Our overcast and dreary past couple of days have been brightened by our Christmas cactus and its blooms. Our houseplants get the necessary attention that they require, but probably don't get enough extra TLC that they'd appreciate. Almost all of them stay outside during the spring, summer and early fall. Jo keeps them watered well and they seem to thrive being outdoors. However, when fall rolls around, we must bring them inside where they really don't receive enough sunlight. I know they'd prefer to reside in a heated sun room during the winter, but we just don't happen to have one of those. I suppose it's the transition from getting plenty of sunlight to a much darker environment that triggers the Christmas cactus into blooming about this time every year. Whatever it is, we appreciate its bright little flowers.
8 comments:
Your's blooms well. I have one that I bought out of the orphanage dept at a green house some years ago. The first couple of years it didn't bloom at all. Now I only get maybe 2 blooms at a time at most.
Hello, Dave. Some say that you must put the Christmas cactus in the dark for a while in order for it to bloom. Just bringing it inside works for us, though. Who knows?
Wow, Marvin, what fantastic blooms. Such a great quirk for a plant to bloom just when things get dreary.
Our daughter has a Christmas cactus that has managed to hang on for a couple of years... we just brought it inside after I found it in a corner of the pole barn. Maybe we'll get a few cheerful blooms to enjoy.
Ron
You're right, Ron. Those bright blooms are much appreciate during these gray days we've been having.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that your daughter's Christmas cactus manages a few blooms, too.
Makes logical sense that when it senses reduced light, it knows it's winter and it blooms...
I think Poinsetta's are supposed to be put in the dark, too, for Christmas blooming.
I love Xmas Cactus though. It's always been one of my favorite houseplants. I wish I had the sunlight to get a few...
I have a couple of Christmas Cacti which have just developed buds. I'm a few degrees of latitude north of you which perhaps explains the time discrepancy!
I have a Christmas Cactus way down in South Texas where the weather is 60 to 80 degrees most of the time and the little darling is blooming also. They are so pretty.
Todd: Maybe you could invest in a tanning bed. :-)
Larry: Makes sense to me, but what do I know?
Cathy: It's probably that December air conditioning that does the trick in your case.
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