My Ancient Xmas Cactus: Storm Victim

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Rich's mom had one that was 3 different plants of different colors (IIRC) in one pot and it was pretty big. When they moved about 8 years ago, Bobby D ended up with it and put it in his office. Last I heard it was huge and happy. Maybe we can get him to post a pic.

Glad you were able to save yours, Ralph!

Chuck
 
I'm currently visiting my sister in L.A. but did manage to repot the cactus before I left. I'll post pix after I get back. I don't want to leave! Sunny and warm here with 75 expected tomorrow.
 
Just thought I'd revive and old thread. Wondering if anyone has had a CC double bloom? Mine bloomed at Christmas, got the timing right and now it decided to bloom again. Had it in full bloom for Easter, odd for me.

I'm thinking I really need to repot it, possibly divide it, it looks like it might burst the plastic hanging pot I have it in. Odds are it's 10-12 years now. I would prefer to keep it in a hanging pot, so dividing might make sense.
 
Matt, I'm not so sure that dividing it would be the best thing, unless it's clearly two or more plants in the one pot.   Mine was in the same size pot from the day I found it until it blew over 33 years later, but as I mentioned above, it seemed like it was finally ready for a larger pot before the mishap.

 

I never took pictures of it in its larger pot, so will get some shots that will capture the new growth from the snapped ends.   It is much happier in its larger container.

 

I've never had my CC bloom more than once.  I know some friends with a red orchid cactus (a started cutting that I gave them)  that provided a second round of blooms during this past summer, though.  None of my orchid cacti have bloomed more than once either.

 
 
Overdue Follow-Up

Here are some shots of the cactus in what may turn out to be its forever home.  It's a deep, very heavy, tapered square shaped terracotta pot.  I may have to come up with a suitable pedestal for it soon.  The three-legged stand it was in when it blew over is on the left, currently home to a spindly gardenia that's languishing in too much shade.

 

You can see the shiny green new growth that sprouted from the areas where branches snapped off when the plant fell.  It seems to be quite happy in its new pot.

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Matt, that is a beautiful plant!  It's an impressive size for living indoors, and it appears to be very healthy and well cared-for.   The double blossoms are truly special.  I don't recall seeing anything like it before.

 

I'd say to wait to re-pot unless the roots are pushing the plant up and out of the pot.  These plants can become very heavy, so just be sure the pot and plastic hanger aren't getting brittle.  It's best to suspend them with something more secure.   I just last week placed one of my hanging orchid cacti, weathered plastic pot and all, into a metal hanging basket that would normally be used with one of those coco-liner things inside it.  It was so heavy and lopsided that it was a disaster waiting to happen.
 
I have worried about the weight, at the moment it's pretty stable, but I will need to look for an alternative as the plastic gets brittle with age.  I might do as you did with the metal basket, or I might just buy some fine hanger chain and make two big loops and run it under the pot back up to the hook.
 
For sure Matt.  Making a cradle for the existing pot is what my friends did with their giant orchid cactus.  It must weigh at least 50 pounds considering its size.
 

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