Holiday Cacti general Discussionpart #4.

Thanks, Judy! You are so good with all this computer stuff....the links and all that....
You seem to have a lot more time to do all this than the rest of us.....also a lot more talent....:o)

I appreciate it! Gita

Close up of my Red CC. I have several by now.....

Judy and Gita, you are so wonderful and helpful, thanks so much for keeping this thread not only full of info, but professional looking and well done. Thanks so much. I am waiting for my new plant to arrive. I have no idea what it is but it is a cactus and it is ages old and a salmon/orange color. My friend died and her daughter is bringing it to me and then she is going to groom the birds. This has been a long day. See you later. Thanks again.

I am also very happy to see all the new and old friends on here helping us keep our love for CC going. The more the merrier. Welcome to all and I hope things settle here soon so I can get back to my favorite thread.

My new dog is so funny and now that he knows how to use the puppy door, he just keeps going in and out for treats. No Poopie, just treats. LOL. We welcome anyone with pets and funny stories to share to visit the site that was put up earlier. The group is really a fun group from all over the USA. From the Mountains of Washington State , Montana, California , Las Vegas , south to Kansas, Oklahoma and the Carolinas, .....stop buy. Nite all. JB

what wouild be the best soil to start new plants in???? Potting soil or a cactus mixture??

bluepoppy---

Best for cuttings is a soil mix that has NO actual soil in it as soil can harbor bacteria and fungus,
and you cannot count on whether it was properly sterilized in production.
You can mix your own by combining Peat Moss and Perlite.
Moisten it before you plant cuttings in it. Peat Moss is slow in absorbing water. Warm water
absorbs a bit better than cold water.

OR--if you can find it--get some Pro Mix. It is what most growers use in starting plants...that stuff you see
in market packs and small pots in a garden center.
It usually comes in large bales and weighs about 45lbs. It is quite compressed.
The one I just bought cost $19. Will last me for years!!!

Look for it at farm and grower supply stores. Maybe go to a Retail Greenhouse and ask if they would sell you a bale.
Box Stores here do not carry it--at least I have not seen any.

The closest you can come in small quantities is to buy "Seed Starting Mix". That is good as well.
Comes in small bags. HD and Lowes will have it. Look in the area where they have Houseplant supplies.
You can get all kinds of soils there in small bags...Cost around $3+or-.

Remember that, CC are NOT in the desert cactus category--even if we call them "cactus".
CC are "jungle Cactus" that need high humidity and watering. Therefore--the regular Cactus Soil
would be too heavy for the CC's.

Hope this clarifies it for you. Gita

Nice discussion on getting them to bloom

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1142926/?hl=thanksgiving+cactus

and

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1135475/?hl=thanksgiving+cactus

Hi everyone, here is a picture or three of what I inherited from the lady from So. Africa. She passed away last week and she ask her daughter to deliver this to me before she died, but we did not do it, she was a dear friend and bird breeder also, so we had alot in common. She knew I would take care of this because her kids were going to throw it out before the one daughter told them their Mother had wanted me to have it. The cut off about a foot of cuttings to get it into the car. Does anyone know for sure, what it is? It looks like an Epiphylium either an Achermanii or a Farben Wonder. But I have no clue. It has little cactus pricks on it too and I am not sure if they get them. I have several groups looking at these pictures but so far no luck.

2nd picture of unknown cactus.

Last one.

All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, JB

See what Gita says. It looks a lot like the one she shared with me. But there may be subtle differences.

How nice to have that memory./ memorial plant.

Gita says that all she knows is that it IS an Epi. Cannot tell you any more than that....

I looked at the "leaves" on mine and the scallops along the leaf edges alternate on both of mine.
In your pictures, JB, they seem to be in pairs--like--across from each other.

Will post the buds I had on mine. Other than the color--they are similar. Yours seems to be orange--
mine was bright, bright, magenta...and the other one was red. I do not know the names of either one.

Try posting it on the orchid cactus Forum. Maybe someone there can help you.

