I have two in my bedroom under fluorescent plant stand lights that do the same thing. They have been blooming on and off all Spring, Summer, and Autumn, and right now one has so many blooms I can't believe it. It has been unusually cold here in Southern California so I think that is why they are blooming so well. I am afraid to repot them when the Winter is over as whenever I repot plants a lot of them die. My Christmas Cacti are way past the point of needing repotting though and I will just have to do it.
I have a potential tenth tip and a personal story. I've heard/read that when propagating a christmas cactus, that it's good to pot it in a mix of the original soil from the mother plant along with new cactus mix. Same goes for repotting the mother plant - keep some of the old soil. I'm not sure if it matters but I had a lot of success doing it that way (never once had a failed cutting). When my grandmother was getting too sick and forgetful to care for it and after moving to a nursing home, I was given her huge, ancient christmas cactus (which I now think is actually a Thanksgiving cactus because of this video!). It had been kept alive for many years but wasn't properly cared for. I cut it way back, propagated cuttings, allowed them to establish through her last months, and gave those new plants to family members to remember her by when she passed away. The first Christmas she was no longer with us, the mother plant bloomed like crazy and it made me feel like, in a way, she was there at our celebrations. I still tear up when I think about it. Yeah, it's just a plant, but I'm glad we all have a living piece of her to nurture and love for hopefully many more years.
Joyce Vincent that's a beautiful way to remember one's Grandma! I wish someone would've thought to do that with my Grandma's gynormous Christmas Cactus.... But one of my Aunt's decided she was taking all the plants (and jewelry) she wanted before the Attorney even read the Will.
I love the sentimentality you have with this plant. I have many like that in my plants, from my great-grandmothers iris to the 55 yo rose bush i planted when i was 5 yo. that i transplanted to my house now. They mean so much to me now!
Joyce Vincent I also inherited my grandmother’s ancient Christmas cactus and I too shared newly propagated cacti with family members. And now I think mine is an Easter cactus. Lol
I was given my grandmothers Christmas cactus after she passed. It’s in pretty bad shape. I’m trying to save what’s left of it. Hence why I’m here watching this. I already had a Christmas cactus before receiving my grandmas but mine looks ok. I have mine in regular soil though. I’m gonna buy cactus soil and a huge clay pot and try to combine my grandmas with mine. Wish me luck!
Great job. Talks fast and doesn’t waste words. I get tired of presenters who ramble on, often about irrelevant or extraneous issues...chatty, boring and wasting time. I keep saying...Get to the points! She was perfect for my preferences.
I agree! I hate whey chit chat about things we did not click for. I usually don’t finish a video that starts out talking about this & that or takes too long. This was the perfect example of a good video 😀
I have a Christmas cactus that is over 60 years old, I'm 67 and remember it on my grandmothers porch. It's the first of November and is in bloom my grandmother died on her birthday in November so it may be a tribute to her. My birthday is in May and it blooms then also. Unusual world.
I have had my cactus in the same pot for at least 20 years. I totally neglect it, but keep it outside all summer. It is getting ready to bloom again, this time for Thanksgiving I guess; sometimes it’s around Christmas. But each year it is beautiful.
I'm 70 years old and still have a cactus that's around 80 years old. It used to be my grandma's. Very little of it is original, but I've used cuttings to start new plants from the old. So it's the same cactus. At one point it was huge, and cascading down to the floor. This cactus blooms whenever it wants to.
I had an orchid for three years and bingo! Out of no where, a Christmas cactus started growing in the same pot. A florist told me sometimes they get mixed in with potting soil.
You did this video perfectly. I love how you got right to it without any unnecessary chatter and then you gave so much useful information. Perfect! Thank you.
My Grandmother got a Christmas cactus when she was 15. Over the years she took care of it and it grew so large that she ended up splitting it multiple times. Our family now has 4-5 (not 100% sure how many as they are spread out over aunts, uncles, and cousins) and while not all of us are great with plants these things have lasted for so long. My Grandma is now dealing with memory loss and once she passes I'm sure the cactus's will be a good memory for our family. The plants are over 50 years old.
My wife and I have my mother's Christmas cactus which is around 80 years old. Mom used to plant it in her garden in early spring. When threat of frost was approaching she would dig it up and repot it and bring it inside. We enjoy up to 2 blooms a year and it is constantly growing.
