Holiday Cacti general Discussionpart #4.

Although, I do possess and share a perennial called pussytoes, whose leaves would very well be called mouse ears, but I don't use that term and I am pretty sure the one I gave you, Ruby, is the pigs ears.
Pussytoes= Antennaria in plantfiles

Gita, do you know which of the white epi's bloom during the day? I was downloading some christmas pictures yesterday and I found some pics of a white epi, I thought it was a nbc, but it is clearly blooming during the early afternoon. All of my other epi pics are taken at night.

I have 1 more Christmas cactus with buds still to open. I cannot wait to see which color it turns out to be. I really need to go outside and start cleaning out my greenhouse. I need more space and lights. Oh well. it has to warm up a little first.

gotta run,
Linda

Linda--

Sorry! I do not know all that much about Epis, per say.

I have my 2 or 3 and that is all. Now that the "other" one has bloomed (the gorgeous fuchia one)
I have seen them both.

I also have a huge Ric Rac Cactus that also has bloomed. (Selenicereus Anthonyanus)
Gave the original away to Rawlings. They put it on a cliff overlooking a lg. pond and it is super happy there.

Now the other one is about 4' across--laid down flat on a table. It is HUGE and heavy.
Maybe this one will present me with a bloom this summer. It seems very pot-bound and large. Hope!!!

Here it is at Rawlings Conservatory....

Here is the one I gave away to Rawlings--bloomed for me in 2006.

It has been THAT long that I have seen it bloom!!!

Here is how huge it was before I gave it away.

The Ric Rac is also in the Orchid cactus family....

Last one--don't want to hijack this Thread too much.....

This was last October (2010) before I brought it in for the winter.

The table is 5' diameter....'nuff said!

I have a few starts--not too many--but these root just as easily as the Epis.

Hi everyone, I am dropping in at Gita's invitation, she has spoken so highly of y'all that I couldn't resist picking your brains. Let me say that I have not read all the posts back to the beginning yet, wow, so much great information and my little blonde brain is simply pinging. So if I am asking something that was covered in the previous pages please forgive me and point me in the right direction to find it.
I have had holiday cactus' for quite a few years, a deep scarlet one has been here for about 10 years. I lost several arms (?) last year because they were so heavy they just snapped. But my real question is one that no one has answered yet, why would one change flower color?
I have always coveted salmon or yellow but have never gotten one. Couple years ago I bought four sad HC's off a clearance rack, two were pale pink and two were white. Last year they bloomed around Christmas with those colors. This year, two have changed. My white is now a glorious deep yellow, and the pale pink is a deep salmon or orange color. They all live on my enclosed porch and have since I bought them. I repotted after I bought them, don't give them any special care, and have each one marked with a plant stake. Two are the same color as last year although interestingly both of those did not have many blooms. My red is still red and the one fuschia I have is the same as well.
Any ideas??? '

Here is the orange/pink one

Here is the yellow/white one

Joy

Welcome, Joy!

Pretty--and I have no idea how they could change
: ^)

Joy--

Thank you for joining us. You will NOT regret it...

You would do well to send JB a D-mail. She is out resident Holiday cactus Guru.
Just5 scroll up any of these Posts until you get her name--and then send her a D-Mail...

I do recall her writing about something CC's changing colors due to cross-pollination.
I do not know anything more than that....

Overall--I would just say--Enjoy what you have. Gita

Welcome Joy. I totally agree that your yellow flowered is glorious!!!

I have no real answers as to why cc blooms change colors, but did run across a newspaper article that sites two local readers whose blooms change from year to year! You are not alone! The writer explains that bloom color can "deepen" when plant experiences cooler temperatures during bud growth and set.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20111222/LIVING0401/112220307/Christmas-cactus-color-changeable

Another article mentions that cooler temperatures favor the red pigment in blossoms, ie warm =white and cool ==pinkish tones or even red streaks.

Will let you know if I come across anything else. Judy

Nurseries aren't always careful to plant the same color Schlumbergera together in the pot. Is it possible that those colors could have been mixed in with the ones you bought and they just didn't bloom until this year?

Alot of people think exposing your Christmas Cactus to cold temps will help induce buds. While this doesn't hurt them (and may in fact, hinder bud production), it will give your whites and yellows a pink cast.

