Thanks for debunking the myths of growing these cacti. Yours look very healthy, lush, and green. A few years ago I started to water and fertilize mine more throughout the year and found that I no longer had the purple edges. I prefer the green look and mine still bloom without any difficulty.
This is exactly what happened with mine...they turned green with no purple edges due to nutrient deficiency. Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for watching!
thank you for this video. For me the best bit of advice I got was when you said to make sure the pot drains and doesn't sit in water. I just put a spacer under my pot to raise it up so the pot doesn't sit in water in the catch pan.
Just purchased my very first Thanksgiving Cactus, so excited to have this plant. This video helped so much because I have no experience with this plant. Thank you.
My cactus is blooming now and I have not taken any special measures with it at all, I did add a little tomato feed when I saw the buds growing and it's huge with pale pink blooms, beautiful!!
Absolutely beautiful and lush green foliage... This past summer my 🌵 Cactus was forgotten. It was bone dry, but I water, fed and then mid September I put it into my storage area, turned the light on & left it. It's snuggled under Xmas decorations.. It's not been watered but today I checked and its full of buds and few are opening.. I've found in my experience with these beautiful Plants that as you so eloquently put, it's in the watering, feeding letting the plant rest. These plants are native to Brazil, like humidity. Watering using the Orchid run off water is genius.. I've taken up Orchids this past year, It's been challenging but God does answers every prayers even though I don't ask.. 🕊
I love this cactus. I have owned mine for at least 7 years now. No real special treatment on my part. I water when it needs watering and fertilise every now and then. Right now the bloom is delayed (usually start in Nov) due to repotting of segments, so it has been growing. I agree the blooms do last long (Nov 19-Spring 20), but I definitely looking forward to it blooming again. Enjoy yours!!
I have several Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus plants and I agree it is best to just keep doing the same thing all year, the Easter cacti however are a different story. I find those difficult so far. If you start growing them I hope you will make some videos about them. Welcome back, by the way! So good to hear from another Appalachian orchid grower!
Had about two hundred flowers on my pink one, kept them from last Xmas, four in one pink pot, beautiful. I am going to buy her the jardiniere she deserves!
Thank you for another wonderful video. I'm going to try your techniques, especially the seaweed emulsion. I have an Easter Cactus that I believe I was underwatering. The new clades were going limp and dying. I upped the watering and now it is bursting with healthy clades! (Using rainwater helps too) I think I was like a lot of novices and heard the words "cactus" and "succulent " and was afraid to water and fertilize. Your plants are so very beautiful. Bless you.
These cacti LOVE fish fertilizer. I buy Alaska brand fertilizer from Lowes. Home Depot sells it, too. It can be found on their websites for shipping. Be sure not to add more to water than is recommended because it will stink up your home terribly. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your tips! I had no idea how to care for one because there was just so much information out there. I took one outside this spring/summer/early fall and just watered him and fed him the same way I was watering and feeding my other outdoor planters. It was full of buds when I brought it back inside before the frost. The ones that stayed inside didn’t look nearly as healthy. So I guess I’m just writing this to agree with your sentiments...maybe they don’t need all the fuss we thought they needed after all.
Your Schlumbergeras look quite handsome. My sister grows amazing succulents as well, she may not fertilize , I do not know. She just has the perfect location in her house where they receive the perfect amount of sunshine year round. I am a proponent of putting cacti outdoors for the summer. These guys love the shade in the summer, and have gotten such a deep green color that it doesn't look like the same plant! He's just putting out some new buds inside hopefully they'll open soon. He was a cutting from a plant a few years ago, so it takes some time with one or two leaves.
Thank YOU! The Holiday cactus I bought last year has tripled in size. I live in S. Florida and don't really care that it blooms during the holidays, only that it blooms in a regular cycle. I have been diluting one drop on Schultz's African Violet fertilizer during each watering. She is receiving bright morning sunlight from the east which lasts until 10:30am. Temps are beginning to cool down but not enough to make the orchids spike. I'll take your advice and see what happens! Cheers!
