A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N!
This holiday cactus belonged to my mother-in-law who gifted me with it about 10 years ago. It has bloomed every year at Thanksgiving and it looks like this year will be no exception! Sometimes it blooms again at Easter, but I just never know. There aren’t as many blooms this year, and I can’t help but wonder if it has to do with age? After all, I’ve had it 10 years and I have no idea how long my mother-in-law had it before she gave it to me. As far as I know it has never been re-potted or fed with anything. It should be noted that I did not inherit my mother’s green thumb, and can cause a plastic plant to give up the ghost! So I am quite reluctant to start messing around with it!
I have a theory about caring for the cactus that seems to work for me. When the time changes in the Spring, I take this cactus and put it outside on my screened porch and then I promptly forget about it. Every once in a while I’ll look out and see it and remember to give it a drink of water, but not with any regularity. When the time changes again in the fall, I bring the cactus inside, give it a good soaking and put it in a dark room for about 2 weeks. Inevitably when I pull it out of the dark, the plant is covered with buds and it blooms soon after.
It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the blooming cactus on the counter to enjoy!
Tags: holiday cactus
November 16th, 2009 at 6:07 AM
Oh! My mother has one as well, that she’s had for many years! For the last few years, I’ve wanted one of my own! The blooms are so pretty, and something to look forward to!
I have a poinsettia that was given to me last Christmas. It is still green and leafy, and I am hoping that it will bloom red again this year!
November 16th, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Oh wow what a sweet memory. I’ve never been able to grow any kind of cactus although my in-laws used to have them every Easter.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:01 AM
My grandmother had a HUGE one and I have several that are from her plant. We are fortunate enough to be able to leave it outside year round and one never knows when it will bloom. They are such pretty blossoms.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:35 AM
We have a large one too. It is actually 3 plants that I put in one pot, so it blooms, white, pink & red. The oldest part, the red blooms have been going strong for 20 years.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I will have to remember that, I had one one time but it would never bloom.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:36 PM
I am not good with cacti. My son left his two with me and they died.
I will stick with fake plants;)
Debbie
November 19th, 2009 at 12:47 AM
I had a cactus for about 3 years and it died about a year ago. I really miss the blooms around Thanksgiving and Christmas, it was so beautiful. Maybe I’ll have to buy another one.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Wow… I used to have one that my grandmother gave me. We were not able to take it to TX with us so my mom has it now. Thanks for trigging that memory!
November 19th, 2009 at 8:00 PM
My dad passed away last Dec 2nd. I flew home to CA to visit him his final week. Out on the patio was huge Christmas cactus all in bloom…full glory. They were dad’s doing. He had been growing them. Whenever I see one I remember the patio full of them in bloom during the most difficult time.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I treat my Christmas cactus the same way…they seem to thrive on neglect! My grandma gave me one for the first Christmas that my husband and I were married and it’s still going strong almost 27 years later! Every couple of years it will start looking a little droopy…I put it in a new pot with fresh soil and it perks right up.