I grew a batch of Schlumbergera from seed starting in 2010, and I have two selected for future introduction. I had a hard time capturing the color of this one, but it is a bright soft yellow and orange blend that I am calling Keystone Carnival Lights. It will be late summer-fall before I have any to offer though.

Joy, Welcome, I am happy you have joined us, and so happy you posted that particular question.

Several years ago, I had bought some cacti from a mail order company and the tags were mixed. I planted 1 in a hanging basket that I had already apparently planted something else in, or used soil from the recycle bin because later a day lily came up in my pot as well. I have just let the two plants grow together and this year the cactus bloomed. Most of it was the gorgeous yellow color, but 1 stem in the center was just as white as snow. Does anyone know what happened?

Gotta run,
Want to play, Time for Work,
Linda

This message was edited Dec 31, 2011 9:47 AM

I noticed that there was a "trend" this year to have mixed colors of CC's in the same pot.
May look great--but I am not sure how, or IF, they may interact between themselves.

I got many new sections from the racks of CC at my HD and also from Lowes. Just small broken off
pieces laying on the shelf. I know I will have white and a solid, medium pink.
Have them all tucked in little 2" clay pots. Seems they are all rooting.

As for keeping CC's outside when it gets cool, NOT freezing!--I have always done that.
They seem to set buds better that way. I have never noticed any color changes....
However--my CC's all spend the growing season on a multi-armed plant stand under my
patio roof--catching just bits of late afternoon sun.
So--even it it does get to the low 50's or high 40's--they are still protected...

Roux--
The macro of the salmon CC at the start of this thread is mine. I could send you some starts for postage.
D-mail me if you are interested.....

Last day of 2011......Much health and happiness to all of you as we step over the threshold into a New Year.

Gita

Here is my Salmon one.

Just took this photo.

Here is my new crop of baby CC's from gathered and pruned back from older plants.

I keep all my cuttings under my seed lights. Not using them for anything else this time of year.
Everything REALLY thrives in this set-up.

Here is one of the Salmon CC cuttings. Note the roots coming from the above ground segment?

This salmon CC is a very strong, robust grower...Much different than all the others...
Thick segments--really fleshy.

Want to see something bizarre?
Here are all my Brugmansia cuttings taken Oct. 27.

I have NO idea what to do with all these!
There is Dr. Seuss and a NOID strong pink--the taller ones....

I will be bringing many to the Seed swap....Gita

Hmmm, that is an interesting thought, more than one in a pot, but they are both single "trunked" coming out of the soil. I only hope that these are the true colors because I love both the apricot and the yellow. You guys rock just like Gita promised. I still have to go through all the posts to try and absorb more info, but I will be happy to keep them healthy, and maybe start adding to my collection now that I see all the varieties. OMG, something else to collect! Just what I need. LOL.

Thanks bunches,

Joy

Thanks Gita, I will be dropping you a D-mail in a bit, farm duties call right now unfortunately. Livestock don't seem to understand that I am busy checking mail.

Joy

Indashade welcome to our on-going holiday cactus thread! Hopefully you will visit often and post your growing from seed and cross breeding experiments. Keystone 'Carnival Delights' does look like a keeper. If you don't mind, what are its parents? And, how big from seed to now a year later? One segment? Two? and, How did you get your seedlings to bloom so quickly? I was under the impression that from seed to bloom would take two or more years. Are your seedlings mostly the same or quite different from either the parents or each other? How long did you let the seed ripen on the plant until you planted it? Any pictures? Thanks in advance.

Joy, I'm glad your red has remained a faithful red...quite pretty. I didn't like any of the 'reds' I saw in stores as they all looked washed out to me. Yours is so vibrant.

May our green thumbs and hopeful hearts have a joyous, peaceful and healthy New Year! Judy

Whew! Any more holidays and weeks like these past ones, I will have to start taking extra vitamins. Good Grief I was a mess for awhile with sinus and inner ear infections, etc. I am all better and ready to rock and roll so the kids say.
Cleaned out the Greenhouse and found hundreds of starters dead or dying due to lack of attention while I was under the weather and did not keep up the amount of watering they needed to survive. I lost so much. None of theChristmas Cactus believe it or not but the inventory on that is dwindling due to selling and not being able to replenish until now. I never take cuttings between November and January if I can help it. They bloom and then they need to rest before the new shoots begin. When that happens, then it is time to twist and turn for the new season.