I just was writing a simular story about my mothers plant! It was over 50 years old and it was a cutting from her mothers plant. My mum is 94 and the plant only died about 2 years agoo and I knew it all my life!
I too have a Christmas cactus that came from cuttings off my grandmother's huge very 000 old cactus. My gram gave me cuttings when I moved into our 1st house about 35 yrs ago. So technically I guess my plant is about 75+ yrs old! That original old plant unfortunately died when my grandmother moved to the west coast 😞 So I have the only living piece of that original plant! Its not huge but its very healthy & blooms twice a yr.. Im now propagating some cuttings to give to my son & his new wife when they finish building their 1st house !!!
My Christmas catus just died. It was one hundred and twenty three years old! Have had lots and lots of babies from it. It had seventy eight blooms on it five Christmases ago. Absolutely beautiful.
My mom has one for at least 30 years. A friend of her gave her a clipping back then and it’s been thriving ever since. Mom loves it. It looks EXACTLY like a Christmas cactus. Same flowers even. But mom lived in Brazil and there they bloom in MAY! They are known as MAY FLOWERS. 🌺
Another tip to get your cactus to have a great bloom is to not water it the entire month of October when you’re restricting light. Once you bring it back out into the light begin watering it again. I’ve had great success with this care method.
This has to be one of the best youtube informational videos I have seen. No empty words, no beating around the bush. Talk fast and just the facts. I don't understand the negative votes?? Maybe people that could not keep up and don't know how to pause the video. I watched three videos before I landed on this one and the others were just people that liked to hear themselves talk. No info in the first mintue or two. You get right to the point and keep it moving. I just subscribed and this is one of maybe 3 youtube sites I have ever subscribed to.
Love that she talks fast! Simply just rewind to the spot where you need to review her info. Very informative especially when she talked about the differences in the shape of the leaves to distinguish one from the other 👍😀❤️
Took a cutting from my mother's Christmas cactus about 2 months ago, just started to bloom! I want to take the best care of it so it lives forever. Great tips, and a very lovely woman as well! Thank you
I have a christmas cactus which was on the counter at a church sale. Poor thing was dying. I got it for $1 . Took it home, in order to replant I had to break the pot it was in ,it was all root, no dirt. I was able to save two branches of it. I repotted it and happy to report it survived. I have had it for 14 years now. It has moved twice with me cross state. I have transplanted it 5 times into larger pots, it now lives in 3, 14inch pots each one standing just as high. I do notice they grow better when they are next to each other, Mine will start to bloom in late October and will bloom right thru mid July. I do get apox 100 blooms at once, on each plant ,when they fall off there is another ready to open.They bloom like this thru July. My mom had a christmas cactus which only gave 3 to 4 buds a year. I am very gifted by this plant and the blooms it gives me, it is so beautiful. Thank you for this video, I will now look for the other cactus plants.
THANK YOU so much for your TIP #5! My Christmas cactus has gone from bleached out to a deep healthy green & has even sprouted BUDS!! And all because of your tips! Even my husband has noticed the difference!
It's worth noting that Easter cactus flowers are radially symmetrical, whereas Christmas cactus flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. Very Good Video !!
Your the only one I found with all the information I needed to care for 4 of these plants. They were all flowering and still are. I just needed to know about the care after the blooms die. Your the Queen Mother of gardening and so prepared when you post your videos. I wasted so much time looking for the answers I needed when all I had to do was come to your channel. Thanks so much... your a gem.💎
Ironically, my Christmas cactus starts arrived this morning. I’m now having coffee with Laura, learning how to best care fo it. My great aunts had huge cactus plants, & I had a yearning to travel backwards 🎄. You rock, but my favorite is you with your mom. Sweet Christmas greetings. Elizabeth
I really like that you talk fast and cover a lot of ground. I also do not like a really slow moving videos with a lot of extraneous commenting. I love your cheerful nature too!
We live in zone 9b in CA, and have grown both Christmas and Easter cactus outdoors year round. They are in huge pots kept under the house eaves so no frost gets on them. Bloom every year and the blooms last for months. We love them.
I just found a cactus on clearance at lowes home improvement store and it has a reddish hue and very dry soil so I just watered it well tonight! Thank you for the tips!
I live in Texas and as soon as we were about to get our first freeze, I brought them in and put them under a grow light and they are blooming and thriving like crazy!
