Sunday, October 25, 2009

Green Thumb Sunday - October 25, 2009

Holiday Cactus
These aren't true Christmas cacti, according to the explanation given by Mr. Brown Thumb of Chicago.


However, here's a post from October 19, 2008 showing this particular cactus in bloom.

And here's the same cactus blooming today.


I believe I've detected a pattern!
:-)

PS - My red-flowering cactus has plenty of buds, and will be blooming before too very long.

Not a disappointment and nothing "shady" about it!
Have a wonderful day.
Visit As the Garden Grows to see how you can participate in this meme. Then click their "home" button to place a comment about your post so we can visit you, too! :-)

15 comments:

bobbie said...

These are so beautiful. I've never had good luck with these plants.

Rosemary said...

Your cactus is beautiful great colour. Love these plants, so tough, I summer mine outdoors every summer, it is in bud now and flowering soon.

troutbirder said...

A beautiful houseplant. Mine spend the summer outside as well. They don't always bloom on the correct holiday though.

Anonymous said...

Well, the plant's success is a testament to the acumen of the caretaker. Nice!! Hope to see the red one soon.

Chloe m said...

I gotta figure out how to get mine to bloom. I can barely remember what color mine are.
Yours looks fabulously healthy and robust!
Rosey

Shady Gardener said...

Hi all! Let me tell you what I do (which is very little)! ;-) It sounds as though Rosemary and troutbirder do the same, which is set the plants outdoors in the late Spring when it's nice and warm. I put mine in mostly shade and filtered sun. (My mother-in-law used to put hers directly in the sun all summer, with just as much good fortune in the blossom department!)

Mine, however, end up blooming about 3 to 4 times during the Winter!

I rarely water, due to the amount of rainfall we've had these past two summers. These plants don't mind being dry for awhile, though.

Rosey, you should try again! :-)

MrBrownThumb said...

It is beautiful! Enjoy the blooms and thanks a lot for the link and stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Is yours Naomi? It sure is pretty! I frequently forget the names of my plants, but am remembering the Naomi I got last winter. It was blooming, and has bloomed once after that. I wish I'd have known to put it outside. It did spend the summer in my garden window on the east side of my house. Just the other day, I looked up what I was supposed to do to get it to bloom. From what I read, I should have already put it in a room with cooler temps, and no artificial lights on in the evening.

Well, it is cool in the garden window, and we don't go into the room much at night, so when I looked at it, it was full of buds! I moved it to a room that is a little warmer, and it seems to be doing well. It will probably be a couple weeks before it looks like yours.

joey said...

Gorgeous Cactus, Shady. I think I have its 'shy' twin ... mine is not in bloom :(

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I just love Christmas cactus! Yours is such a pretty color. I plan to try one or two this year. I'm determined to have some blooms inside this fall and winter while I wait for the outside ones to start again!

Kathleen said...

You have such great luck (or such a green thumb) with Christmas cactus Shady Gardener. I remember how beautiful they looked last year too. Your Gooseneck Loosestrife is gorgeous also. I never knew it had that fabulous fall color?? I also wanted to say thanks for the nice message you left about my daughter ~ we appreciated it.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Isn't MBT the best? I'd always wondered about the two names, Xmas and T'giving cactus. Mine had a little fall earlier this year, breaking off a lot of its pads, so I don't think it's going to be blooming soon.

Kylee Baumle said...

You know, I've never owned one of these , but every time I see one on someone's blog, it makes me want one!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi MBTh, I've missed visiting your site... you always have so much to offer. :-)

Hi Joey, It will bloom. I know it will. ;-) Keep me posted.

Catherine, Your optimism is contageous. Let me know when yours bloom!

Hi Kathleen, Isn't it fun to have visited people long enough that you have some recollection of what and how they're doing? I love it! And I always enjoy visiting your site! :-)

Monica, I'm sorry about your cactus. Yes, Mr. BTh is wonderful. He'd also have information about what to do with the parts of your cactus that broke off! :-)

Kylee, I'm speechless! I cannot believe you don't have one of these! ;-) Are you sure you haven't overlooked it in the many plants you bring indoors every Fall?? lol.

Shady Gardener said...

Sue! I neglected to respond to your comments! Let me know how your cactus does... I'm sure it'll bloom, as they seem pretty easy to care for. I really don't know the name of my variety. (I inherited this little plant with the house, which means it's around 7 years old!) :-)