Christmas Cactus

My Christmas Cactus are all blooming or in the process of blooming!  I love them all.  My Mom gave a slip from one of hers and I keep starting others now, too.

These Christmas Cactus are very easy to root and grow rapidly.

The color is so vivid.

This one has a very different leaf than the others.  I have had this plant since the early 60's.  Our doctor friend's sister gave me a small one from an enormous one she said she had since the doc was a little boy!  I have had to restart with slips but no matter how much I cut it up, it always comes back.  The blossoms are deep red and are just beginning to show.


  There are some plants that cannot be left to the elements because we do get some freezing temps here in SC in winter.  Right now they are on the back porch but will have to be wrapped or brought in soon.  

The one on the left is the Tai plant from Hawaii that is started from a piece of waxed root.  My hubby bought this for me when we were dating at the NYS Fair.  It is a beautiful plant and though it has met with mishaps, it has always come back.  I love it.  It is now 52 yrs. old.  


The begonia is the one that blew into the lake and turtles were chowing down on it.  But as you can see, it survived and grew nicely.  In the back is my Crown of Thorns plant that my Mom started for me more than 23 yrs. ago.  It is about 3 foot tall with "drops of blood" blossoms as the legend goes.


   I would love to see your plants that you have had for years.  Tip on Christmas Cactus, they need 12 hours of darkness to bloom and that is why I leave them on the back porch as long as I can.  If I do have to bring it in, I put it in the guest bedroom that when unused is dark.
  Thanks for coming as always. And have a very Merry Christmas!

MORE CHRISTMAS CACTUS

HUGE CACTUS! The fuscia color is still blooming and budding and the red cactus is about ready to burst.  Note that the cactus on the left in the picture has no buds at all yet while the middle cactus is in full bloom and the red one is almost fully open.  They fascinate me!  Another blogger had asked how I get them to bloom so prolifically and my answer was that I keep them out of doors until it gets too cold. IF YOU BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE IN LATE SUMMER, YOU MUST KEEP THEM IN 12 HOURS OF DARKNESS LIKE IN AN UNUSED BEDROOM AT NIGHT TIME.  This will bring the blooms.  I leave mine on the porch as I am in SC near the coast and have not had freezing temps yet.  While blooming or budding, I cannot bring them into the house or they will drop the buds from the temperature change.  So right now we are enjoying them on the porch here by the den window.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and If you would like any more information, please comment.  Kerrie

Sunday Blooms!

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING TO YOU!  This is the same cactus as in the last post.  It just keeps opening buds and there are plenty more to come.  It loves the cold night temps we have been having.  It is such a great color.  The other one that I have had for 40 some odd years blooms closer to Christmas and is a deep red.  I cannot wait to see that one!  Isn't it wonderful that God gave us so many beautiful livng things to fill us wih joy and simple peasures?  I am filled with awe whenever I look at the details in nature that are so precise and beautiful.  Today I am thankful for cerulean blue skies with puffy little clouds here and there, fall leaves on the ground, the browning grass and the mischievious squirrels.  I am thankful for a lovely weekend with grandchildren filling the house with giggles and camping out on blow-up mattresses in the living room! And yes even for the 2 little dogs that came with them-ha!
    Thank you Lord for every blessing that you give to us and for all of those yet to come.  Amen.

Christmas Cactus

THE BEAUTIFUL Christmas Cactus is blooming and since it has turned very chilly at night now, I am afraid to bring the plants in as they will drop their buds if the temperature change is too great.  I have several of these on my back porch and they are so beautiful!