Here's the buds on mine--the one that bloomed for the first time (since 2003) this past June...

Here is what the blooms looked like...the most amazing thing I have ever seen!

JB, it is definitely an epi. Maybe a rhipsalis because it holds it's blooms right against the stem. No idea what the variety might be, but it is gorgeous. Treat it like you do the epi cuttings I sent to you. It will grow and bloom beautifully. I cannot get enough of these cacti, I just don't have enough space to keep them as large as I would like to see them grow.

Hi Everyone, sorry I have been MIA lately. Life has been nuts lately.

I will check in again later today tho.

Someone sent me the link for the Disocactus On-line Guide. I could spend days on there but I think this plant may be on there someplace. The trick will be to find it.
It says that Disocactus is a genus consisting of mainly epiphytic, but there are others too....it is similiar to the Epi.
Take a look when you have time. The fact it has thorns it what makes me wonder. Everyone I spoke to so far said their Epi's do not have thorns, but the age may have something to do with it. I am going to keep looking. there must me some Epi that has thorns.

http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?start=0&genus=Disocactus&species=

Sorry, I am tired.LOL

Both my Epis have "thorns'--they just are not too visible. You will know it, though, if you stick your finger on it....
These "thorns" are fine as hairs--and nestled right against the stems where the "leaves" emerge. VERY sharp!!

gently run your fingers around and you will find them.

Working my tail off today! Still lots to do...Just needed a short sit-down break....

had to make room for the 26 pots of Brug cuttings which I have now planted in individual pots.
They are so well rooted! Like on steroids!
Of course to make reasonable room--I had to rearrange a lot of my plants as to where they will sit.

Still have my Amaryllis bulbs to pot up--and re-pot my baby AV's. Defat the 2 gallons of chicken stock I made yesterday--
then put it in umpteen Qt. sized bags to freeze.
Have done 2 loads of laundry---
Then--I must make a small batch of Stroganoff--as the meat is out already. Some days there is NO end!

Then--I need to go outside and cut back my Climbing Rose and pull up the huge trellis behind it. Hope I can move it!
It has been in the ground for years! It is made of PT wood.

A man will be coming tomorrow to parge the hose's foundation that has concrete peeling off everywhere. $$$$

Sorry to digress....just needed to vent.....Work tomorrow--9-6....
Gita

Wow.....some great pictures were shared here. Oh my gosh Gita, the bloom on your epi is gorgeous!!! And to think that I am the proud of owner of two that I received from you. Thank you so very much. I believe you said the two you gave me are going to be red ones though, which is just fine with me, but those fuschia blooms are magnificient. I also truly love the salmon colored CC you opened this thread with too. One of these years I hope to be owner to one that color. Heck, I have to go out today, maybe I will mosey on by The Lowes store in town. Hmmmmm.....

Also have to say that I am now the very proud owner of lot of cuttings from Coleups buying spree. Thank you Cole. I hope that I do you proud by being able to get these lovelies to live, bloom and thrive. I have to agree with JB on this being a great thread. It is really exciting to hear people's stories about their CC. Who would have thought that the blooms that appear would bring such joy to so many.

Sounds like Ibartoo may be the person to go with Epi questions. So far I am doing as Gita suggested and have left all three in the pots they were in when she gave them to me. I have noticed some new growth on them, but haven't thought to look for evidence of blooms. Is there a particular time of year that they normally bloom? Gita said her pictures are from June blooms. Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks everyone for the hints, tips and suggestions. For those new to this, as I feel as though I am too, thank you for your thought provoking questions, they are really good and give us all an opportunity to learn.

Happy Blooming all.

Ruby

Ruby- I have one of Gitas epis- I think she gave it to me last year at spring SWap....
Anyway, mine is still in a small hanging pot but this fall has gone gangbusters with new growth. This spring I will up pot a little, bear in mind its an orchid cactus so use chunky or well draining soil, and hope for blooms in June like Gita's.

