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Garden Gate:  Christmas Cactus question  |
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blackantsnpeonys
True Blue Farmgirl
151 Posts
Denise
Hinckley
Illinois
USA
151 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 25 2015 : 8:17:03 PM
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My Christmas Cactus is dropping leaves. They seem to be shriveling up. Have I over watered it, is it too cool in my house? It didn't bloom many flowers this year. Any advice?
Creative, spontaneous, artistic, adventurous, wife, mother, grandma! Up for just about anything. Enjoying life. Blessed. |
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KristiW
Moderator/Farmgirl True
639 Posts
Kristine
MaryJanesFarm
USA
639 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 10:19:29 AM
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Mine recently did the same thing, just shriveled up and died. I have to think it was overwatering; I changed the potting mix and it all went downhill from there. If you have any healthy leaves left you can start a new one fairly easily.
Kristine
Farmgirl Sister #6
Not all who wander are lost. |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 11:54:01 AM
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They do get pot bound and when you replant you have to use cactus blend or they will die.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 11:56:02 AM
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 quote:
Originally posted by gramadinah This one is over 75 years old
They do get pot bound and when you replant you have to use cactus blend or they will die.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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blackantsnpeonys
True Blue Farmgirl
151 Posts
Denise
Hinckley
Illinois
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2015 : 7:03:28 PM
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Beautiful color Christmas Cactus. I stopped watering mine. Thank you for the advice.
Creative, spontaneous, artistic, adventurous, wife, mother, grandma! Up for just about anything. Enjoying life. Blessed. |
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KristiW
Moderator/Farmgirl True
639 Posts
Kristine
MaryJanesFarm
USA
639 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2015 : 08:29:21 AM
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Oh my, that is a lovely Christmas cactus Diana! I'm truly inspired now
Kristine
Farmgirl Sister #6
Not all who wander are lost. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13677 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13677 Posts |
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auntjenny
True Blue Farmgirl
277 Posts
Jenny
San Luis Obispo
CA
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2016 : 7:27:04 PM
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Finally got mine to bloom this year. It was my husband's late mom's plant and it was hanging in the darkest corner ov the living room for several years before i got here 3 years ago. I moved it out to our patio room about 6 months ago and fed it and saw blooms for the first time on christmas eve. It is a peachy pink color.so pretty. I moved it bsck in the living room temporarily so we can enjoy the blooms.
Dream like you have a lifetime ahead of you. Live like you only have today. |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
4919 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
4919 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2016 : 12:22:37 AM
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I am glad yours bloomed at Christmas, several years ago I had three big beautiful ones. Each summer I would put hem out doors in the shade, in our Texas heat. They bloomed beautifully...but at Thanksgiving. Then an ice storm caved in my winter plant home and They were lost along with all my other summer plants.
TexasGran
#6389
Let God's light shine through you every day.
www.etsy.com/shop/
anniemayme
Amazon Children's Books, look for my name:Marilyn Robinson Godfrey
Craftsy: patterns for farm stick animals
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2016 : 4:47:36 PM
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Most likely it got too much water. They do best when they are let to dry out a bit. I have several. When they are happy, sometimes they bloom more than once a year. There are some that bloom at other times than Christmas as well. I love them. One of my favorite plants. When my mother married her husband, he had one that was huge. It was in his family 50+ years. Her cat KILLED it!
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
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Daizy
True Blue Farmgirl
992 Posts
Daizy
Talladega
Alabama
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2016 : 8:24:39 PM
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Hay there.
Mz Denise, you should take about 20 cuttings and plant in the correct cactus type soil and then if/when the main plant crooks then you will have lots of new plants coming along. Just pinch off the end joint and plant. I have even seen them take root by just placing them on TOP of the soil (laying them on top). Good luck, I am looking for a few cuttings of different colors. My greenhouse ran out this year!!
The photo above is fantastic!! Mz Diana, you sure can grow good cacti .