I bought a Thanksgiving cactus last December. Its flowers fell off shortly after I brought it home, probably from the shock of a change in the environment. When all danger of frost is over, I always take all my houseplants outside and place them on a table under my covered patio. I am quite surprised, in a good way, to see that the Thanksgiving cactus is forming buds, in May. Looks like they can bloom year-round if placed outdoors in the spring. I live in zone 6 (Ohio).
I love her.She is an amazing visionary in the field of garden design. As well as extremely knowledgeable. Her husband behind the scenes is the wind and muscle under her wings.There is another supporter and supervisor. The cat Cheddar.A red tabby who insists on popping up to everyone's delight.I really enjoy her videos.
Thank you I greatly appreciate this information I have my Mom’s Christmas Cactus that’s 30yrs old & still going strong & it blooms several times a year ....
Thanks for sharing, it will be more clearly understand if you slow down the talking and leave the images a little longer so we can see the difference between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus. Thanks again
Camelia Cristofaro surprisingly my Christmas cactus did better when I lived in Alaska than here in Sacramento. I think it was because of the winter light issue.
This young lady did a great job helping me understand how I need to care for my new plant. I just wish she was talking slower. I've had to listen a few times and stop the video so I can take notes...LOL
Cindy Nordlie Hi Cindy, I used Cacti & Succulent Potting mix from Westland, I live in the UK, Gloucestershire and we have a Garden Centre near to us called Dobbie’s , they have a house plant station, which is really good. I hope this helps xx
I have the thanksgiving variety. When my mom passed I got three of them, all pink. That first year, I killed the 2 small ones but managed to keep the big one alive. The big one is still alive and doing well and I have picked up 4 others. If you can't kill em', grow em'. I don't fuss around with them but they bloom like crazy anyway and this is how I do it. I live in Northeast Wisconsin, less than a mile from Lake Michigan. The small town I live in is known as "the coolest spot in Wisconsin" and it is. Our winters are a bit milder but much snowier (is that even a word?) than surrounding areas. I put all my plants outside in late June and the cacti get a somewhat sheltered area. They are left outside and checked for bugs about once a week and watered if we have a very long dry spell. Before the first frost they come back in and are put in my unheated front porch after being checked for bugs one last time. The porch is their home for at least two weeks and they have tons of buds when they come into the house. This works well here in Wisconsin where the light and dark cycles are conducive to blooming. Wish I could send pictures. Sorry, very wordy.
Coming to think of it, you’re right. The first year, she was placed in bright direct light and the night lights were on daily for quite a while during the night, so I guess she barely rested. The second year, she was under indirect light, and barely any night artificial light ... and voila, she flowered twice in the year!
I found the perfect spot in my home for my Thanksgiving cactus. It starts blooming around November 1st and is filled with big blooms. The blooms last 2 to 3 weeks and then starts again every 3 weeks or so and keeps it up until Spring! It is in a upstairs cooler room facing the East and every Spring I set it back about 6 feet from the window and then move it back to a foot from the windows in October. It is about 10 years old. I keep it setting on a bed of pebbles with water in the bottom but not up to the bottom of the cactus pot. I also have a little humidifier running in the room in winter months.
I'm looking after a Christmas cactus that is about 50 years old (it was my great grandmother's) they're very hardy but I've learnt a bit from this video xx
Your videos are amazing because they are focused and have loads of information. Your voice is pleasant and you really give helpful tips on the subject. Thank you so much!
You did a great job explaining the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. Now I am able to take care of my Christmas cactus. Thank you for helping me with and knowing the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus and how to care for my Christmas cactus without A lot of other distractions.
I have one large Thanksgiving cactus blooming now that I've had about 4 years. One small one that was very small when I bought it last year that's yet to bloom. My Christmas cactus I thought was going to bloom and decided to have a growth explosion instead. I bought one labled "Summer Cactus", which I had never heard of before, earlier this year. Turns out after watching this all the way to the end, it's an Easter cactus. I've had segments break off before and stuck them in soil, but never had any luck with getting roots. Remembering a trick my Grandmother taught me, if I drop the ends in water I get roots forming in about a week.
