My Ancient Xmas Cactus: Storm Victim

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rp2813

rp2813

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The winds were howling almost all night.  At around 12:30 AM I was getting ready for bed, and as I went to turn off the front patio light, I realized my sprawling Xmas cactus that may date as far back as the 1940s was MIA.  It had been blown off the patio. 

 

This thing weighs a ton, and was well-seated in a cast iron stand, but apparently it was a little too top-heavy.  I was planning to re-pot it, as it hasn't been looking happy, so I guess I'll be doing that sooner rather than later. 

 

Under calm conditions earlier today, I assessed the damage.  I'm glad it wasn't worse.  It looked as though it could have been reduced to stubs before I righted it.

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Lawrence (pts and mb),

 

Back in 1984, I briefly lived in an all original 1937 Mediterranean style home that had been uninhabited for several years.  Out in the unkempt back yard, hidden under a thick and tangled mat of overgrown Bermuda grass, I caught a glimpse of a fluted turquoise glazed pot on its side and long forgotten, containing this lopsided cactus, not even a foot across, that was still trying to make a go of it.  I fished it out, found a place for it and began to care for it.

 

When it was time to move, I brought the cactus over to my parents' house, where it has been ever since.  It did well here, although at one point (+/- 1990?) its stand got tangled up with the garden hose and it toppled, shattering the original pot.  I had an identical vintage pot, slightly larger and unglazed, so popped it in there and that is the pot that broke last night.

 

I've received various varieties of Xmas cacti over the years as gifts, and not a one of them has survived.  This plant, on the other hand, seems indestructible -- as the pix above attest.  I started a hanging specimen from a slip of this plant about 20 years ago and it got huge, requiring over 3' of clearance underneath.  I gave it to a friend a couple of years ago because I didn't want to deal with re-potting it.  I have taken many slips from this plant with good success.  It seems to be a fool-proof variety.  It looks like the broken pieces left behind by last night's mishap will be great for potting up and starting more plants.
 
How about, "And that's the RESSST of the story!"

 

And here's a new one.  55 years ago today, we woke up to snow on the ground here.  I had the measles and was stuck inside.  It happened again in February of 1976, but I was away at school down south, and all we got was rain and hail.

 

Good day!
 
Christmas Cacti Mystery

As most of you know, I re-located to FL from NJ several years ago. I gave my two cacti to my sister for safekeeping until I could make another trip to the Garden State. Not knowing what to do with them, she put them on top of the toilet tank in her guest bathroom. She has four cats and they will trash any plant brought in, so she was able to keep the door shut. Lo and behold, the plants bloomed twice with almost no attention other than watering.

Brought them here, and they grow fine except for no blooms. I took cuttings and sent them to a friend in PA. He rooted them and they bloomed! Go figure...
 
This one has always bloomed, but the timing has varied according to the amount of light the plant receives.  Usually it was well after the holidays and almost closer to Easter, apparently because it was getting too much shade.  I lopped off some low limbs and branches on nearby trees to allow for two or three hours' worth of morning sun to hit it, and the next bloom began right around Xmas.  The following two have as well. 

 

Charlie, try different exposure and let soil dry between waterings.   I do very little to this plant other than enjoy it.  

 

Growing up, an IBM scientist lived around the corner from here.  Back in the '60s, in his spare time he did a lot of experiments with plants to see if they had feelings, and results indicated they might or did.   Needless to say, neighbors thought he was kind of a kook.  Call me a kook, but maybe this plant is forever grateful to me for saving it.
 
I have a christmas cactus too, had it for some time, maybe 10 years.  I should re-pot it, it's in a hanging pot, but really don't want to disturb it as it grows well.  I do get it to bloom every year at the right time by treating it much like a poinsettia.  It hangs in a sunny south facing window most of the year, but come late september I water it well, then place it in a north facing bedroom.   No or very little artificial light at night and by early december it's ready to bloom.   I just check too see if it's too dry, but other than that it rests then blooms.  I do feed it spring and summer.

 

What is the best way to take cuttings?
 
Matt, cuttings can be as short and small as a single "leaf" or they can be taken from older more woody pieces.  In the last picture above, those woody looking stems that snapped off will get stuck in pots.   Some of the younger greener parts will too.

 

Let the cut ends dry before sticking in soil -- deep enough to keep the cutting stable/upright.  Don't overwater.  They'll rot instead of root.

 

I'll take some pictures of a couple of cuttings I've got going around here and post them.
 
I have 2 Christmas cactuses. Foy years I could not get them to bloom. I was told put them outside in May and leave out as long as possible in Oct. I bring in when they call for the first frost. They usually bloom 2 weeks after I bring them in the house. I have has these cactus for over 20 years.

David
 
@suds14

I see you are from Pittsburgh. Do you think your suggestion would work here in FL? The sun is very hot here in the summer, and I don't have a spot that's shaded on my property. As for "first frost", we don't have that in South Florida! My first summer here I put the cactus under a picnic table on the patio. It still got fried! Another aw.o pal said to put it in a darkened room and water sporadically. It still did nothing. Maybe I should give it back to my sister and tell her to put it back on her terlet tank! LOL.
 
Charlie, is there not even a spot where you can create shade on a north or east facing side of your place? 

 

I still maintain that blooming is more about light than temperature.  These plants don't like temperatures below 33, so I don't think Florida is the problem in that regard, but they also don't like to bake in the sun, so in your case, the more shade the better.  They also don't look their best if they get too much sun.  Just a chunk of lattice strategically placed would probably help yours.

 

Here are shots of cuttings I've taken, some quite recent and others a couple to a few years old.  For scale reference, none of the pots is wider than 6".   I moved one to the table on our back patio a few weeks ago since it's under cover from rain and any frost, and where we can enjoy its blooms.  Even the sort of sickly looking sprig in the last shot is still bent on producing blooms.  It may ultimately fail, but the little starts in the same pot appear poised to take off.

 

 

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Absolutely!

Lawrence, I do remember that scene, and my cactus often brings it to mind when it blooms -- although I think I remember her cactus having red flowers.  I'd go so far as to say that scene was part of my motivation for the rescue operation mentioned above.

 

I love Patricia Neal, and honestly, that scene, along with Johnboy's simple explanation for what triggered the Great Depression, are the only two I can readily recall from the pilot that IIRC was entitled "The Homecoming."

 

I remember being disappointed that Neal and the comparatively rugged guy who played the dad weren't part of "The Waltons" cast.  I agree with you that the series didn't measure up to the pilot.
 
Somebody call the ASPCA

That's the saddest looking cactus I've ever seen. HOW COULD YOU?! I'm gonna be sobbing all day now.
 

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