Holiday Cacti general Discussionpart #4.

Linda---

If you are not in a hurry--I plan to divide my Climbing Onion before i will put it outside.
Not sure--but I think there are now 3 "onions" in the pot. It is very crowded...
I will be glad to share one with you.....since you are one of "US"....
Wonder how big of a "bulb/onion" Logees is selling? Then--there is the shipping too.

Can you tell me how your grandmother treated this "onion"? Did she give it a dormancy period?
Watering? Dividing? Do you remember any of that???

From my experience with mine--when I bring it in and put it on my tiny laundry windowsill, I do not
pay any attention to it until I take it outside. I may dribble a bit of water on it once or twice, but that is it.
It is during this winter dormancy that it grows these amazing fronds....By now they are obliterating the window.
Almost makes me wonder if it is from somewhere South of the equator--where the seasons are backward?????
PF would have that info----I will have to look.....
I also think (??) the bulbs split during the winter dormancy here.

I take ALL my plants outside for the growing season--except my African Violets. Minding all their light requirements....
Usually, by mid to late summer, the fronds start yellowing out. You can just pull them off the plant..
I keep it under my high patio roof on a high plant stand (see picture above) and it gets just filtered light.

If you want--I can also send you--or anyone--some Pregnant onions. Have a nice new crop growing....
I started with those marble-sized "babies" and by now they are all the size of purple plums (the prune type).

Gotta go to my laundry room and take a picture now.....ALL just for YOU!

Again--I know this will digress from the Thread's topic--but I have to follow up with Linda's questions.
SO! Shoot me!.......

Here is the small window both of these "Onion" plants live on.
The green is ALL the fronds from the Climbing Onion--sitting on top of the smaller pots of "Newbie? Pregnant Onions.
You could call it an "Organic Curtain".............:o) They are all growing out of the bigger, white pot.

A closer look at the poor buries smaller pots....
You cannot even see the glass in the window!

AHA!!!! There are FOUR bulbs now!!!
Took it a few years to start splitting--really! Maybe they do not like being divided?
Gotta give this plant a bigger pot, though. Then again--these type of plants will just multiply on top of
itself till it is a heap if these bulbs--all in a pile...

They had one at Rawlings--it was bizarre! Not sure if it was the Pregnant Onion--or the Climbing Onion--
but the 8" pot looked like an ice cream cone with many dips of ice cream stacked on top of each other.

edited to say---
I just remembered something---I heard or read somewhere.....
When these "onions" grow 2 stems out of the bulb's tip--it means the "onion" will be splitting in two.
Seems that was correct!

This message was edited Jan 19, 2012 4:53 PM

That is just a really interesting plant Gita. Love the living curtain. lol

If you have enough pregnant onions, I would like to try some. Any special directions on them?

Thx!
Patti

Coleup,

Sorry it took me so long to resond to this. We are moving our office and last week was chaos!

I use whatever pots I have available to me for my Schlums. Again, if you keep the potting soil open and draining well, you can use the taller pots. My husband has a Keurig and I think I am going to start "repurposing" the black K-cups for starting Schlum cuttings. They are small and would be easy to mail. Is it sad that I see plant pots in everything? LOL!

You have to be careful with the packing peanuts, as they CAN block drainage holes if they land the wrong way. I usually put at least a couple in the bottom of every pot, depending on the size of the pot. If I find that a peanut does block the drainage hole, I just run a bamboo skewer carefully up through it and make another hole.

Inda...

I am the queen of re-purposing any and all small containers for potting.
like--all kinds of yogurt cups--those small pudding & jello cops--can use small PLASTIC bathroom cups--etc..
I take a pair of pliers, a long nail and heat the nail over my stove burner and melt 2-3 holes in the bottom.

Also--as I work at a HD--I usually can get some small pots from Bell Nursery when they throw out plants.
Not everyone of their workers gives them up--but the usual ones know i save them--and they let me pick.

Been sorting my seeds like crazy. need to bag and label so many. The Swap is coming up fast--2/11.