I just gave away two Christmas cactus. One which was given to me about 4 years ago, which I kept in a West window and is huge. This one seems to bloom 2/3 times a year and I've never re potted it nor have I ever given it any fertilizer and watered it about every week and a half. I gave it a whole bottle of water, the kind you buy at the store and drink. I really didn't give it much attention but it keeps on blooming. The other one, I bought and that one I kept in a Northwest window. It had plenty of light but not much sun. It also didn't bloom as much as the other one, maybe twice a year and I never put either of them in the dark. When I moved, I had to give them away as I had no place to put them but I did like them a lot.
I have to remind myself that Christmas cactus blooms for me in June/July/August (Australian winter) and Thanksgiving cactus in March/April/May (Australian autumn). Easter cactus is the same though.
I've had a Christmas Cactus on a window ledge in my shower area. I've had it at least 14 yrs, it blooms twice a year in a closed terrace cotta pot. I water it 1-3 × per week. I live in Chicago & just love it !
Gardener's Supply wish list just got their new catalog; Demeter Collection, potting bench, elevated raised bed, mobile planter cart. Love Gardener's Supply!!
Absolutely love your Dad !💙 He could become a regular on the channel and educate farmers to inspire future farmers! So much good information is being lost with people like your Dad. He could share it!
So beautiful Laura, my poor garden is looking a little tired here in FL. We have had lots very hot temperatures, and extreme humidity and not as much rain as we usually get. I just can’t get out to weed either.😢 looking forward to some cooler weather so I can get back outside. But I look forward to your videos everyday! Thank you for sharing❤
Thank you! I got gifted a Christmas cactus a couple months ago and surprisingly it's still alive and okay (Plants normall die on me really fast, which makes me want to take care of this one even more). I've been googling a lot on how to take care of it and honestly more often than not I've come out of it even more confused that I started off with. But this video really helped me a lot with how straightforward it was. Also learned that I've apparently been overwatering it, yikes!
Mine in Thailand is hanging outside, sheltered from too much sun by one of my Frangipan trees and an Indian Cherry tree, just above a water lily pot. Plenty of natural humidity and it withstands temperatures from 65 to 100+ during the course of a year, it gets 12 hours of darkness every day. It keeps growing and flowers a couple times a year,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I moved my Christmas cactus into our bathroom, hanging in front of the window and have been watering it like you advised. It has little tiny blooms on it! I'm so excited!
This is exactly how I care for my African violets and they do great. I'm getting a Thanksgiving cactus from a friend this week, she has two and they are taking over all her indoor plant space. Thanks for all the tips. I feel confident that my cactus will love it's new home.
Sooo confused! I read many articles that say they like their soil to be nice and moist during their blooming season. I have it it my bathroom but it started looking limp. I cut a bit of leaves off and mist it once a day but she still doesn't look good. So now imI have it in my loving room non direct light and water it when the soil is dry. I have not checked the roots yet. Maybe I just need to trim it back some more
You are a wonderful teacher. Unlike other people, who just mention risks, you give us the solution in case a problem does occur. Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge.
Awesome information. Thank you so much for sharing! I think the snow that we get once in a lifetime here in south Texas got mine this year. I've had it for probably 12 yrs. I got the start for it from my grandmother, who taught me all the things you told us about the care and keeping of Thanksgiving Cactus. Thanks again. Merry Christmas to you guys!
I'm desperately trying to save the one I gave to my mom last year for her birthday. She passed away in August and I'm determined to revive it but it's not looking good. I hope your wisdom will help me. Great video...thank you. :)
Oh my Gosh!! Thank you so much for this video! I have my husbands Grandmothers Christmas cactus and the last few years it won't bloom. I transplanted it this fall (will have to do it again as you said to put them in a clay pot) and I am so scared that I will kill it that I hate to even move it or do anything different to it. I was even nervous about transplanting it. It is a big plant. I couldn't seem to find any info on the proper care of a Christmas cactus till now. I am going to try all your tips for caring for it and hopefully it will bloom next Christmas for me. Thanks again and keep up the great videos. Merry Christmas.