It occurs to me that , remembering our high school basic genetics, my little pods on my CC may yield babies the same color as one parent. Or out of four babies only one new color. And it'll take me a while to get blooms too. I'm looking at several years, and raising a bunch of babies, before I know how successful this little smooshing was.

Sally, you are so sweet. Thanks for the offer. You folks know that I have a home for anything that anyone sends my way. Would you mind sharing what you believes accounts for you epi going gangbusters? I see new growth on mine, but nothing like according to what yours are doing.

It will be interesting to hear what your smooshing experiment results are. I believe since my ealier post today I have pretty much talked myself in to a trip to Lowes today in search of Christmas Cactus. I would love to find an Apricot colored one because until recently I wasn't aware there was such a bird.

Anyway......have a great day all.

Ruby

Ruby--here is the red Epi--if that is what I gave you. The blooms were not as large as the fuchsia one'.

Are you sure one of the "babies" was not the fuchsia one? Did the tag say "other Epi"?
I used the term "other" meaning the one that has not bloomed yet (but did in 2011 for
the first time).

I don't think you will see blooms on yours yet. They need to get root bound to bloom.
Transplanting will not help that.
My red one almost died a couple of winters ago. It was all dry and brittle. Gone!
I found a couple sections that still had signs of life and potted it up in a 10" HB along with
a couple growing cuttings I had.
Hung it outside in filtered light and--BAM!--it grew into a wonderful, large plant. I was amazed...
It really needed to be re- potted, as it had been in a tight, 5" , ceramic pot for years.

Go back and look at my picture again. See how big and gangly they are?
Those are 10" HB they are in.

For scale--here they are hanging by the LR window inside. They just dwarf everything....

The one on thee left is the red one. On the right--the fuchsia one.
On far left--is my big HB of the Swedish Ivy. I gave you some--did I not?
You can cut back the spindly growths on those now and start a new plant.
That will also keep it more compact and fuller.

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday I found the most beautiful and interesting cc in a hanging basket,of course i had to buy it.
It's large compared to what I've been seeing in stores and it's the first I've seen in a hanging basket.What was so unusual about will probably only last this blooming season.The buds were bigger than any I have ever seen.A piece broke off and I took a pic just so you can see the size of the bud compared to the segment it's growing out of.Some of the segments are growing another segment out of the middle of it.I hope I'm making this clear.1 flat segment growing another out of both side down the mid line of the original segment.They both have buds,there's buds straight across and then another line of buds straight down the segment growing through the first.

I'll post a picture it's hard to see, look closest to the pot's rim next to the open bloom.I need a new camera, mine doesn't focus so good anymore and the color is always off.

here's the one that broke

jojoe--

That IS very pretty! Could you post a clearer picture of an open bloom?

Your CC is so robust and plump because it just came from a grower where it gets fertilized every time it is watered.
I have worked for a grower--and the watering tank's water was always blue--ass well as tepid.
New plants have to look good to sell.

Now--stick that little, broken off section in a tiny pot to root. I am sure you can snip off a few more without much harm.


Ruby---

I will be taking a lot of little sections to root on my Salmon CC. It is very tall and strong and is now done blooming....

I am sure you will get a couple next year. Just remind me......
Here! I just took this photo....

Hi everyone! I shipped off some cuttings of my noid to my friend in Smyrna, GA who works at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I am hoping he can get the identified with something more specific than just an Epi. LOL

Sorry to be MIA so much but I am just swamped and need to get so much finished before Friday the 8th because I will be cooking the 9th and the gang arrives the 10th. Inbetween there are tree customers, etc. I took all my plants off of eBay now since I will not be shipping to anyplace other than the South if our weather holds. No sense paying fees when you do not ship.

Must grab a bite. Have a good evening. JB

JB--

PLEASE do not apologize for not having time to be on tho=is Thread! NO!!! NO!!! NO!!!!

I cannot believe you are doing what you are doing at your age!!!! You are the bionic woman!!!