Gita, I finally got the salmon in soil that you sent me. They look really good but it took me much longer than I wanted because of not feeling well. Thanks so much again for your kindness. When you take your cuttings, how long do you callus them before planting them? I am not sure if I want to do that. I have so much more success in starting them in water. Have a week or so before I need to make a decision, but I wondered about that.

I noticed a new face here and I wanted to welcome her with open arms and dirty hands. Hello and join in our fun group. I have to agree that the change in color is a mystery. I will try and look in my book of tricks and see if there is anything there that would indicate this happens. I can only think that it was not marked properly, but if you saw it one season one color and now it is another.....not sure how that would be. Give me a few days to investigate my notes from breeders and propagaters. Welcome again.

Must get busy. Almost noon and I am still working on orders and paperwork. End of year stuff makes me crazy.


I have not had time to catch up on the posts. I was very interested in some of your epi info and that old red baby is still blooming. Of course I have stopped watering it and will leave it go for a month or so. I just watered some of the stock plants for the first time in weeks this morning.

Joy---
I LOVE the red as well!!! So intense!

Here is a link I saved on the different names of the different Holiday cactus varieties.
I am sure it is from something JB posted.

http://www.mattslandscape.com/schlumbergera/


JB---Good to see you back on the Thread. Glad you survived another season.
May the New Year bless you with good health and prosperity!!

re your question on callousing...I wait maybe 1-2 days. Sometimes i don't get to it and then it is more.

I am curious that you root them in water. Hmmmmm?????
Care to explain just what you do?
For some reason--I just cannot think of rooting any kind of succulents in water. Many do, though.

I think I got "burned" too many times trying to root Brugmansia cuttings in water.
I even bought the whole bubbler system. The cuttings often got slimy and that was the end of that.
Need to chaange the water more often. Too much bother in my opinion.
Then I started shoving the stem pieces right into fresh soil mix (using Pro Mix this year--first time).
Seems to work great for everything.

I was going to pinch back some of my bloomed out CC's soon. You say to wait. How long?
I thought earlier it was mentioned that CC's can be pinched back after the blooming is done.
Already did it on my Salmon one. Hope I did not ruin this strong grower......:o(

Thanks--gotta get something done around here.....laundry awaits....

Talk to you all later! Gita

The parentage of "Keystone Carnival Lights" is Limelight Dancer X Beach Dancer. I started this batch on October 3, 2010, and of the 20 seedlings that resulted, ten are blooming or will bloom this year. I am keeping this one, and another whose buds start out cinnamon but the flower ends up a bright golden yellow. The ten others that didn't bloom are certainly big enough to do so, so after the new year I may give them the short day/long night treatment in an unused bedroom to see if I can persuade them.

When I started this experiment, I was unaware that it normally took so long to get them to bloom. I guess it was good that I didn't know that, because my expectation was always that I was going to get at least SOME of them to bloom in one year from seed. Even Frank Supplie questioned my dates on another website, but I breed other plants and know that it is important to keep good records. I think I know what I might have done to speed them along, but I am going to keep that under my hat until I can try it and see if it works again. Who knows-- maybe I just got lucky!

You can follow the growth of these seedlings on my webpage gallery here:

http://www.keystonecrossroads.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=457

There is a second page with a picture of all of the seedlings taken November 2, 2011. You can see how big they got in one year in this picture.

I let the pod on the parent Limelight Dancer for a year, but it is my understanding based on research done in Mass. that Schlumbergera seed is ripe in six months. So that should speed things along significantly.

I have some pictures of the ones from this cross that have bloomed so far up on my website here:

http://www.keystonecrossroads.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=512

Alot of them seem to be the color of Beach Dancer, with the larger sized flower of Limelight Dancer. Despite what I wrote on the picture for 2010-13, I have decided not to keep it. It really resembles Beach Dancer too much, but it's too pretty to put in the garbage. I'm giving it to a co-worker. I have one other picture that I took yesterday that has not made it onto the website yet. It seems to have a little bit of ruffling on the petals, and I would like breed one with ruffles. Other than that, it is the color of Beach Dancer with the size and pointed petals of Limelight Dancer.

This has been fun! No one is America is breeding Schlumbergera seriously right now, and it's something that keeps me busy in the winter. I currently have three different crosses that I started in August and September of this year under lights and they are doing well. And of course I have at least two dozen berries on various plants to keep me busy in the future.