I have had a Christmas cactus for everal years, but I didn't rally know how to care for it. I watered it along with my other plants, which are growing great, but unfortunately the Christmas cactus was not. It was alive, but not growing or blooming at Christmas, The past week I've been researching how to care for it, so I'm on a new journey to bring it back to a healthy life. I purchased a new clay pot and saucer, cactus soil,, cactus plant food and pebbles for the saucer, so there's no sitting in water, and to create humidity. The pot will rest on top of the pebbles I have run water to flush out any fungus in the old pot and drained it well to prepare it for transplant. In October of next year, 2023, I will remove the plant from my north facing window sill in my bedroom, where there is plenty of light but no direct sunlight. I will put it in the dark, for that one month, in my bathroom where there is no window. This will start the blooms for Christmas. Wish me luck. I'm excited to see what will happen.
Oh wow! I pick up a Christmas cactus today,open CZcams to find info how to care for it and this video was there waiting.... After watching I this it's a Thanksgiving 🌵. Thank you so much for this video and your knowledge!
Such a FANTASTIC video Laura :-D I LOVE my Christmas cacti :-D thanks so much for sharing and sending lots of love an dhappiness and plant power from Ireland XXXX
I had a Christmas cactus that was about 14 years old,but once I relocated to Florida,from NY, my cactus died. From your information, it was a drastic change for the cactus. Laura, I love your vlogs.
I moved to Florida from ohio and I used to have Christmas cactuses that didn’t do as well as the one I bought here in Florida. I keep it outside though as opposed to keeping it indoors and it has bloomed twice in just a couple months apart already and the ones I had in ohio I couldn’t get them to bloom even once after I bought them with blooms and I had them for years with no new blooms ever! I probably should have put it in a dark place and used fertilizer which I didn’t do 😢
Thank you! I’ve had a THANKSGIVING cactus for a number of years(although we thought it was a Christmas cactus! 😊) but it has never really grown much. You have just given me the reasons why, although it has recently had a bit of a growth spurt, with a number of new leaves developing. I will reposition it, and add some gravel to the saucer and see what develops from now on. Thanks again! Regards Gail from the UK x
Love the information and your picture have helped me identify which one I have which was difficult because it has bloomed all 3 holidays. My big problem is that it will suddenly drop leaves. They are healthy, (firm and bright green). I have lost upwards of 20 in one day easily. Any suggestions.
Thanks to your video I now know that I have a Thanksgiving cactus! Just purchased it yesterday from a local supermarket and although it's tiny it is loaded with beautiful pink buds! So excited to see this plant grow!
I never have done darkness for them. I usually put them outside in June to October 15th. They set buds and bloom in two weeks after I bring them in. Z5a.
great video. I appreciate the info. I have a Thanksgiving cactus that has bloomed now twice this year.... in late SPring and now early December. I also have the Easter Cactus which has never bloomed. Now I have to figure out how to bring the blooming cactus out of the cool basement upstairs into warmth without bud drop.
Garden center workers can also suggest various beneficial insects to combat pests. One doesn't always have to grab an insecticide straight away, this is especially true for those of us who have worked hard at developing healthy soil for our plants.
Exellent video!!!! I have 10 of these and I just love them!!!! They’re so easy to maintain...I even have some out on my patio and some do get direct sun and they’ve been doing fantastic! They just have to become acclimated to a certain spot and left there...well that’s my experience with them anyway...they’re gorgeous!!!
Hi! I grow my Christmas cactus in a mix of pine bark, a little bit of coco cuir and a little bit of sphagnum moss. And they are all doing great. Stay safe and happy gardening! Marc
I've been growing mine in orchid substrate, and the cactus seem to love it. Their roots don't get bound up, the water flows through really well. I think it might replicate their natural environment better than cactus mix. I've had great luck with this so far, although I've only been doing it for less than a year. But I got blooms from two of my three Easter cactus (first time they've bloomed since I bought them about 7 years ago.) My Thanksgiving cactus is a very reliable bloomer, so I don't know if this change of potting material will affect it or not. A big plus with this medium is weight. The pots are a lot lighter than they were before, and as they are hanging plants, this is a plus!
My Mom has a Christmas Cactus. We call it the Confused Cactus because it blooms for: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Easter!
Wow, that is a "Special" confused cactus. Lucky you.
That a cool mutant to have 😆
let me know if you have babies from this prolific mother, would love to have an offspring
I have two in my bedroom under fluorescent plant stand lights that do the same thing. They have been blooming on and off all Spring, Summer, and Autumn, and right now one has so many blooms I can't believe it. It has been unusually cold here in Southern California so I think that is why they are blooming so well. I am afraid to repot them when the Winter is over as whenever I repot plants a lot of them die. My Christmas Cacti are way past the point of needing repotting though and I will just have to do it.
