting
Foxglove seeds??? Or Poppies?
I an usually generous with my seeds--as I have enough. Too many of some!
I am more frugal if I only have a few of something.
Doc already started the Birds Thread...here is the link.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1150388/
Gita
JB. Doc did start a bird forum, he just did not do a link. Here you go. Don't forget to mark it for you watched forums. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1150388/
Gita. LOL we cross posted again !
This message was edited Jan 22, 2011 2:20 PM
This message was edited Jan 22, 2011 2:21 PM
Thanks, lady!
I may just attach it to my seed box at the Swap. Seems very suitable.
IF I wanted to make a card out of it--I could free-hand draw an exact duplicate.
I won't--but---I can draw quite well.....
G.
Well--better TWO postings of a link than none!!!!
:o)
FYI, on spokeo, I removed all my info from them months ago, and just went back in and checked, and it is now all back on there. So, it might not hurt if you go back and check in a couple of weeks or so and make sure you are not back on their site.
JB, I invested in Nortons 360 .... and I am so glad I did. It backs up my files at its external site ....won't permit me to access unsafe sites, optimizes my computer, removes all risks that leak through.
I usually have it do a complete scan, update and optimize at least once or twice a week .... since it takes considerable time for it do all that, I do it before retiring for the evening with a command to shut down computer upon completion.
MARY
Gita .... I finally remembered to get the pics of the 2 l. bottles above my bird feeders. I am going to post 3 different pics for you to look at. I have thought about spraying the bottles with some kind of 'slick 'em' that won't run or dry up, to keep the squirrelies from trying to climb down them.
Crit
#2
#3
JBerger wrote "It is too cold to snow".
I always thought that was true too, but the other morning when we got our storm, the temp was 17* and it was snowing like crazy!!!!!!! I told my husband that disproved what we had always heard.
I use TREND. It does all the backups and things too. Best Buy recommended it when we bought our 'puters. I've heard several say it is one of the top ones.
Hey Crit, now you just blew my grandmother's saying out the window. LOL Oh well, today it is really too cold to do most anything. The temp is down and going down lower tonight. Single digits are the thought for the day. The sun came out and I prayed it would stay out but it is gone again. The Greenhouse needs all the help it can get. I have two heaters up to the max and I am praying they will not quit on me. It is 54 in the GH as I type this. It went down to 45 last night. Way too cold for my little Holiday Cactus babies. They are drooping their little heads at this point.
Enjoy your day people. Stay warm and pray for an early Spring. JB