Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Before They Shrivel Up Completely

Remember this Christmas cactus that I bought back in December and my excitement over its ten buds on one segment?

Then

This is what it looks like now.

Now

As I feared, many of the buds dried up and have dropped off. Those ten buds are just shriveling up and disappearing, despite all my misting and care. Oh, well, there's always next year, and I do still have a few remaining blooms to enjoy on my other cactus plants.




And look, the sun is shining brightly and bringing us temperatures of 40 degrees today, which may be the best news of all!

15 comments:

  1. Now that was a lovely january sight! I had one years ago and we paired it with one from my neighbor during summers. THey seemed to both bloom better with company!!!

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    1. I love Christmas cactus flowers, especially after all the cold and ice. And seeing the sun on the blossoms just makes my day! Hope it's sunny and warming where you are!

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  2. Hooray for warmer temps - they are here, too! Your cactus are gorgeous.

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  3. Oh, they are so pretty! Yahoo for warmer days (at least a few of them...)

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  4. Sorry about those little dried up buds. But the others you have...blooming...are a sight for sore eyes. So lovely.

    And yay for warmer temps. It is supposed to hit 60 by Friday!! the boys (Fletch & Colin) are hoping to have a fire in the pit Thursday night!! (I think I will stay in and knit on Col's socks - LOL). Enjoy the SUN.

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  5. My [very elderly] Christmas cactus died about a year ago, and I want to get another one. Mine used to only bloom at Easter, though!

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  6. Those blooms are truly gorgeous, Bonny. I have often wondered if they force the bloom stage to sell plants like that, then when you buy them, they are taken out of that environment, so they die off. It's annoying and disappointing, but you have back ups! We have the exact same weather today, so let's both enjoy it as much as we can.

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    1. I don't know if they actually force them (like forcing bulbs to bloom completely out of season), but I do think most of them are grown in greenhouses with heat and humidity that we just can't replicate in our homes. I was trying to find the difference between Christmas and Easter cactuses, and read that there are also Thanksgiving cactuses, each with different bloom times and slightly different-shaped segments (cladophylls!): https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/houseplants/holiday-cacti/index.html

      It's 42 degrees and glorious here, even if I did have to scrape ice of the driveway. Enjoy the delicious warmth!

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  7. I have two Thanksgiving/Easter cacti. They both bloom on both holidays. (I figure they're sort of like girls in a sorority house . . . who unwittingly synchronize their menstrual cycles!) Lovely blooms . . . whenever they show up. XO

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  8. Those cacti blooms are so beautiful. Mine usually blooms right after Thanksgiving so maybe it is a Thanksgiving Cactus. It usually puts on more buds but they always dry up and fall off. I might look for a plant with pink blossoms. Enjoy the warmer temps. We experienced our second day of above 32 degrees. Walking was so pleasant.

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  9. Awwwwwwwww, darn! I wanted to see ten blooms fit on one stem.

    Wasn't today glorious!!!

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  10. The cacti are beautiful, but I think sunshine is the best sight of all!

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  11. my cactus has been blooming even though I over watered it then under watered it. Gah. I love how forgiving he/she is!

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  12. Oh boo. But the ones that bloomed are so gorgeous, Bonny! Thank you for sharing!

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  13. The tiny blossoms look like they want to bloom, but it must have been an sos signal. You notched, took the bait, and saved the plant from the greenhouse. You may never know why it needed a new home. The sun must feel so nice after the days of bitter cold and snow!

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