Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?

On 11 Nov 2004 15:49:16 -0800, (Marg) wrote:

Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?


Take a slip containing 4 or 5 nodes. Dust with root hormone powder
(some products have a fungicide). In a 6 or 8 oz plastic cup of
vermiculite add 2 tablespoons of water make a hole, insert the slip,
cover with a plastic bag & rubber band, and set in a bright (east)
window. Wait 2 months. Check for roots & pot up. Be extra careful
not to use too much water. You might get it to root in water or it
may root sticking it in dirt--although you'll get a stronger plant as
described.

Neither.

Root them in moist sand.

A Google search will reveal many websites on how to grow, flower and
propagate "Christmas Cactus".


"Marg" wrote in message
m...
Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?

Neither.

Root them in moist sand.

A Google search will reveal many websites on how to grow, flower and
propagate "Christmas Cactus".

Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.

"Marg" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?

Wait until after its finished blooming.

It doesn't matter which holiday its named for. The care is pretty much the
same.


"Skirmishd" wrote in message
...
Neither.

Root them in moist sand.

A Google search will reveal many websites on how to grow, flower and
propagate "Christmas Cactus".

Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.

"Marg" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?

about the cactus...where to put it (it or ? )..light,shade. cold,warm?

"Cereus-validus..." wrote in message
. com...
Wait until after its finished blooming.

It doesn't matter which holiday its named for. The care is pretty much the
same.


"Skirmishd" wrote in message
...
Neither.

Root them in moist sand.

A Google search will reveal many websites on how to grow, flower and
propagate "Christmas Cactus".

Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.

"Marg" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?

(Skirmishd) wrote in message ...
Neither.

Root them in moist sand.

A Google search will reveal many websites on how to grow, flower and
propagate "Christmas Cactus".

Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.

"Marg" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me how to root a christmas cactus?
Do I just stick it in the dirt? Or root it in water?


I am not sure which Holiday mine likes; I had a huge one for years and
just called it a Christmas Cactus. Lost it when I made a long move but
had given my daughter cuttings and in Nov of 2001 I pinched a tiny
tip from hers, took it to my new home and let it heal for a day then
stuck it in a cup of sandy loam. This year I put it on the table in a
covered patio with filtered sun from 3 O'clock until dark. it started
buding last week and every tip has a bud and they are popping open
daily and it is beautiful!!! I have never had one bloom so well. It
has been enjoying natural light and temperature changes of the out of
doors and i really hate to bring it in, but the night temp is
beginning to get close to 40 and i fear it will chill it too much.
What is the lowest it will survive??

i started treating it like any other suculent by letting the soil dry
out before watering it and using organic fertilizer on it regulary
during the growing season, and will let it rest this winter. Will have
to repot it come spring as it has grown so much.

So Does that sound about right to do? Its grand parent was grown in an
enclosed solarium and i really didn't know much about growing them. It
did well for a long time, but managed to nearly kill it with too much
water ( two people were watering it unknown by the other.. ) and when
I found it rotting, i washed all the rot off and plopped it in a clean
pan of water and never got around to repotting it and it did very
well, grew like a trouper for nearly 10 years, until the late fall of
2001 when i moved. But, if planted in soil, it needs to dry out in
between waterings.

leo/lee

thank you. I didn't want them to die on the way home (found a couple
of broken peices after packing them out at work) so I immediately
stuck them in water while waiting for your responses.
I may just leave them there and see what happens as long as I know
they can be rooted in water :-)

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 17:23:48 -0800, Lee wrote:


I am not sure which Holiday mine likes; I had a huge one for years and
just called it a Christmas Cactus. Lost it when I made a long move but had
given my daughter cuttings and in Nov of 2001 I pinched a tiny tip from
hers, took it to my new home and let it heal for a day then stuck it in a
cup of sandy loam.


Pointed edges are thanksgiving cactus, curved scalloped edges are
Christmas. I have a white christmas about to bloom, it's a bit confused
but I forgive it!

Tom

Mine has been flowering for over 2 weeks and still have buds. It never
flowers at Christmas. Last year it flowered at Easter also. It is a
mixed up plant, but I like it

Françoise


Skirmishd wrote:

Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.

YUP, i will have flowers for thanksgiving and probably easter again!
NUTTY plant!

--
rosie
"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though
I wasn't here."
.................................george w. bush






"Françoise" wrote in message
...
: Mine has been flowering for over 2 weeks and still have buds. It
never
: flowers at Christmas. Last year it flowered at Easter also. It is
a
: mixed up plant, but I like it
:
: Françoise
:
:
: Skirmishd wrote:
:
: Mine is a sort of Thanksgiving plant and has buds now.
:
:
:

From: "K."
Date: 11/12/2004 6:44 AM Mountain Standard Time


about the cactus...where to put it (it or ? )..light,shade. cold,warm?

Mine likes to be kept rather dry in an east window. I would say it is kept on
the cool side. I learned from experience to not move it at all once it buds or
the buds may drop. When in full bloom, I often move it to another place to
show it off and it's fine.

The first two years I had mine it always bloomed about a week before
Christmas. Now it covers itself beautifully each Thanksgiving week.
Maybe the holidays got too stressful...sigh.







(Lee) wrote in message . com...
(Skirmishd) wrote in message ...

I am not sure which Holiday mine likes; I had a huge one for years and
just called it a Christmas Cactus. Lost it when I made a long move but
had given my daughter cuttings and in Nov of 2001 I pinched a tiny
tip from hers, took it to my new home and let it heal for a day then
stuck it in a cup of sandy loam. This year I put it on the table in a
covered patio with filtered sun from 3 O'clock until dark. it started
buding last week and every tip has a bud and they are popping open
daily and it is beautiful!!! I have never had one bloom so well. It
has been enjoying natural light and temperature changes of the out of
doors and i really hate to bring it in, but the night temp is
beginning to get close to 40 and i fear it will chill it too much.
What is the lowest it will survive??

i started treating it like any other suculent by letting the soil dry
out before watering it and using organic fertilizer on it regulary
during the growing season, and will let it rest this winter. Will have
to repot it come spring as it has grown so much.

So Does that sound about right to do? Its grand parent was grown in an
enclosed solarium and i really didn't know much about growing them. It
did well for a long time, but managed to nearly kill it with too much
water ( two people were watering it unknown by the other.. ) and when
I found it rotting, i washed all the rot off and plopped it in a clean
pan of water and never got around to repotting it and it did very
well, grew like a trouper for nearly 10 years, until the late fall of
2001 when i moved. But, if planted in soil, it needs to dry out in
between waterings.

leo/lee

On 24 Nov 2004 02:53:40 -0800,
(RayKinsella) wrote:

The first two years I had mine it always bloomed about a week before
Christmas. Now it covers itself beautifully each Thanksgiving week.
Maybe the holidays got too stressful...sigh.



I had the same problem. But over the years I swapped slips from
friends and now I have a collection of Zygocactus where at least one
is in bloom throughout the (dull) winter months. They seem to prefer
neglect during the blooming season.

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 12:47:43 +0000, Phisherman wrote:

On 24 Nov 2004 02:53:40 -0800, (RayKinsella)
wrote:

The first two years I had mine it always bloomed about a week before
Christmas. Now it covers itself beautifully each Thanksgiving week. Maybe
the holidays got too stressful...sigh.



I had the same problem. But over the years I swapped slips from friends
and now I have a collection of Zygocactus where at least one is in bloom
throughout the (dull) winter months. They seem to prefer neglect during
the blooming season.


They like cooler, darker and drier falls. I love all of mine!