Gotta run! Dr.'s appt. Gita

Hello everyone,

I haven't had much time to do much of anything lately!! First my grandson had his 4th birthday party at my house,we had a ball, he loved it.I don't know why i do so much cleaning for a party for 4 yr.olds,they leave the house in an even bigger mess.LOL My girls Gmother had a knee replacement and now has had 2 more surgeries to remove blood clots from a lung.She had a close call.She is doing better today,still on the respiratory but better.All this after the holidays,my surgery and people coming in from out of town.Think it's time from some R & R for me!!!

So, I haven't been on lately but hello to the new people i see have join in.My name is Jelinda AKA Jo or jojoe.I enjoyed reading all the new post since last time i was on.I learned a few things i may ask about later especially the MGro organic soil for CC's.

Gita,the onion plant you have remind's me of my asparagus fern is there any similarities? I was given one over the summer that had been sitting in a corner and only had growth on one side,growing towards the light.It had busted the clay pot it was in.I took it home to repot & it had onion looking bulbs on top of the soil.When i removed the pot there all these little white bulds,i ended up with a pile of them left over.Someone told me i could grow the asparagus fern outside here.Anyone know anything about this or are these two totally different plants.

My CC 'Polka dancer' has actually put out 2 new buds & i have no idea why? It was the last one to finish blooming,figured it was resting haven't done anything to it except give it a little water when it got dry.I really think it will fall off and not get very big but who knows this plant has been surprising me since i got it the end of October the beginning of November?!!? It is pretty,none of my others have such big,fat,plump segments & I've never had one that each limb branches out so much!!

Everyone have a good weekend !!!! Jo

oops meant that to be a close up let me try again !!!!


Good weekend everyone !!!!

JoJo---

YES! The Climbing Onion frond always reminded me also of the Asparagus fern. But--they are totally different plants.
The "onion" fronds are soft as silk and very fragile. By that I mean--you pull a little--and the stem will break off.
The Asparagus Fern fronds are tough and nasty and have thorns. No way you could even break one if you tugged on it.

I know, again, that this is off-topic. I will answer you on the Asparagus fern--and, perhaps, others can learn from this too.
You can always D-mail me--or go to the "No Topic" discussion Thread called "What's happening in your neck of the Woods"..
Anything goes there. It is nice to have an "anything goes" Thread here.

OK! The Asparagus Fern, like the Spider Plants, makes these translucent bulbs underground that, eventually,
fill the pot and displace all the soil. All they are are water reservoirs for the plan. You cannot grow a new plant from these!
However--you can go away on a 3 week vacation--and these plants will be just fine because of these little root-bulbs.

The Asp.Fern loves the sun--and you can grow it outside in bright light. It will flourish! Makes a nice HB.
Inside--it languishes in slight misery--and the green fronds turn yellow and drop off all over your floor--making YOU miserable!

You can use new starts of this as a beautiful, trailing accent plants in containers and W-Boxes.
Dividing is a job--but just take sharp knife and hack away. Do not worry about how many roots you are destroying!
I do the same thing to my Spider plants. Cut away the perimeters of the root ball--and then re-pot what's left in fresh soil.
They "gasp" for a little while, like saying, "Whatcha do THAT for???" But re-grow nicely. NO damage at all to them!

You can also allow the Asp. Fern blooms to ripen. It blooms with tiny little flowers along the stem ends.
This will ONLY happen outdoors--NOT in your house--unless you have a fabulous Sun Room.
The seed-"berries" start out pale--but when they are ripe--They turn red and mushy-- and you can pick them off.
You can let them dry and whither--or you can squish them out from the juicy "berries" and plant them right away. I would wait!
This can be done during the off-season in the house. Just plant a few in one cell-pack and treat them like any other seeds.

It will take a long while for them to sprout---when they do--you will see ONE skinny blade (like grass) that is the shoot.
This plant, obviously, is a "Monochite" (sp??). Like grass seed!
Give it time--and it will start branching out and growing some "needles" on it. Voila!!! You have just started a new
Asparagus fern! Plant it outside when the weather permits and enjoy!