As far as cold temps, it's something you can do if you want to, but it truly is not necessary to give them a cold treatment. My plants routinely make buds in 68- 70 degree temps in my living room. There are some that I never put outside, like my Buckleyi's. I always say "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" so if you are doing this and getting good bloom, then by all means keep on doing it! But the most important thing to get a Schlumbergera to bud up is about two t three weeks of short day/long night treatments. If kept in a room with lights on after dark, they will rarely bloom.

[quote="Gitagal"]


re your question on callousing...I wait maybe 1-2 days. Sometimes i don't get to it and then it is more.

I am curious that you root them in water. Hmmmmm?????
Care to explain just what you do?
For some reason--I just cannot think of rooting any kind of succulents in water. Many do, though.

I
I think I have less root rot when I start them in water. I wait until the roots are about an inch long and then I plant them in a small pot to give them an opportunity to strenghten before they grow larger. Again, I think it is up to the person which method is easier for them and works for them. It is also good to keep them in a tighten environment until the roots are mature enough to be stronger and easier to transplant without harming the plant.

As for the link you mentioned MattsLandscape...that is a good one but not one of mine. I also have a problem with these links that show you how to propagate the cactus but not one ever mentions that you really need to check to see if it is patented prior to growing and selling your own plants. I think I told you Christmas Flame is patented. I noticed he has it for sale on there and I wonder if he tells people it is patented? For the hobby person there is no problem, but I would think even to propagate a patented plant is a waste of time because unless you just want another plant, what good are they? I sound like an old grump but I do not mean it that way. I think if I made of hybrid as some people I know have, and someone else even duplicated it for fun it would really make me angry. That is such a wonderful thing to be able to do I guess I feel protective of those who can do it.
Enough of this. Of course this is my opinion and not something to dwell on or become upset about.

Time to get out of here and be productive. Wishing you all a very Happy Healthy New Year. God Bless you all and enjoy your evening. JB

I

I think a plant patent is only good for 20 years from the date of filing. The patent for Christmas Flame was filed in 1988, which means the patent expired in 2008, so anyone can propagate and sell it. Most, if not all, of the Cobia hybrids are out of patent by now. Even so, there are people on ebay who are propagating and selling patented Schlumbergera, such as Samba Brazil.

WOW you all! All I can say is that tonight "visions of schlumbergeras" will be dancing in my head instead of sugar plums!

I'll save my comments and questions for the new year where I hope we will meet again soon and often.

Coleup, would you like a couple starts of the red? She needs repotting bad and I know I will be breaking branches when I do it? You two Gita, maybe we could just swap?

At the risk of repeating myself and being annoying, it is so refreshing to be welcomed into y'all's group. I have ventured into others here, usually about specific plants, and 99% of the time I get treated rudely or totally ignored. I am a true hobbyist, I still have a bunch of inherited plants that I have no idea of the name or even kind. My expertise lies in a totally different area, and I don't have the time (or brain power) to learn a thimblefull of what y'all know about horticulture. Now if you want info on dogs and behavior, that's another thing entirely.

Joy

joy--

I think I told you that you would feel right at home here on MAF.
We ARE a nice bunch!!! We live to help one another and to be courteous at all times.
Hmmm--Do you think this is regional????

I have also been through rude condescending behavior on some other Forums--mostly the Brug Forum.
To the point--that I just quit being there.....Why do battle--when everyone thinks they are THE expert--
and YOU do not know what you are talking about???

Stay here--and you will learn all you need about what interests you. We have a very diverse population here....
Many truly educated gardeners and many who have just learned a lot as the years have passed.

If you want to--go back page by page and read up on all we have shared here. There will be a lot--
but the friendship is consistent.

Hugs--Gita

Love this source of information--Thank You to all the experts who are contributing. bob

Great news Inda about Christmas Flame, but last year Logee was still selling it as Patented. Can you get an extension on patents. I know the one I purchased from them was definitely patented, it was marked and I called and they said yup. It was patented as Gold Fantasy........now how does that work. LOL I guess I am just too careful. LOL Do not want to loose my nursery license and with a State inspector in and out during the year, you never know. Better safe than sorry.

There is also a Xmas Flame and it is gold also, that is not patented. I get my schlums from Whitten Greenhouses. I like their stock. Of course, you never know if they are patented because for some reason they do not tell you. That is why I like Logees, but they are more expensive, almost double the price.

