I have heard the saying that you can love your plants too much, which is where the overwatering comes in. Just "watch" your plants and you can tell if they are happy! Thank you for great video!
My christmas cactus is about 10 years old. I used to live in CT and it thrived and bloomed all the time. Then, I moved to VA, and it lost all the leaves; the leaves started rotting right off the plant. I thought it was the move, but it was just me working from home and having lots of time to shower them with "love."
Just came upon you. I learned some new things about my cactus. I knew about the root bound detail. I learned that when I transplanted to a larger pot oops it did not like that so I placed it back in a pot close to the first size. It became happy again. It is about 15 years old, struggles with blooms, but now I learned a few things from you, Thank you!
I am glad it could help, that is my intent and I am always learning too. I think that is what makes gardening so fun, you never stop finding different ways to do it. And making mistakes isn't the end of the world but learning opportunities.
My Christmas cactus not only blooms around Christmas, but Easter too! LOL I got it as a gift from my mom back in 2018 and it has always bloomed twice a year!
I love "Christmas Cacti", I have one that I have always called "Christmas Cactus" but it is the same as the first one you picked up. The one that was dripping. I always wondered why it bloomed around Thanksgiving, now I know. Thank you. I want to get more also so thanks for that info as well. Great video. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
Hi Pamela! ☺️ one of my first plants was a Christmas cactus. That was a hundred years ago lol 😅 Yours are gorgeous! Love your studio also. You truly inspire me to get moving on all my "things"... setting up my studio, start painting again, new plants, etc. thank you for that! I need a kick in the pants. 😁
Believe it or not, I need a kick in the pants too. I could hardly move in here while filming this, I have a lot of purging to do it is just getting the time. I know once it is cleared out and organized it will be so much fun to come in and paint this winter.
I like this direct n to the point presentation.i took a slip of Christmas cactus from a Victorian bed n bkfst and its growing well. Little by little I'm learning thanks for info
I have Christmas cactus from my great grandmother. I have tried both ways to root pieces from it.vermiculite and just water & sticking it in direct soil.Some will get roots some won’t. I have another cactus from rooted piece from original & so happy it’s doing well.My old one stems are looking woody . I get a few blooms not like I use to but give it TLC North window cool room wish I had more light. Thanks for all your info.
Sounds great! My true Christmas Cactus is finally looking fuller. I don't know why the original started to die. I am sure I did something wrong but at least I still have some of it.
Thank you. I was not able yet to figure out how to remove three leaves to root..(the best way: sanitized cutter knife from husband, because razor sharp). I am learning to water on the 15th and approximately 30th of each month..(test= putting index finger two inches deep..to see that soil (miracle grow cactus soil 19-19-19) is really really dry...😊
At the 6:40 minute mark in this video I show how I remove the leaves to root: th-cam.com/video/1Jps8jzlQuU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_kL8b0VV-dZx_L4s This has worked well for me over the years.
Mine in my office doesn't bloom as it gets light only from the north facing window. So, I took it home and left it in the backyard under cover from spring to early fall. This makes it bloom again. I think blooming needs enough sunlight.
Mine it’s small, I have had it for 2 yrs now and hasn’t bloom 😢 now the leaves are turning orange and falling off. I have never fertilized and I read a comment saying they love fish emulsion fertilizer and I have some. Could that be true?
Them turning red, orange or purple means the plant is stressed. It could mean it is getting too much direct sun, too much water or it is too cold. Adding fertilizer while it is stressed is not the best idea. The number 1 reason is usually too much water. Let it dry out between waterings, the best way to know this is the pick up a moisture meter. I have one linked in the description box that I use.
Coffee grounds need to be composted for best results, I only use composted grounds on anything. The soil around these plants is so compacted from being root bound that the grounds would sit on top and then they would get moldy so no, I won't use them on these.
I have a Thanksgiving Cactus that is actually 3 stem I propagated in the same pot. It is very healthy but the stems grow into each other rather than fanning out. Will it work itself out? I try to rotate the plant a quarter turn once a week but some of the clades block the others.
The Schlumbergera variety is virtually impossible to get, you have to know someone that will give you a cutting, that is the only way to get them. The Zygocactus is the one that you see most often at holiday time. The Easter cactus is also rare. Just wish I could grow them, without them dying.