Beautiful plant! Mine is as big as yours. I love these plants. I water mine all the time. More in the summer. And also using Orchid food and Fish Emulsion. 😊
Thanks for sharing, Lana! I water mine quite a bit in the summer...they get pretty thirsty. I've heard of using fish emulsion...I use seaweed extract with my fertilizer. That's pretty similar. It's great you have such success with them! :)
When you repot, what is the next size pot do you use? When do you determine to repot. Are there signs that tell you it is time? Do they like to be root bound? Do you make sure, not to disturb the roots during transplant or do you loosen them? You need another video. That was a long video for just watering and a tiny bit on rooting. Just starting out and I really want to be successful(as does everyone else watching ☺️). Thank you for the fertilizer tips.
Hi! I have a playlist on my channel with lots of topics on how to grow Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti. I'm publishing another one today. Thanks for watching! 😊
Very nice plants. I have one that is full of blooms and a small one if it were to bloom have really red blooms. I think I will do what you are doing and see what happens this year. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful day.
Thank you so much for this video!! I inherited my grandmother's thanksgiving cactus when she passed away. It did well for 2 years, but it has slowly been declining. I hope I can nurture it back to health so I can see it thrive again. How much light do yours get? How close are they to windows, and what direction do those windows face? Do you use any artificial light? Do you repot them often? How do you know when to pot them up? Taking notes so I can reference them whenever I need to: Fertilozer solution: 10 drops CalMag, tsp better grow orchid fertilizer, and 25-30 drops seaweed extract per gallon of reverse osmosis water. Keep fertilizing even when they're blooming. Don't let them dry out. Water thoroughly. Watering schedule: use fertilizer solution every other watering and water with CalMag on the other waterings - seaweed extract in this water is fine. Use regular miracle grow potting mix (found in comments)
Hi! You took really good notes! :) I have a playlist with lots of information on my channel...I've done many videos about my Thanksgiving cacti that cover all your questions. I wish you lots of success with yours, and Happy Thanksgiving! :)
I remembered when mine looked like yours. I had mine for 22 years until my grandson came along and knocked it down several times breaking off many branches and then tearing off pieces each and ever day and sticking them in the vent. Now I am trying to salvage what is left of it.
I could never imagine not watering mine for a month like a lot of "experts" suggest😳.These plants originate from tropical forests in Brazil where there's an average rainfall of around 17 inches per month during the growing season if I'm not mistaken,they need more 💦 than a lot of folks realize even during winter.Mine unceremoniously started dropping a few branches to let me know it needed more 💦,it outright demanded it🤗.
I agree totally! I have to water mine in October...or they suffer. It's the change in temps and light that trigger these to bloom, not the change in water schedule. Happy growing! 😇
Happy to see this video - thanks so much! I have your note cards saved from some time ago with your “old” care guide. 😊 I have been fertilizing my orchids with your recommended “tea” for some time now, and I always use the run off for these and other plants. The only change is using a full tsp. of Better Gro every other watering, and only seaweed extract every other time. Have a wonderful Election Day! 🧡
I've got just a small plant, but want to get the best from it. I've seen some extreme care, like making sure it is in total darkness for 12 hours a day and not watering it for a month to get the buds started. I don't have the time for all that. I figure that nature takes care of itself, lowering the temperature and amount of sunlight to help the plant go through its normal cycle.
Amyyyyy!!! So so so glad that you are back!! I am grateful that you sound happy and healthy! I would just like you to know that your videos bring us joy!!! God bless!!!
I watched your video about the beautiful cactus you are growing. I was feeling happy because a big one I have had been doing so much better this year since I too have been watering it with my left over orchid feed/water. Then this evening, tragedy struck. 😢 For some reason the holders I had it hanging from gave way and it crashed onto the floor. Fortunately, it did not land flat on the crown and neither did it knock over the stained glass lamp that was off center underneath it. My husband helped me scoop it up onto a cookie sheet pan. It is sitting in the kitchen for the night and I will tackle trying to repot and put her all back together again in the morning. Wish me luck. I’ll keep yours in mind while I am working.