Post when you can! NO biggie! You know WE will keep this Thread going....

Post when you can--and share what you can.
Take care---and rest when you must.

Gita

Hey JB, glad your friend in Georgia is going to help with your newest epi ID! I know so little about these "jungle cacti" that when I tried to id yours by looking at countless pics on the internet, all twelve types began to all look alike! Hope you do have a pic or two of the open blooms to share with us at your leisure!

Lol, we all know that your quality time is reserved for one special very very lucky new puppy. Hope the gang arriving fills you both with much joy and that "many hands make for light work" for you and yours.

Jo looks like you and Ruby and I have caught the cc bug this year. Wish I could get my phone/photo programs to sync up so I could show you mine. I think a hanging basket is an ideal home for many of these and I like to enjoy the blooms from below.

Ruby, glad those "saves" I sent you arrived ok. Seems there are enough of each color to put 3 or more cuttings in a pot rather than grow them individually. Any thoughts on this anyone? And, I know they will have their best shot at thriving with your "fussin".

Fussin and smooshing! Sounds like a lot of cc love going on. Sally, I loved your remembering of simple genetics...Did you smoosh two flowers from the same plant or two (ahem) unrelated parent plants?

Lol Gita on the "bionic woman" statement re JB, all I can say is it takes one to know one!

Haven't seen it mentioned any where but maybe thede bloomers that draw us in emit some sort of "contentment" pheremone cause that's their effect on me.

Contentment to all in these hustle bustle days.

Judy....Judy.....You are TOOOOO funny!!!! Love your philosophy!

Now--off to bed I go! Been busy every day...TOOO busy.....Cooking a lot.
Cleaned a few things out of my freezer--and now have to do something with them.....NOT throwing food away!!!!

Cooking---sharing some with my daughter--and taking some of it to work......
There are endless hungry people there for home-cooked food...I am known to "feed" people.....

Gita

I went to Home Depot on Sunday searching for new CC and they only had a couple and they were done blooming....Then went to Walmart and they had about 6 hanging baskets..They were beautiful....Had mixed colors in them and the buds were also real fat and loaded...Mine has a red and white and also a orange....Couldn't resist....Got a beautiful orange one...differant then what is in the basket...at an amish green house several weeks ago......Since I had left mine out all summer and they got all that rain and then the cold in the fall..the ones I had were just loaded with blooms....Really got me addicted and looking for more colors....

bluepoppy--

Please post a picture of your new CC's. Especially the orange one....

Maybe I should hit Lowes on my way to work and see if they have anything marked down.
HD does not do much of that.........

Gita

Yes, bluepoppy, would love to see some pics!

"Christmas is coming... cactus buds are getting fat...
Please to find a bloomer in a color just like that......" she hums as she goes merrily on her way...

Heigh Ho!

If there are 3 types of "Holiday" Cactus, what do you have if yours blooms 3X year?
I get an early Spring, mid-Summer, and now they are blooming again.

I am finally getting lunch. In between all other stuff.

Here are three pictures of the new Maria Noid Cactus. Gheez I hate having to try and ID these plants. First one is the bud.

See what happens when I get tired. I sent the post without the picture.

I will try again. Here is the bud.

Second, partially opened bud

Opened flower

That does it. Now to try and answer Qwitters question.

Most of the Holiday Cactus we have are the Schlumbergera or Zygocactus, what you want to call them. They are the hybrids most people call Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus. they bloom anytime between October and February and then again between March and May. Many people confuse them with the Easter Cactus. The Easter Cactus blooms only one time a year and that is usually in April.

Maybe you could show us a picture and we can try and see what you have. If you know the name, please tell us and then we can try and help you with your "mixed up" cactus. I feel sure you have either a Schlum or a Zygo and because of the conditions where it is located in your house it just blooms. Looking forward to a picture. Have a good day. JB

Well, they have all about finished blooming for this round. 1 was covered in blooms for T-Day and the other last week.
They are just NOIDs from whereever. One is an antique and had bark like "trunk".