Hugs and prayers, Daizy #1093
Poor House Farmgirl Chapter {A virtual chapter open to everyone.}
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron??
www.poorhouseparadise.blogspot.com |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9444 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9444 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2016 : 9:10:40 PM
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I didn't know there was a certain soil for cactus. Mine bloomed when I first got it at Christmas and then for a couple years it bloomed at Valentines and the next year it was Easter. It hasn't bloomed for about 2 years now. It is not huge and it was replanted three years ago. Do I need a bigger pot again maybe?
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2016 : 07:41:02 AM
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There is a cactus dirt mix. I was told you water them only when they get rain in Tucson AZ. I never wanted to keep track I water mine every week or so. I have let them go for months at a time so that the leaves start to shrivel and then water them real good I also give them a shower once a year as they get dusty with the broad leaves they have. Mine are my Thanksgiving cactus they are usually done blooming by Christmas.
I have 5 and they all seem to bloom at the same time with or with out care.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9444 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9444 Posts |
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coaloha
True Blue Farmgirl
502 Posts
Pam
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2016 : 8:20:36 PM
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Diana,
Your Christmas Cactus is a beauty! Thanks for sharing. I agree that it is important to not over what these plants. I just love how long Christmas Cacti can live and become heirloom plants.
Pam
Farmgirl #1075 |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2016 : 08:04:03 AM
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Just a note if you have a water softener in your home don't use that water to water your plants the salts used to treat the water will eventually kill your plants.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9444 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9444 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2016 : 1:19:45 PM
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What do I use in that case Diana? We have an RO unit on the tap I use to get some of the salt and stuff out because we have a whole house conditioner.
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Daizy
True Blue Farmgirl
992 Posts
Daizy
Talladega
Alabama
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2016 : 05:09:15 AM
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Hay there,
Mz Denise, you can collect a bucket of rain water and put it in jugs to water your plants.
Does anyone want to share a cutting of their cactus? My local greenhouse sold out at Christmas time before I could get one and now I can't seem to find any at any of the stores......bummer. I would really like to get a few started for the future. It takes them a long time to get pot=bound so that they bloom.
Hugs and prayers, Daizy #1093
Poor House Farmgirl Chapter {A virtual chapter open to everyone.}
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron??
www.poorhouseparadise.blogspot.com |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1513 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1513 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2016 : 12:08:53 PM
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Sorry to hear about your plant Denise. I just received one as a gift that was likely purchased at a grocery store and it has started losing leaves too. I know over watering is not the problem but I am definitely going to repot it in better soil. Christmas or Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera) are definitely sensitive to too much or too little water. However, dropping leaves can also be caused by a sudden change in temperature, light exposure or humidity. It can also be a sign of poor drainage disease or insects like spider mites or scale. These cacti are epiphytic in nature which means they grow on trees in their native habitat and need free draining soil and a proper amount of organic matter in order to thrive. Here is a great resource for learning how to care for these beauties:
http://www.mattslandscape.com/schlumbergera_growing/
Good luck bringing yours back to health! For any of you who are interested there are some Facebook groups devoted to Christmas Cacti as well as their larger growing cousins the Orchid Cacti (Epiphyllum)
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9444 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9444 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2016 : 4:53:42 PM
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Thanks Marilyn and Daizy. Didn't think about the rain water. My cactus hasn't lost any leaves. The only thing is the leaves seem to look shriveled sometimes. I watered it a couple weeks ago and now it is putting out new leaves. I am going to check out that link. Thank you!
~Denise~
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2016 : 11:54:33 AM
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Well, I am going to hold off re-potting mine... It is getting ready to bloom with white blossoms.. one blossoms is partially open and there are 8 more buds that will open by next week. :>)
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2016 : 11:59:29 AM
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Marilyn.. thanx for all the info... I wonder if these cacti can be grown in s mixture of spfghman (sp) moss w sort of like a "Staghorn fern" plant which also grows on the sides of trees in shaded tropical areas.
Now I am even more intrigged about these cacti.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Garden Gate: Christmas Cactus question |
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Christmas Cactus question