That’s an ordinary plant in Australia it’s known zygo . It’s easy to grow by the cutting . I’ve got lots of them at my place all around the house inside and out and at the steps blooms in cooler weather And they’re on different colour s
Much easier and healthier plants too! Win, win😊and now I don't have to pour my orchid run-off fertilizer down the drain.👌 Mine are in full bud and some blooms right now. We had two 34* nights in a row here in AZ 🎋and that's when the buds began to appear. Love these plants and your wonderful videos. 💚Thank you Amy!💚
Very Nice Plants, I just bought some myself. I didn’t know they don’t stand hot days 😕 Texas get pretty hot . Plus my husband doesn’t like plant indoors 😕.
I have one plant big us yours in springtime and summer I keep it outside under shade area and now I keep inside its budding like crazy I have not watered and thankful for your tip I will change the way I been carrying my love Christmas Cactus
Water is inconsequential compared to daylight hours. I personally was never going to vary the amount of watering on my Thanksgiving cactus. It's in a room directly over a light that I can shut off for complete control of lighting. Another important factor is having a healthy specimen in the first place.
Really good point, healthy plants bloom better. Mine dont take nearly as much water in the cooler autumn months, but if you're in a warmer climate, I can see how you'd have to keep watering as usual. Happy growing!
I think I saw an Easter cactus today. Baby blooms on a young plant. It had little real “cactus looking” bases at the beginnings of some or all of the stems. Smaller than one of the leaves.
Can these plants handle direct sun exposure in the summer? I want to put it on my deck with my jade plant for about 5-6 hours during peak sunlight but i also don't know if that will burn the plant. I am living in eastern canada so not a very hot climate, so i assume it should be ok?
Before I was given this huge cactus it grew outside on a covered porch. Lots of people grow them outside in a shaded area. If they receive too much direct sunlight, they turn red. You might try some shading over it and keep an eye on it for a week or so. Happy growing!
Hi, thank you so much for your video. My mom gave me one that she’s had for years and it wasn’t doing so well. It’s in a ceramic pot with no drain holes. If you could recommend the best type of pot I would really appreciate it. I thought about using a terracotta pot but someone told me not to. Yours are BEAUTIFUL so who better to ask! Could I use fish fertilizer? Or is the orchid the best one? I don’t have a lot of extra money so I was trying to save if possible. You did me such a favor with this video!
Hi Amber! Thanks for letting me know this video helped you! :) I don't use terra cotta pots...just choose a regular pot with drainage holes in the bottom and it will work fine. You can use regular plant fertilizer during the spring and summer, just use it at half strength. I have a playlist with lots of information on my channel about my Thanksgiving cacti that will help you. Happy growing! Amy
I throw mine in the garden (in their pots) all summer and then bring them indoors. I also propagate them, no problem. They always bloom. I assumed they were "easy bloomers"?!!?!
I really enjoyed this video, I am glad to hear of the easier way to care for it & I’m definitely going to start fertilizing like you said! I have the orchid fertilizer that you recommended on a different video and the Calimagic, but what kind/brand of seaweed do you use and how often? Thank you for the new video❤️! You’re awesome!!
I wonder how old is this plant... I bought mine 2 years ago in Giant and it was a small scraggly plant. In the past two years it has tripled in size and blooms twice a year (Christmas and Easter). I feed it once a quarter with a fertilizer that someone suggested. I take a quart of lukewarm water, 1 tsp of yeast +1 tsp of sugar. Let it stand for 2 hours (let it ferment). Then I mix this solution and dilute it 1 part of the yeast mixture to 5 parts of water. Results are unbelievable! You’ll see the difference within 2-3 weeks! I don’t change a watering regiment in the winter, just reduce the amount by half.
My mother had a Christmas Cactus when I was growing up. It never bloomed. Twenty years....no blooms. Every Christmas she would say......"maybe next Christmas."