I can’t grow these cactus’ no matter what. I have lost several heirloom cactus’ that were handed down. Broke my heart. I may have watered them too much..? If I take a cutting and stick it in the dirt, it will either rot, from a bit too much water? or dry up, from not enough, get all wrinkled and die.
That stinks. I usually put them in a jar of of perlite with a little water in it and that seems to work. Or I also have put gravel in the bottom and had the water barely touching the bottom of the cuttings. They will root with just the humidity in the jar.
My mom has had the same Christmas Cactus for over 50 years!
They are so long living. And easier to care for than many realize.
I have heard the saying that you can love your plants too much, which is where the overwatering comes in. Just "watch" your plants and you can tell if they are happy! Thank you for great video!
So true! Thanks for chiming in.
My christmas cactus is about 10 years old. I used to live in CT and it thrived and bloomed all the time. Then, I moved to VA, and it lost all the leaves; the leaves started rotting right off the plant. I thought it was the move, but it was just me working from home and having lots of time to shower them with "love."
@@Maya23452 Yes, we can do that so easily.
Did not know about the Christmas cactus plants liking being rootbound. May have found one of the reasons my big plant doesn’t bloom! Thanks so much 🪴
Glad I could help!
Your studio is lovely and so are the cacti!
Your studio is very cheerful. Are you a painter? I love the colorful flower paintings. They give off good energy.
It is a fun place to go into and create.
Yes, I have another channel where I teach painting like this...th-cam.com/users/PamelaGroppe
Just came upon you. I learned some new things about my cactus. I knew about the root bound detail. I learned that when I transplanted to a larger pot oops it did not like that so I placed it back in a pot close to the first size. It became happy again. It is about 15 years old, struggles with blooms, but now I learned a few things from you, Thank you!
I am glad it could help, that is my intent and I am always learning too. I think that is what makes gardening so fun, you never stop finding different ways to do it. And making mistakes isn't the end of the world but learning opportunities.
Thank you for sharing an easy way to care for Christmas cactus
My pleasure
My Christmas cactus not only blooms around Christmas, but Easter too! LOL I got it as a gift from my mom back in 2018 and it has always bloomed twice a year!
Mine does too, once it even bloomed in June. They have a mind of their own, for certain. That is a lovely gift.
Thank you for your time in explaining the cactus. I enjoyed it very much.
You are very welcome. I hope you found it helpful.
I love "Christmas Cacti", I have one that I have always called "Christmas Cactus" but it is the same as the first one you picked up. The one that was dripping. I always wondered why it bloomed around Thanksgiving, now I know. Thank you. I want to get more also so thanks for that info as well. Great video. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
I just saw some at the local Ace store so they are hitting retailers now. I also spotted some purple poinsettias...?? They were so different.
Hi Pamela! ☺️ one of my first plants was a Christmas cactus. That was a hundred years ago lol 😅
Yours are gorgeous! Love your studio also. You truly inspire me to get moving on all my "things"... setting up my studio, start painting again, new plants, etc. thank you for that! I need a kick in the pants. 😁
Believe it or not, I need a kick in the pants too. I could hardly move in here while filming this, I have a lot of purging to do it is just getting the time. I know once it is cleared out and organized it will be so much fun to come in and paint this winter.
Thank you, I will check my local Ace.
I hope they have some pretty ones for you!
I have mine in an orchid mix. Doing very well in it and are solid with roots.
Good to know. I will have to try that and see how it works for me, but the regular potting soil with some added perlite has worked very well too.
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thank you for the information. And it was great to get a glimpse of your beautiful primrose cottage😊😊😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I so would like to have your sunny windows. Very helpful information , thanks
Yes, I love how bright it is in my little cottage. Windows line both sides and the front is French Doors. Great light is perfect for painting.
How to transfer plant.your Christmas cactus
Will upload soon. This is a great time of year to do that.
I like this direct n to the point presentation.i took a slip of Christmas cactus from a Victorian bed n bkfst and its growing well. Little by little I'm learning thanks for info
You are so welcome, I love getting starts from different places!
How to cut the cactus to bloom more
I will write these suggestions down and get a video up for you soon.
I have Christmas cactus from my great grandmother. I have tried both ways to root pieces from it.vermiculite and just water & sticking it in direct soil.Some will get roots some won’t. I have another cactus from rooted piece from original & so happy it’s doing well.My old one stems are looking woody . I get a few blooms not like I use to but give it TLC North window cool room wish I had more light. Thanks for all your info.
