Advice on Christmas Cactus would be greatly appreciated! (grow, violet, insect)

[stone-ground]

When they fall off, they leave a sticky same-colour as the flower sap on the floor .. which is easily washed off .. kind of.

When they're getting wilty, pull them off to save yourself a bit of a mess, is my suggestion.

Sometimes I get tired of the damn thing blooming so much, lol.

It's good to fertilize it sometimes, it's a succulent and does like water, but can also survive when it needs to, but if there's no nutrition left in the soil, then it's prone to mealy bugs.

Once you have them, they're hard to get rid of, unless you strip the plant, spray and kill, and re-pot.

[stone-ground]

Karla! Love your red and white mixed cactus! First time I've seen that. In fact, I'm not sure I've actually seen a white one in bloom. I like the white!

Also should mention, ours loves the sun!

[FLPL75]

thanks stone ground

I also heard somewhere they love rain water so every once in awhile I will stick it out in the rain

I really love the white one I actually have it in a pot with some freesia bulbs
they wil bloom in the spring one the CC blooms are done

[Towhee]

Here is the link to my PT album of Jungle cactus.

PictureTrail Gallery


Although these are called 'cactus' they are actually succulents, as stoneground mentioned. And since they are jungle plants, they do not need as dry an environment as true cacti.

[FLPL75]

great pictures Marianinark !!!
can you tell us more about the seed collection process
I would like to give that a try

[Towhee]

Karla, my plants frequently put on 'fruit' which contain the seeds,( if you do not pick off the withered flower). Not many flowers set seed pods.You will know which ones do. There will be a swollen green pod. If you cross pollinate the flowers they are almost certain to set seed pods. It takes months for the pod to mature. When they are red and almost transparent they are ripe. I just pick the pod of seeds, break it open, and spread the very small seeds on a moistened potting medium. I cover the container with a clear plastic or glass, keep it in room temperature out of sunlight, until the seeds sprout. The seedlings will be very small and slow growing. With patience you will eventually have lots of neat new plants.
If I want both parent plants to set seed, I put the plants close together, and rub the pollen-filled blooms on each other's stigmas. If you only want one plant to be pollenated, you can pick a bloom from the other plant and rub it's pollen on the stigma of the flower to be polinated. I gently tied a corresponding colored ribbon to the pollinated area.

[FLPL75]

thanks Marianinark
I am going to leave the blooms on this year to see what happens
will one of those small artist brushes work for the cross pollination?

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by Karla with a K

thanks Marianinark
I am going to leave the blooms on this year to see what happens
will one of those small artist brushes work for the cross pollination?

Yes, I am sure that would work fine, I may have done that in the long ago...

[stone-ground]

Marian, all of your cacti/succulents are something else! Wow!

Just beautiful! I had no idea of all the different kinds, and how you can cross them and such. You've just opened up a whole new world, lol. Thanks for sharing.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by chinaberry25

Just break off a piece of the part of plant and plant in the soil. Water sparingly for it is a cactus. Must have 13 hours of darkness and a cool room to bloom. Does not like blistering cold weather. Leave outside on porch til frost time and then bring in and put in a room that gets less light than high traffic areas in house. Will have beautiful blooms by Christmas. I like the white ones.

They are wonderfull, I have 4 they are outside in the Lani, I water not a lot!
I have been checking, and they are so ready to bloom. I am no gardner,
but these guys are wonderfull! I do think my mother, would after the bloom either place them outside, or in the cellar, they also did bloom!