When this plant is fresh and new--it is wonderful! Never mind all the thorns! It is lush and green.
When it gets old--it has a "rock" for a root mass and it is gasping for some fresh soil--and a new life.

Before you ask me how I know all this---This was one of my first "garden plants" I messed with.
A live and learn experience. Yes! I grew it from seed and YES! I planted it outside in a HB, and YES! it grew wonderful!

You can still buy this plant at HD, etc...under the category of "Accent Plants" among all the seasonal offerings.
It DOES look great planted in a big patio pot as it trails down with it's green fronds.
Spider plants, and Ivies, and such are also sold as "Accent Plants" and cost close to $3 each. Bah--Humbug!

Gita

JB, I will send you a pregnant onion plant when it recovers. It is frozen right now. I will also look up the botanical name for you.
I just wanted to pop in for a minute.
Hi Everyone.
Happy Monday,
Linda

JB--

Here is a link to "Images" of the pregnant Onion. Will look for the Botanical name....

http://www.google.com/search?q=pregnant+onion+plant&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=xJ4&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsfd&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&s

Here it is PF with all the necessary information-- make sure you go ALL the way tot he bottom and read the member's comments too.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1792/

*******************************

The Climbing Onion---

Family----Hyacynthaceae
Genus---Bowiea
Species---volubilis

Category---Bulbs
Tropical, tender perennial
Vines and climbers

If you go to PF and put in "Bowieae Volubilis----you will see all this....

THEN! Go all the way down to where there are member comments (LOTS!) and look for a
comment by "Monocromatico" from Rio de Jeneiro (z-11) and read his LONG story of the history and
experiences re this plant. I have 3 pages printed out from back in 2003. Hope this info is still there.....

I have always found that I learn the most about any plant by reading these member's comments.
You know--where it says: Positive--Neutral--Negative....

Here is the PF link to this plant. And, Yes! The comments are still there. Very interesting reading!!!

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59921/

Gita

This message was edited Jan 23, 2012 1:00 PM

Linda and Gita, Thanks for the information on the onions. You do not need to send me one, I really am not thrilled with it. LOL. It is an interesting plant. JB

JB---

I am NOT thrilled with either of these either--but I have them--and not too many people do. So--it is a novelty.

I am tired of having to bring them in and out every year--and the transplanting of the pregnant Onion is a nightmare.
I have done it--like--every 3 years. The mass of the roots is unbelievable--all matted and fine.
And--as you try to separate the bulbs--those little baby onions are falling away like marbles.

THEN__I "need" to, obsessively, propagate these--and them pot them up. yadda...yadda...yadda.....

I don't blame you for saying "NO"!

My 2 bigger ones grow in a heavy window box. This pic. is from 2007. One does not even know where to begin!!!

Proud Mama and her "brood". There is more underground.....

JB--as always--I am apologizing for straying off topic--but I am just "following the flow"..

No one is much posting right now about Holiday cactus--so lets keep this Thread alive with
whatever other people ask or comment about....I am always glad to advise and educate....

Gita

Gita thanks for the picture. That is just wild looking. LOL. I am not upset you do not want to chat, but I am going to leave you all for now. I am not really into these other plants and as much as I would love to take the time to learn all about them, I just do not have the time right now. Call me if you need me or send me an email. Off I go on my broom. Have a nice winter. I will see you on the other threads I am sure. I am always here if you need me.

JB--

I wish you would not leave! I am sorry if the "off topic" chatter is the reason.

I will miss you if you decide to go. This is YOUR Thread--and you could "crack the whip" a bit if you wanted....

Maybe closer to spring things will look up a bit.

Stay warm--and stay safe! Hang around here---please! Gita

Picture----Me in NY at Christmas time in 2007. One BIG Nutcracker--would you not say so???

That's little old me at the bottom...........Gita

I love novelty plants. If anyone has some prego onion babies they could pop in an envelope and mail to me, that would be GREAT. I'm in the address exchange.

