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Thursday, November 01, 2007

holiday cactus (Schlumbergera)

I think they're supposed to be "Christmas cactus."

Or "Thanksgiving cactus."

But they seem to be "Halloween cactus" again this year.


I take the schlumbergera out to the porch in the summer. They love it and grow a lot.


Then in October when I bring them inside, they immediately begin to bud and bloom. It must be the decrease in light that triggers the bloomin'.



I think the blooms will be gone by Thanksgiving (November 22), when we'll have Don's family at our place to celebrate the holiday.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't had a Christmas cactus like this in years. Must buy one this year.

Beautiful photos.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Britt-arnhild. If/when you get one, I hope you'll take a picture and show us.

MYM said...

So, so pretty. I used to have a St. Patrick's cactus...at least that's when it used to bloom.

Manda said...

Just yesterday, I saw the 3 largest, most bloom-burdened Christmas cacti I have ever seen. The green thumb, my friend's mother, puts them outside all summer too and has just brought them in. I must do that next summer! Mine is covered in a fine layer of century-old dust from the kitchen remodel and wants a bigger pot and fresh soil.

Catherine Mary said...

Hello, this is my first comment but I've visited your weblog before brought here from a comment you left at Brit-Arnhild's. A Christmas cactus I once took care of, always bloomed in autumn--along with the Christmas decorations for sale in the stores! I like your list of links, especially the one publishing good news!

Ruth said...

Drowsey, I've had 'em bloom in the spring too.

Ruth said...

Oh Manda, I heard about your kitchen re-do, and I can't wait to see it! I hope it's going well, not too crazy. I got soooo sick of the dust when we did ours two houses ago. Good luck with it, don't overdo, and we'd love to bring dinner and see it when it's done!!

Ruth said...

Catherine Mary, what a sweet, sweet blog you have. I just browsed a bit, and I'll go back and look better.

I'm going to a Rumi reading tonight by Coleman Barks, I'm pretty excited. Of cousre I'll write a post about it. I noticed a quote on your sidebar.

Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.

Ruth said...

Catherine Mary, you don't allow comments on your blog? :(

I love your photos. The simplicity really touches me.

Loring Wirbel said...

These are as good as the Robert Mapplethorpe photographs of orchids and other exotics. (cf the cover of The Swans' "The Burning World",

http://swans.pair.com/IMG_PRODUCTS/
burningworld.jpg

Ruth said...

What a generous thing to say, Loring. Thank you so much.

rauf said...

what a delight ! never seen them, never heard of them Ruth. i think i have already forgotten the names.

Ruth said...

rauf, and you are not going to spare me a quiz on the kinship names in India???

Hehe.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi Ruth,
I really did not know the meaning of all those cactusses, and esspecially NOT, that every festivity is having its own cactus...How interesting to know.

I am never too old to learn...:)

Ruth said...

No, see, JoAnn, they are the same cactus, but I think they get different names based on when someone gets them to bloom. Well, that's not true, I'm sure. There are different species. It's all so confusing.

Mrs. SwedeHart said...

Is this the same cactus from last year?! Rauf, might I use the word humongous?

Unknown said...

such lovely flowers, how interestingly different. i must add them to my floral fabric earring collection!

i hope they stay in bloom long enough for me to see them! can't wait.

Ruth said...

Yes, RK, Don bought two humongous cacti last year, and I have propogated several little ones from them.

Ruth said...

Lesley, I hope they stay in bloom too, some of them are blooming a little later than others, so I'm hopeful. 15 more days!!!! :D