Ric Rac orchid cactus ...need information

I have a HB of this plant (Cryptocereus Anthonyanus). Have had it many years now (8 or 9). Started with a 4" cutting from an old lady.

For years I had no clue what it was. Then I found out one name for it ("Fishbone Cactus") and through the Forums learned of it's true name.

I keep mine indoors all winter hanging in my big LR window. Decent light, but not full sun. Around this time of year, I hang it outside where it seems much happier. However, It has NEVER bloomed! I have checked out the Database and there are some pictures of this plant in bloom. It is beautiful!!! What has to happen for it to bloom????

Another question I have is about how the "fronds" grow. There are some that are wide and succulent and have that ric rac look, and then there are these skinny, long ends with a lot of dry air roots hanging from the stems. Ugly! Do the skinny ones grow b/c of insufficient light indoors in the winter? Why all the roots hanging down? Now that I have hung them outside, can I trim the skinny/roots ends back to where the "frond" is wide and green? Do these skinny, rooted stems serve a purpose? Most of the "fronds" are over 2 feet long. I have this plant in a 7" shallow HB.

What should I feed it to get it to bloom? As it is, I have not fed it much of anything. Also, last summer my pot blew over and half of the stems broke off. I stuck them all in a new pot and they seem to have rooted and are growing.

Any advice or explanations will be appreciated.

Thanks, Gitagal

Try giving them a steady diet of Eleanor VF 11 with every watering, they sould be in flower at this time. Trim out the dead wood, and give them new fresh soil. Don't starve these plants, we water ours once a week, and fertilize with a liquid 10-10-10 fertilizer, but don't use the VF11. Ours are in flower at this time. They are outside year round, don't get any attention during the winter months, let them go dormant, of course the rain water will take care of them, we start new cuttings in the spring and often get flower the first year.

Good luck, I may even have an instruction sheet I could send you, I did print off a stack of them 2 years ago. If found I will announce it here.

I got my daughter to use her digital camera so I can post a picture of what I am talking about. All comments are welcome!

Thanks, Gitagal

Here's another picture of these long, skinny stems.

I may need more sun, and could use a cold dormant winter, we do not water our in the winter, when it rains, it gets plenty of water, this is the large size leaf. there are several forms of this plant. Christmas cactus, and Easter cactus and like species enjoy a cool temperature. Then they flower, they also need some sun to set the flowers. Norma

Crassulady!

Thanks for all your input!.....BUT! You live in CA and can leave it out all year. I cannot! Your references about this plant do not apply to this zone. (7) I have to bring it in for the winter. We have really hot, humid summers here. Doesn't bother this plant any! It grows very well in the outside season, BUT, still! It has never flowered!

Does yours get these skinny fronds with all the roots hanging down--like in the pictures I posted????? Why are they there????? Can I cut them back? Anyone???????