Hi! I have a playlist about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti with many topics on how to grow them and the differences. I have a video that answers your question. Generally, Thanksgiving cacti leaves are pointed and claw-like, they bloom at Thanksgiving. Christmas cacti have rounded leaves and bloom at Christmas. Easter cacti don't look like the other 2. You can see them in my Easter cactus videos. Happy growing!
I'm confused about these plants because I don't actually think the day length causes them to bloom BECAUSE I live in South Africa and we have blooms from October until about Feb too... During Summer... It's like they have their own calendar and just know that we need pretty things to end and start our year.
This is the first time that my Christmas cactus did not bloom :-( So now I'm replanting it and hopefully it will be happy and bloom this year. Nope still no flowers, its now Nov 17th.
That's totally normal. When I bought mine, the same thing happened. They don't like to be moved when they're in bud, and if you do move them, most all of the buds will drop off. I'm releasing lots of holiday cacti videos on my channel...if you give it proper care through the year, it will bloom profusely for you this year!
They look beautiful! Do you mix the 10 drops of Cal Mag, the better grow orchid plus, and the 25 drops of seaweed extract all in the same gallon of water or are these separate water bottles?
I’ve been doing the same thing with my left over orchid water! Mine are full of blooms with a few opened already. Just posted a couple pictures on Instagram.
Amy, my big girl is back in her pot. In the light of a new day, the damage was not as severe as I feared. Her pot is now back hanging with strong chain. Now, how do I get the pieces that broke off in the tumble to live? What should I put them in; water soil, sand or? I have two that are over a foot long with branching. They are more in the flowering time of Easter cactus so they are not even beginning to show buds but they did have their fall cool-down before I had brought them back in the house a few weeks ago. We have had a freeze here in central VA already. Thanks for what ever mentoring you will share with me. Pix
I'm so glad the damage wasn't so bad. (I know what that feels like!) I've had really good success with rooting even large pieces of my cacti in water. They root in 2 or 3 weeks, then convert them over to soil. Keep me posted! :) Wishing you LOTS of success!
@@ELEGANCE0927 yes Marie in general fertilizer but coffe ground without sugar, since one year i do that and i think it help gettin more fresh and green leafs allso more flower buds.
I also use orchid fertilizer mix run off on my holiday cactus too. I have a question, do you water before and then fertilize or just water with fertilizer water? Thank you Amy
I feel you. I got them last year and did all year around almost everything wrong to them. Thankfully they still okay. Almost at the same state as these ones on the video.
That is the biggest Christmas Cactus I have ever seen. For a few months mine didn’t bloom but got a ton of leaves. Now I have a bud on almost every leaf. Are you suppose to cut underneath the plant. Some of mine are hanging down. Is that ok?
Hi! You repot and prune in the Spring. I'm doing a series on Thanksgiving cactus care and I'll continue them until film a video that includes cutting and pruning. Thanks for watching!
@@OrchidWhisperer thank you for responding! And dang it, it's fall! My little fella needs pruned badly, I have never done it, and he's about 4. I'll just have to wait for spring, along with the repotting, and fertilizing. Thanks again!
Usually if a plant doesn't bloom, it's not getting enough light. There is also a monthly routine with these that helps them bloom. I have a video about that on my Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus playlist. Happy growing! :)
I've been having problems with my Christmas Cactus and bugs . I thought they were gnats but then I found like bumpy lines on the leaves I got these sticky things I put in all my plants then I transplanted all my plants and sprayed them with peroxide, water and dawn . I gave my daughter two plants hers are doing great one has white flowers and the other has pink mine has nothing . My planys were the base plant that I transplanted they were wilting again so I took it out again and it was getting eaten agen or still !!! So now I've cut all the parts off that had the bugs in again 😣 H ow do I keep these plant eating bugs away ???
So sorry you're having problems with bugs...they're so hard to get rid of sometimes. You have to keep them sprayed every day or 2 or they keep coming back. They can also live in the soil, so you might try watering with a drop or 2 of Dawn in the water. Hope you get rid of these pests...this is no fun.