My CC seem to just be setting there since blooming for the holidays. I give them a dribble of a drink every week or two and hope they will pop back to life when I set them out in the spring. I do see a few new segments coming out once in a while too, so at least they are still alive! ^_^ The starts that I rescued from iminent doom to the trash can are still doing well. Have set down little roots so I think they are going to make it. Will be interesting to see which colors they are.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Crit--You have D-mail.....Gita

Hello all,

How long after my CC's stop blooming do they need to rest.I want to make sure about the rest period care!!! Less water,Same amount of light??? what all changes with it's care besides the water might be an easier question to answer.Also is this a time to leave them alone totally or/and do they do better now or in spring with re-potting,rooting etc...When do you begin feeding them again?(I'm in zone 8 & having a warm winter) most of my CC's have new growth,one has put out a bud or two.When,how often and how do you tell when one needs to be re-potted.I do top mine with fresh soil when they need it, peat based mediums decompose fairly quickly.


JB, I seen that you said you were leaving us,your expertise will honestly be missed.I am always coming up with new questions.I would like to thank you for all the help you've given me.Being the one with the least amount of experience,my CC's wouldn't be as beautiful or have bloomed as beautifully without the help of you and everyone else.I would have never thought to move that plant & because you told me to try it,it looks great & was the last one to stop blooming!!!! Thank you very much for your time & help!!!!!!

Someone wrote about an organic M-gro mix that works well for CC's.It was wrote while i was off having surgery or something.A few people joined the conversation while i was away,i apologize for not remembering who said what.I was wondering how the MG organic mix works.I have been trying to find the right potting medium and fertilizer for my CC's.If anyone could help me with who said they liked it,I could go straight to the source for the info or i would appreciate advice on what works well for cc's from any of you.I tried M-gro cactus-succulent mix,but i thought it was to heavy.Have used orchid mix w/vermiculite & some peat added before.Would love to hear other recipes or any premix that works well.!!

Gita thanks for the quick lesson,I got a lot out of it.

Linda, hope your family is all feeling better!!

Good wish's and have a nice week to everyone else

Friends,
I have not tried to catch up on everything that has been written in this long tread, but have recently seen picture of the Thor Nille Christmas Cactus and think it is beautiful. Does anyone have one? What are it's growth habits, etc. Is it available for trade.
Nita

JoJoe70--

Did you see today's article by Geoff Stein?

It is about the Pregnant Onion and the Climbing Onion.

Here is the link to it. Gita

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3522/

edited to put in the correct author's name.

This message was edited Jan 30, 2012 9:01 AM

Interesting article.

I guess I 'ignored' my cc's too much and didn't dribble them enough water. I noticed today that some of the segments had dried up and were falling off. Some were still attached to other segments. Needless to say, I gave them a better drink this time and they perked up.

Gita,

I read the article on the link you posted and i have to say that is one interesting plant.My kids pick on me about picking the funniest looking plants i kind find to like.They think my rhipsalis,pencil plant,Hoya rope plants etc... are just weird.I can't help but be interested in this pregnant onion.I need to do some research on it.I am wondering how it would do here outside.Do they prefer being in a pot or in the ground.I would love to have something like that outside.

This is this first spring since we moved here last summer that the tree's have been removed and we are going to try to find plants and bush's for the yard, i want to find tea olive bush's for the yard.I think we are getting off topic this has nothing to do with cc's.

JO

Hello everyone, just dropped in to give you a link I am not sure I gave you before. Th information on the Light section I found very interesting. These are the people who ID my cactus. Just full of info way beyond my poor old brain will ever remember. I just keep going back to it for refreshers. That is when I came across this info about Jungle Cacti as they call them. Enjoy!


http://cactiguide.com/growcacti/

JB! Great to have you jump in again! I KNOW you were not really gone--just resting......

I hope you would never desert YOUR Thread here---even if the last two were continued/started by ME!
Just helping you out!