In that order? lol
I have a potential tenth tip and a personal story. I've heard/read that when propagating a christmas cactus, that it's good to pot it in a mix of the original soil from the mother plant along with new cactus mix. Same goes for repotting the mother plant - keep some of the old soil. I'm not sure if it matters but I had a lot of success doing it that way (never once had a failed cutting). When my grandmother was getting too sick and forgetful to care for it and after moving to a nursing home, I was given her huge, ancient christmas cactus (which I now think is actually a Thanksgiving cactus because of this video!). It had been kept alive for many years but wasn't properly cared for. I cut it way back, propagated cuttings, allowed them to establish through her last months, and gave those new plants to family members to remember her by when she passed away. The first Christmas she was no longer with us, the mother plant bloomed like crazy and it made me feel like, in a way, she was there at our celebrations. I still tear up when I think about it. Yeah, it's just a plant, but I'm glad we all have a living piece of her to nurture and love for hopefully many more years.
Joyce Vincent that's a beautiful way to remember one's Grandma! I wish someone would've thought to do that with my Grandma's gynormous Christmas Cactus.... But one of my Aunt's decided she was taking all the plants (and jewelry) she wanted before the Attorney even read the Will.
That's a great idea.
I love the sentimentality you have with this plant. I have many like that in my plants, from my great-grandmothers iris to the 55 yo rose bush i planted when i was 5 yo. that i transplanted to my house now. They mean so much to me now!
Joyce Vincent I also inherited my grandmother’s ancient Christmas cactus and I too shared newly propagated cacti with family members. And now I think mine is an Easter cactus. Lol
I was given my grandmothers Christmas cactus after she passed. It’s in pretty bad shape. I’m trying to save what’s left of it. Hence why I’m here watching this. I already had a Christmas cactus before receiving my grandmas but mine looks ok. I have mine in regular soil though. I’m gonna buy cactus soil and a huge clay pot and try to combine my grandmas with mine. Wish me luck!
Great job. Talks fast and doesn’t waste words. I get tired of presenters who ramble on, often about irrelevant or extraneous issues...chatty, boring and wasting time. I keep saying...Get to the points! She was perfect for my preferences.
I agree! I hate whey chit chat about things we did not click for. I usually don’t finish a video that starts out talking about this & that or takes too long. This was the perfect example of a good video 😀
I totally agree.
Ok
Yes! I love that she gets right to the point. Also a huge fan of the watering can!!! Thanks for the videos
@@sandi3767 agreed!!!
I have a Christmas cactus that is over 60 years old, I'm 67 and remember it on my grandmothers porch. It's the first of November and is in bloom my grandmother died on her birthday in November so it may be a tribute to her. My birthday is in May and it blooms then also. Unusual world.
I have had my cactus in the same pot for at least 20 years. I totally neglect it, but keep it outside all summer. It is getting ready to bloom again, this time for Thanksgiving I guess; sometimes it’s around Christmas. But each year it is beautiful.
That is an awesome family story.
Wow, mine is a baby, only 9-year's old! :)
I'm 70 years old and still have a cactus that's around 80 years old. It used to be my grandma's. Very little of it is
original, but I've used cuttings to start new plants from the old. So it's the same cactus. At one point it was huge,
and cascading down to the floor. This cactus blooms whenever it wants to.
I have my Grandma's cactus and I had one single flow bloom the day of her funeral. Haven't seen once since.
I had an orchid for three years and bingo! Out of no where, a Christmas cactus started growing in the same pot. A florist told me sometimes they get mixed in with potting soil.
Wow that’s crazy 😮
That’s hilarious
I've had mine since 1987! Has not been repotted for 20 years
You did this video perfectly. I love how you got right to it without any unnecessary chatter and then you gave so much useful information. Perfect! Thank you.
My Grandmother got a Christmas cactus when she was 15. Over the years she took care of it and it grew so large that she ended up splitting it multiple times. Our family now has 4-5 (not 100% sure how many as they are spread out over aunts, uncles, and cousins) and while not all of us are great with plants these things have lasted for so long.
My Grandma is now dealing with memory loss and once she passes I'm sure the cactus's will be a good memory for our family. The plants are over 50 years old.