Time to take care of the animals. Hugs to all and Happy New Year. JB

According to the Schlumbergera book by Mark Cobia, Christmas Flame and Gold Fantasy are the same plant. Christmas Flame was patented in the US under Plant Patent # 7173, and the name Gold Fantasy was patented in Australia under PVR #141. Schlumbergera do not bloom during the Thanksgiving-Christmas Holiday in Australia, so Cobia did not give the plants that were distributed in that country a "holiday" name. Their Christmas Magic II was released in Australia under the name Magic Fantasy.

I'm guessing Xmas Flame is the same plant as Christmas Flame, only using the usual abbreviation for Christmas.

To add to the confusion, someone was selling a Schlumbergera known as Sunset a couple of years ago. I believe that it is actually Gold Charm released under another name to avoid the patent, which was probably in effect at that time (prior to 2008). It looks EXACTLY like my Gold Charm.

B.L. Cobia is either out of business or not propagating/ breeding Schlums anymore, so even if the patents were still in effect (which I highly doubt), they probably wouldn't defend them. I would have no problem selling any of their hybrids under the correct names.

We should have a discussion about what some of the Schlumbergera sellers on ebay do when a cultivar stops selling under it's correct and proper name. :-p

I think that is a great idea Inda. I sell on ebay but I never knowingly sell any patented plants.

That is very good information you gave us. Thanks so much. i would love to get a copy of that book. Can you give me the name and author so I can do a search on it. I am not much of a reader but I do like to have them for just this sort of discussion. Reference books are my thing. Some of these plants are so much alike I would never be able to tell them apart nor would I attempt to do it. I wonder who is wise and can see well enough to do that? I bet some of the old gentlemen would swear they could. I am wise enough to admit I can not. LOL. I would have to have one of each in front of me and then I would not guarantee I could do it. What does it matter anyhow?

Off to do some chores. Have a good day and start that discussion anytime you feel like it. I will be looking forward to it. JB

Just wanted to pop in and say HI and Happy New Year. Have not been online too much lately, but wanted to make an appearance.

Hello all,
I'm still alive and kicking got a little worried after the surgery.Then managing to pop out some stitch's (they were on my skull) ??? Then getting an infection etc...

But I am home and feeling not bad!!!!

Tried to read all the post I missed,read some,glanced over some,forgot some from trying to read so fast.
BUT, did notice the mattslandscape site that Gita was talking about.I'm so new at this I don't have a lot to add.So give credit where credit is due, It was me that posted that site!!! heehee

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!!
Got some new plants from the hubby while i was sick!! here's 3 of them 2 hoya's & a purple waffle
Looking forward to talking with the people i noticed i didn't recognize!!! time to go rest a bit

JO

Welcome back! Nice plants there.

This is the Cobia book that I was referring to. It is out of print, but you can still find it on ebay occasionally:

http://www.amazon.com/Zygocactus-Schlumbergera-Comprehensive-Practical-Gardener/dp/0646088327/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325856830&sr=8-2

This is THE best book on Schlumbergeras that is out there. Again, you can find it at a more reasonable price on ebay at times. I highly recommend this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cacti-Schlumbergera-Succulent-Research/dp/0951723472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325856888&sr=8-1

Indashade, maybe you could do a brief post (or lol long) on who Cobia and Supplies etc are in the schlum world?

Here is an article I found on the late BL Cobia. Is Mark Cobia who wrote the book on Zygocactus you call the best, his son?

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1988-12-10/business/0090050194_1_cobia-holiday-cactus-new-plants



JoJo and Crit, glad to have you all posting and that you are okay. I'm a newbie, too. Judy

Thanks Judy. I just loved the coleus you sent me last fall. I hope the starts I took do OK. lol They were so beautiful.

Welcome to the new folks. Thanks for the comment Bob. I am learning alot about CC and as always was over joyed with the very few blooms I had this year. Indashade, you seem to be a wealth of information and I am sure that I will learn a lot from your posts. Tahnks to everyone for the references. They are very helpful.

Sally and Gita.....thank you both for information on the Pigs Toes.....Mouse Ears.....too closely associated to not make a mistake. Sally, have you tried getting the Pigs Toes to live outside? I moved the plant once a while back but will make another move and give it the most sun available inside. One of the plants is still living, the other long gone, so I am hoping that the remaining one will reward me for my efforts on its behalf and live until summer when it can hopefully have a good chance of revival.

A Happy New Year to all.

Ruby