How are things with you? Have you rested up from all the Holiday chaos? I hope so!

Nothing new to report on my CC's. They are busy rooting and growing.....
The older ones are busy--resting--just like us seniors...Things slow down when you get old......

Hugs---Gita

I am ready for JIll's Seed Swap on 2/11 in Frederick.
Here is my stash--anyone can go through it and take whatever they want.....
YES! I know I am, anally, organized....Keeps me sane.......I call it hands-free Trading....
except I do not "trade" at all. I just share what I have.

Gita

Gita, Hi, really not resting, just trying to keep up with the new puppy and moving stock plants around so they soon stop blooming. I have taken cuttings from 12 different colors and have them ready to put into ground when I get time. The taxes are priority just now. LOL Also, another old friend died this morning and her family has alot of questions etc. I hope you are all well and counting the days until Spring.

Gita, the cuttings you gave me are all doing so well. The last ones are really looking good. They have been in soil for sometime now but the GH is too hot some days from the sun and then some days it is just o.k. I have noticed I have 5 rows of daffodils up already , so far you can see the entire row....the field must be warm from the sun but it they go into buds and then we get a freeze, well that will be the end of the daffodil business for me this year.

Take care. Hugs to all. JB

Hey Gita and JB and everyone else,

Great news. As of today we here at Dave's Garden can now add up to 5

Yes, 5, five, FIVE photos to a single post!

Makes me want to get my camera phone fixed!


This message was edited Feb 7, 2012 6:03 PM

Isn't that GREAT!?!?!?! Thanks to DG for making it easier to post pics!

Do you have any coleus cuttings you are going to be sending out? I loved the big purple one with fringed leaves. It did sooooooooo great last year, as did all of the ones I got from you, but my starts of it aren't doing too well. Others are doing fine. Go figure. lol

Judy--

Is that YOUR red Epi? Fantastic!!!!!! Such a beauty!!!!
When was this taken?

Also--did you see where I said I had seeds from the Bleading Heart you gave me in 2010?
it was loaded with seed pods and I took all the seeds out. I may have 1/2 tsp full.
I asked you if you wanted them--as I do not think I will be growing any from seed.
Then again, I may keep 5 or 6 seeds--just for the heck of it....

You can guide me through this process...How long from seed yo bloom???

Gonna try the multi-picture thing now. Brace yourself!!!
YAY!!! It just comes up as multi-browse windows--onr below the other.

These pictures are random--whatever --from years past.

LOVE IT!!!! Love it!!!

Gita

Lovely pictures Gita. Keep up the good work.

Hi Everyone!
Didn't mean to go MIA again. I worked in my greenhouse all weekend. Taking everything out and feeding and cleaning it and putting everything back in, I was so happy to be working. Hubby knew it was working wonders for my "mental health" and mood, so he didn't consider stopping me. Well, I did too much and haven't been able to use my right arm hardly at all since then. I really irritated the nerve and disks in my neck and the ones that run down that arm haven't stopped screaming yet. LOL. ( I never know when to quit). It was fun while it lasted tho, so now I just whine and say "it hurts so good"!

My cactus are looking good. I have started feeding everything. It is in the 50's and 60's during the day and staying in the 40's at night, so now I will begin feeding them about every 10 days or so. I would like to start re-potting too, but now I have to wait until I can use my arm again. Spinal problems are a pain!
For anyone who knows me and JB will especially appreciate this ..." I did not fall and break both feet!" like last year. I guess 1 arm sore is a much smaller price to pay for an awesome day in the greenhouse.
Oh well, gotta run. I just wanted to pop in.
Linda

Oh Linda, do know what you mean. I have had such arthritis in my left foot....middle toes, they are starting to curl up and I am just horrified but at my age, I am lucky it is just my toes. LOL. My hands are already a mess. Then my sciatica is killing me because of the storm that just passed and on top of that I have had really miserable pain in my arm I hurt years ago because I have been scrubbing bird cages, a few at a time. They were ready to walk away on their own they were so dirty and I can not stand bird poop. I worry people can smell them and of course no one can but me. LOL I am glad you had a great day. I am about to start on making things for the cemetery since Valentine is soon upon us and all the guys and Mom get roses.

