ninnymary
Garden Master
Maybe your grandkids will want it some day.For centuries, I think as long as I don't bump it off. But neither son is married or has a girlfriend interested in my plants.
Mary
Very Old Christmas Cactus
- Thread starter Carol Dee
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Mary
Smart Red
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Can't be! One of the best, perhaps, but not the best.
Of course, since mine is now gone, you could be right.
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Carol Dee
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Aww @Smart Red isn't it great to have a Wonderful MIL.
I tried to be like her for my now Ex-DIL. So sorry yours is gone. Dearly missed I am certain.
thistlebloom
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Wow, fifty years old! Such a pretty color.
Our ex neighbors moved to Arizona last fall and the grandma didn't have room for her 2 CC's, so asked me if I wanted them as they were just about pulling out of the drive. I took it to be nice, since I really don't have anywhere to put two giant houseplants. I found out that she has had them for 25 years, so before I rehomed them I took a bunch of cuttings and stuck them in potting soil. I couldn't believe how fast they rooted. I plan to ship it to her after the first of the year and surprise her.
Our ex neighbors moved to Arizona last fall and the grandma didn't have room for her 2 CC's, so asked me if I wanted them as they were just about pulling out of the drive. I took it to be nice, since I really don't have anywhere to put two giant houseplants. I found out that she has had them for 25 years, so before I rehomed them I took a bunch of cuttings and stuck them in potting soil. I couldn't believe how fast they rooted. I plan to ship it to her after the first of the year and surprise her.
baymule
Garden Master
Beautiful Christmas cactus! How sweet of your MIL to give it to you. They are easy to root from cuttings, so you can share the love. I know you are enjoying the colorful blooms!
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Carol Dee
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SWEET
Rhodie Ranch
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They get really woody with age, but like others said, you can trim it by pinching back the growth and making any shape you want.
journey11
Garden Master
That's a nice one, Carol! You could get lots of babies from it when you decide to give it a haircut. They root very easily. I stick mine in water for a bit until some roots get going, then pot up.
I'm sure it's a lot of pressure to care for a plant with such history, but I assure you, you really can't kill them (except for freezing temps, maybe). I've found they bloom best after being stressed too. I put mine out on the porch all summer and occasionally forget to water them, have left them in the sun and let them get scorched on accident, cat has knocked them over and out of the pot, etc. They always bounce back and bloom like crazy. I've heard you can force them into a second bloom, I think by restricting the length of daylight. I'll have to check on that...can't remember now what I was told. I also noticed they won't grow much if left in a smaller pot, but every time I do pot up to the next size with new dirt, they'll quickly get much bigger.
I'm sure it's a lot of pressure to care for a plant with such history, but I assure you, you really can't kill them (except for freezing temps, maybe). I've found they bloom best after being stressed too. I put mine out on the porch all summer and occasionally forget to water them, have left them in the sun and let them get scorched on accident, cat has knocked them over and out of the pot, etc. They always bounce back and bloom like crazy. I've heard you can force them into a second bloom, I think by restricting the length of daylight. I'll have to check on that...can't remember now what I was told. I also noticed they won't grow much if left in a smaller pot, but every time I do pot up to the next size with new dirt, they'll quickly get much bigger.
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Carol Dee
Garden Master
We have been very hard on this plant in the 3 or 4 years it has been in my keeping. Scorched it 1st summer when I set I t out on back deck. It quickly got moved to the covered front porch. At least 2 falIs forgot to bring it in (or even cover) it until it got a bit frost nipped. Oops. It thrives in spite of me.
Chickie'sMomaInNH
Garden Master
from what i had been told from a student tending to the 'special' specimens at UNH that there are 2 types of Christmas Cacti. i have 2 different types.
Buckleyi are considered the actual Christmas Cactus and this is what you have @Carol Dee. they have a weeping form and rounded segments. my Albert (connection to Albert Einstein) is currently in bloom along with my white form (which has no important history other than it came from a holiday craft fair and bought for about $2)
the other Christmas cacti seems to have 'points' on the segments, tend to grow more upright and is from the Truncata side of the family. i guess this one is called a Thanksgiving Cactus since it blooms earlier than Christmas. mine didn't bloom this year.
Buckleyi are considered the actual Christmas Cactus and this is what you have @Carol Dee. they have a weeping form and rounded segments. my Albert (connection to Albert Einstein) is currently in bloom along with my white form (which has no important history other than it came from a holiday craft fair and bought for about $2)
the other Christmas cacti seems to have 'points' on the segments, tend to grow more upright and is from the Truncata side of the family. i guess this one is called a Thanksgiving Cactus since it blooms earlier than Christmas. mine didn't bloom this year.