Great story ❤❤❤😊
I think it's a beautiful plant, and catus is a Harty plant
My wife and I have my mother's Christmas cactus which is around 80 years old. Mom used to plant it in her garden in early spring. When threat of frost was approaching she would dig it up and repot it and bring it inside. We enjoy up to 2 blooms a year and it is constantly growing.
Thats an awesome story :) ✝️❤️✝️ they sure knew HOW to live back then thats for sure , and their living was far far simpler , even if it was harder.
Holy Cow!!!!!
I just was writing a simular story about my mothers plant! It was over 50 years old and it was a cutting from her mothers plant. My mum is 94 and the plant only died about 2 years agoo and I knew it all my life!
Do you mean two bloom cycles or just two flowers? I hope you mean cycles!
I too have a Christmas cactus that came from cuttings off my grandmother's huge very 000 old cactus. My gram gave me cuttings when I moved into our 1st house about 35 yrs ago. So technically I guess my plant is about 75+ yrs old! That original old plant unfortunately died when my grandmother moved to the west coast 😞 So I have the only living piece of that original plant! Its not huge but its very healthy & blooms twice a yr.. Im now propagating some cuttings to give to my son & his new wife when they finish building their 1st house !!!
My Christmas catus just died. It was one hundred and twenty three years old! Have had lots and lots of babies from it. It had seventy eight blooms on it five Christmases ago. Absolutely beautiful.
What happened to it that caused it to die?
Never thought there's three kinds of cactus. I thought they are all Christmas cactus. Thanks for the video.
You just call it by whatever season it blooms! 🤣
Can we face time...I need help on my plant
My mom has one for at least 30 years. A friend of her gave her a clipping back then and it’s been thriving ever since. Mom loves it. It looks EXACTLY like a Christmas cactus. Same flowers even. But mom lived in Brazil and there they bloom in MAY! They are known as MAY FLOWERS. 🌺
Another tip to get your cactus to have a great bloom is to not water it the entire month of October when you’re restricting light. Once you bring it back out into the light begin watering it again. I’ve had great success with this care method.
Do you water it once a week?
I did not know that I could be jealous of someone else's watering can. I have learned much about myself today. LOL
Haha
You need to buy some gold shoes.🐵👡👡
I was thinking the same thing...one for the covet list...but can let it go because Laura has it. 😊
me too
Hahaha! I am too! Never seen this beautiful watering can before!
This has to be one of the best youtube informational videos I have seen. No empty words, no beating around the bush. Talk fast and just the facts. I don't understand the negative votes?? Maybe people that could not keep up and don't know how to pause the video. I watched three videos before I landed on this one and the others were just people that liked to hear themselves talk. No info in the first mintue or two. You get right to the point and keep it moving. I just subscribed and this is one of maybe 3 youtube sites I have ever subscribed to.
Hey, Laura 5 years later watching this one probably for the second time. As always best and most informative video about all this plants.😂
Love that she talks fast! Simply just rewind to the spot where you need to review her info. Very informative especially when she talked about the differences in the shape of the leaves to distinguish one from the other 👍😀❤️
This can be adjusted. Click the 3 little lines in upper right corner.
Mine always blooms around my daughter's birthday so I call it my Chloe Cactus !
Took a cutting from my mother's Christmas cactus about 2 months ago, just started to bloom! I want to take the best care of it so it lives forever. Great tips, and a very lovely woman as well! Thank you
I have a christmas cactus which was on the counter at a church sale. Poor thing was dying. I got it for $1 . Took it home, in order to replant I had to break the pot it was in ,it was all root, no dirt. I was able to save two branches of it. I repotted it and happy to report it survived. I have had it for 14 years now. It has moved twice with me cross state. I have transplanted it 5 times into larger pots, it now lives in 3, 14inch pots each one standing just as high. I do notice they grow better when they are next to each other, Mine will start to bloom in late October and will bloom right thru mid July. I do get apox 100 blooms at once, on each plant ,when they fall off there is another ready to open.They bloom like this thru July. My mom had a christmas cactus which only gave 3 to 4 buds a year. I am very gifted by this plant and the blooms it gives me, it is so beautiful. Thank you for this video, I will now look for the other cactus plants.
THANK YOU so much for your TIP #5! My Christmas cactus has gone from bleached out to a deep healthy green & has even sprouted BUDS!! And all because of your tips! Even my husband has noticed the difference!