The black pussy willow I cut Feb. 1st are coming into bloom now and they are just beautiful. They will be getting roots soon I hope. I had to move all the CC to lower shelves because the sun is bleaching the heck out of them.
I have a bunch more to plant but they are better off in the house in water until the sun is not so hot.

Later. Love you all. JB

Hello all,
Hope everyone is doing great!!! I was going to ask about when to start fertilizing my CC's but Linda may have helped me out.

If you go by the temp.when it starts to warm up start to fertilize? I am not far from Linda, she's a little warmer than me.So start feeding them when days & nights get a little warmer?

Also if anyone could recommend when do my baby epi's (leaf cuttings,growing good & new growth looking good) get any fertilizer and what kind & how much.


I would appreciate any advice i can get on fertilizer.

Everyone have a great day

Jo

Jo,

In your warmer zone--I would think you can do some diluted fertilizing by now.
Like a few drops of MG in a qt.
I am just guessing......Today, I used, for the 1st time, my "Green Weed" seaweed fertilizer I ordered from
"Planet natural". I put it on EVERYTHING---my stupid way of doing things. Even my AV's.

Your cuttings look good! Just keep them in tight pots. They do not bloom until they are root-bound.
I can see a couple more years for them before they get to that state.

Put them outside in good light--but not in direct PM sun. Water as usual--feed when you feed anything else.

They can grow massive! And, often, very lopsided. Just their way.
When you DO plant them up in a HB--make sure it is a sturdy one. I am sure you have seen the pictures of mine.....
One of them is ALL to one side--and there is nothing i can do about it....

Here is a picture I just took. This is in my LR and my two Epis...

Gita

Gita

JB Congratulations on being in Garden Watch Dog "Top Five" again this year!

JoJo and Gita, that's a lot of green going there.

I've kept my ccs alive for 3 mos now! They have only needed water once so far. I had hoped to pass them on to Ruby at our seed swap but now will have to wait til April or May. What temps are ok for putting them outside for the summer?

Judy

Ooops---Double post.....

This message was edited Feb 18, 2012 8:34 PM

Judy--

Same time you put out your other plants--houseplants. HB's, etc....
About 1st of May......even though the official frost-free date here is may 10th.
I always cheat a bit.......

Just watch the sun exposure. For my baby cc's--they sit outside my front door on a 2-shelved plant stand.
No sun at all--just bright shade.

.Gita

Thank you Judy. I do not know where they get their info, because most of my feedback is in form of Dmail. Maybe that is where they get it. LOL I do try very hard to please the customers.

Getting ready to put black pussy willows in pots. They certainly root quickly and they are so beautiful.

Have a good day and those of you who are getting snow.....keep it. Love and Hugs. Jb

Hello all,

We had been having some nice weather,then all of a sudden the clouds replaced the sun all day.Then the night temp's are getting down into the 30's,the day temp in the mid 50's.

I have started putting a few of my cooler growing plants out for a few hours getting the first to go out use to it slowly.I put mine out in about 3 groups.My cc's go out with the second group & the ones i rooted will sit under my chairs on the porch. No sun,only bright light until they have a good bit of new growth,then i pot them up.

Gita thanks for the tip on the pots & blooming info for my new epi's.These are the first ones i've ever grown.The picture of your's growing out of one side of the HB makes for an interesting site.LOL how long have you had it?Did you start them from leaf cuttings?

How much sun and heat can they take? Do they need to come back in when the summer starts getting scorching hot as it does here or can they take the heat if they are in the shade?

I only have an id on one of my epi's, if anyone can tell from one leaf or has an opinion please do let me know!

Linda if you remember any of them, I'm posting pic's.Wanted to let you know the cuttings are doing great.The new growth on them has really grown good.Thank you so much!!!!