Sounds great! My true Christmas Cactus is finally looking fuller. I don't know why the original started to die. I am sure I did something wrong but at least I still have some of it.
Thank you. I was not able yet to figure out how to remove three leaves to root..(the best way: sanitized cutter knife from husband, because razor sharp). I am learning to water on the 15th and approximately 30th of each month..(test= putting index finger two inches deep..to see that soil (miracle grow cactus soil 19-19-19) is really really dry...😊
At the 6:40 minute mark in this video I show how I remove the leaves to root: th-cam.com/video/1Jps8jzlQuU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_kL8b0VV-dZx_L4s
This has worked well for me over the years.
Mine in my office doesn't bloom as it gets light only from the north facing window. So, I took it home and left it in the backyard under cover from spring to early fall. This makes it bloom again. I think blooming needs enough sunlight.
It definitely does, I keep mine outside during the summer too. Even in the shade it gets more ultraviolet light than anywhere in the house.
Mine it’s small, I have had it for 2 yrs now and hasn’t bloom 😢 now the leaves are turning orange and falling off. I have never fertilized and I read a comment saying they love fish emulsion fertilizer and I have some. Could that be true?
Them turning red, orange or purple means the plant is stressed. It could mean it is getting too much direct sun, too much water or it is too cold. Adding fertilizer while it is stressed is not the best idea. The number 1 reason is usually too much water. Let it dry out between waterings, the best way to know this is the pick up a moisture meter. I have one linked in the description box that I use.
Thanks ❤❤
You're welcome 😊
do you ever put coffee grounds in the soil after they bloom
Coffee grounds need to be composted for best results, I only use composted grounds on anything. The soil around these plants is so compacted from being root bound that the grounds would sit on top and then they would get moldy so no, I won't use them on these.
I have a Thanksgiving Cactus that is actually 3 stem I propagated in the same pot. It is very healthy but the stems grow into each other rather than fanning out. Will it work itself out? I try to rotate the plant a quarter turn once a week but some of the clades block the others.
Just let it go and it will work itself out fine as it grows.
I live in Missouri where u live I wondered because should I put them in the north window
I am in California. A north facing window should be fine.
The Schlumbergera variety is virtually impossible to get, you have to know someone that will give you a cutting, that is the only way to get them. The Zygocactus is the one that you see most often at holiday time. The Easter cactus is also rare. Just wish I could grow them, without them dying.
So true. I have yet to try the Easter Cactus.
Every time I've had one and it bloomed, they've always just started to 'wilt' afterwards and nothing I do seems to help. I gave up.
Sorry to hear that. I don't blame you, sometimes it just isn't worth the trouble.
What does it mean when the leaves on the end of the stem and new leaves are are pale and yellowish in the center?
Some say that is a lack of good light, but I am not sure. Try moving it to a better lit area???
How do you get them to 'stand up'? Mine goes up slightly and then bends over.
Mine do too, some develop stiff old stems that stay more upright. But once they get longer they drape over.
What does your yellow rose sign say?
It says Yellow Rose Saloon. The wood for this one came out of Evelyns house next door when it was begin remodeled.
Why doesn't mine only have a few blooms?
There are so many variables that it is hard to say. Some of mine had fewer flowers this year too. I think I let some get too dry during summer.
How to Root Christmas Cactus
Sorry, is that a question? If so the link to rooting is in the description box.
I think i shocked mine last year when i repotted. It is looking healthy but hasn't bloomed since i put it in that pot. 😢
As long as it looks healthy it will bloom again one day!
in my opinion, these Cactus bloom during cold months in northern hemisphere because we have heat going on in our houses during these months.
Interesting perspective.
I can’t grow these cactus’ no matter what. I have lost several heirloom cactus’ that were handed down. Broke my heart. I may have watered them too much..? If I take a cutting and stick it in the dirt, it will either rot, from a bit too much water? or dry up, from not enough, get all wrinkled and die.
That stinks. I usually put them in a jar of of perlite with a little water in it and that seems to work. Or I also have put gravel in the bottom and had the water barely touching the bottom of the cuttings. They will root with just the humidity in the jar.
Good tips,,,🪴
Glad you enjoyed it