The Garden Helper home page Gardening guides for the novice gardener There is no such thing as I Cant Grow a Plant What should you be doing in the garden this month? Join the friendliest group of gardeners on the web! Free flower, nature, and critter screensavers! Free flower and nature photos for your desktop wallpaper A growing collection of recipes for Christmas cookies and other good things to eat! An Encyclopedia of Gardening Guides and Plant Profiles
Willy World Post New Topic  Post A Reply
login | | |

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2003 » Christmas Cactus/geraniums

   
Author Topic: Christmas Cactus/geraniums
MaryDominica
Gardener
Member # 310

Icon 7 posted      Profile for MaryDominica         Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hello,
I am asking about caring for a Christmas cactus. I purchased a small plant December 2001. Repotted it in the spring. Not sure when or what to start feeding it. Can I expect flowers this year? Appreciate any feedback.
Also, I brought in to the house geranium plants(because we live in the Northeast,USA) When should I start feeding them and what plant food is needed?
Thanks

Posts: 3 | From: USA | Registered: Nov 2002  |  Logged: 207.172.11.232
Will Creed
guests


Icon 1 posted            Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hi Mary,

You may be a bit late on getting your Christmas cactus to bloom, but give it a try. The Christmas cactus is a "thermo photoperiodic" plant. That means its flowers are affected by temperature (thermo) and light (photo) changes. Approximately 10 to 12 weeks before the time you want flowers, try to provide lower nighttime temperatures in the 55 to 65 degree range and dark nights uninterrupted by any light. You must provide the usual bright indirect light during the day. Reduce watering at this time, but not to the point of wilting. Just let the soil get quite dry before watering. If you can provide temps around 55 degrees, then the completely dark nights are less important. Do this for at least 6 to 8 weeks and you will see buds begin to emerge and the flowers will open a few weeks after that.

Note: Do not move or rotate your Christmas cactus while the buds are developing or they will drop off.

The closer you come to achieving these conditions, the more blooms you will get, but don't become a slave to these pre-bloom conditions. Well-established plants that have been in the same pot for a long time will often bloom without the cool, dark nights.

Geraniums should be located in a sunny window and allowed to dry out some, but never completely, during the winter months. Don't repot or fertilize at this time during the winter. Unless you have lots of sun, they tend to become leggy and don't flower much during the winter. In the spring, prune them back hard before moving them back outside.


Logged: 24.239.134.109
MaryDominica
Gardener
Member # 310

Icon 7 posted      Profile for MaryDominica         Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Thank you Will. I appreciate your help. Have a good holiday.
Posts: 3 | From: USA | Registered: Nov 2002  |  Logged: 207.172.11.232
MaryDominica
Gardener
Member # 310

Icon 7 posted      Profile for MaryDominica         Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hi, Just wanted to say I followed instructions and the Christmas Cactus now has buds. Should be looking good for Ground hog's Day. Might have to change it's name.
I've lost one geranium but the others are doing fine.
Thanks again for the advice.

Posts: 3 | From: USA | Registered: Nov 2002  |  Logged: 209.6.220.63
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
     


Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


The Garden Helper | Privacy Statement

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2