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Christmas cactus

B3B3 Posts: 27,503

I'm losing patience with it and can't do anything to please it. Wherever I put it, it sulks.

Can anyone advise me what to do with it before I put it out of my misery?

In London. Keen but lazy.
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  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    Mine sits on a sunny windowsill and gets watered when I remember. It flowers every year about 2 weeks before Christmas and usually again around 6 months later. Perhaps you are trying too hard? Perhaps you are misinterpeting its emotions - why do you think it is sulking? They don't do a lot, maybe slowly grow a new bit on the end of a leafimage

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    I was keeping it away from direct sunlight. I will move it.

    It would grow little flower buds which would dry and drop off. It grew two new leaves.

    I have been duly neglectful.image

    Thanks buttercup

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    I have two, both rescued at the 'almost dead' stage, one from a greengrocers and one from Homebase.  They both flower their socks off just before Christmas and again a bit later (now). I repot them with an MPC in the late spring then once the frosts etc are over I put them outside in a shady spot in the summer (with copper tape around the pots 'cos slugs and snails love them).  I bring them back indoors in September and they go on a bright windowsill  - not really my favourite plants, but when they're in full flower they're amazing and you have to be thankful for them.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    Didn't know you could put them outside. I will put it out after frost .

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Apart from the benefits of brighter light outside (even in a shady spot) they look so much better for a good wash of summer rain to get the dust off image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • star gaze lilystar gaze lily Posts: 17,696

    I have two too. Both flower just before xmas and last quite a few weeks, then usually again around Easter. I also put mine outside during the warmer months but not until around end of May beginning of June. If its really chilly in the evenings though I bring them inside and pop them out again in the morning. 

    Think it would be too cold for them outside in April B3, unless we are lucky to have a hot one like we sometimes doimage

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,503

    May/June it is thenimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Sounds good to me image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,036

    image

     

    Mine is in a stand from IKEA in front of an unused glass door in full sun. I read not to put it in direct sunlight but that is what it seems to like best. It has grown so big that I can't get it out of the framework of the stand so no more re-potting. I feed it with little fertiliser sticks and water it when I remember. It's having it's second flowering now. Here it is a year or two ago. Son gave it to me years ago when he was a child, he's now 31. Have taken cuttings over the years but they weren't in the sun, they all died eventually or I gave them away.

     

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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