I watch this video every year to remind myself how to care for my Thanksgiving cactus. Thanks Laura!
My girlfriend gave me one for Christmas and this video was exactly what I needed. Thanks much.
It's worth noting that Easter cactus flowers are radially symmetrical, whereas Christmas cactus flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. Very Good Video !!
Your the only one I found with all the information I needed to care for 4 of these plants. They were all flowering and still are. I just needed to know about the care after the blooms die. Your the Queen Mother of gardening and so prepared when you post your videos. I wasted so much time looking for the answers I needed when all I had to do was come to your channel. Thanks so much... your a gem.💎
Ironically, my Christmas cactus starts arrived this morning. I’m now having coffee with Laura, learning how to best care fo it. My great aunts had huge cactus plants, & I had a yearning to travel backwards 🎄. You rock, but my favorite is you with your mom. Sweet Christmas greetings. Elizabeth
What reason could ppl have to dislike this?? This is very informative...Thank you!!!!
Two years later but right on time! Thanks so much
Apparently I rescued a Thanksgiving cactus not a Christmas cactus. No wonder it bloomed early. Thanks for the description Laura!
H
I guess I did the same thing. I just thought mine couldn't tell time.
Me too
Yup. I just bought a Christmas cactus at Aldi, and this video taught me that it's actually a Thanksgiving cactus.
Me too 😆 I just searched Christmas cactus and found out it's a Thanksgiving cactus 🌵 🙃 😅
I really like that you talk fast and cover a lot of ground. I also do not like a really slow moving videos with a lot of extraneous commenting. I love your cheerful nature too!
I have never put my cactus through the cool dark period. It blooms great with just a bit of fertilizer through the year.
We live in zone 9b in CA, and have grown both Christmas and Easter cactus outdoors year round. They are in huge pots kept under the house eaves so no frost gets on them. Bloom every year and the blooms last for months. We love them.
I just found a cactus on clearance at lowes home improvement store and it has a reddish hue and very dry soil so I just watered it well tonight! Thank you for the tips!
What a lovely tradition for your Dad and his kids to have a festive present buying afternoon along with lunch etc.
I live in Texas and as soon as we were about to get our first freeze, I brought them in and put them under a grow light and they are blooming and thriving like crazy!
How long do you leave the grow light on each day?
@@sherbear8097 about 8 hours a day
I bought a Thanksgiving cactus last December. Its flowers fell off shortly after I brought it home, probably from the shock of a change in the environment. When all danger of frost is over, I always take all my houseplants outside and place them on a table under my covered patio. I am quite surprised, in a good way, to see that the Thanksgiving cactus is forming buds, in May. Looks like they can bloom year-round if placed outdoors in the spring. I live in zone 6 (Ohio).
I love her.She is an amazing visionary in the field of garden design. As well as extremely knowledgeable. Her husband behind the scenes is the wind and muscle under her wings.There is another supporter and supervisor. The cat Cheddar.A red tabby who insists on popping up to everyone's delight.I really enjoy her videos.
Thank you I greatly appreciate this information I have my Mom’s Christmas Cactus that’s 30yrs old & still going strong & it blooms several times a year ....
Roseann Dantoni I cant get mine to last more than two years 😥
Re put only one size up tho as roots like it better than too big as that causes root rot...stay small...
How often do I water it?
Amazing
I just got one. Can I put it on a high shelf and let the branches hang down? Not suppose to be in light, correct?
Thanks for sharing, it will be more clearly understand if you slow down the talking and leave the images a little longer so we can see the difference between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus. Thanks again
Girl... I've never in my life owned a cactus but I could watch you talk about paint dry and it make me want to 😁😁😂😂💜ya
FIVE HATHCOCKS #THE FAM Right!! She is the best EVER!! Love my Garden Answer every morning! Best part of my daily routine!
My thoughts exactly! She is such a good speaker! I watched this whole video and I don't even own a Christmas Cactus!.....yet 😉
The so called Christmas cactus it's very easy to take care of. Actually most cactuses are. ..very forgiving and easy to propagate.
Oh no their not!!
Camelia Cristofaro surprisingly my Christmas cactus did better when I lived in Alaska than here in Sacramento. I think it was because of the winter light issue.
This young lady did a great job helping me understand how I need to care for my new plant. I just wish she was talking slower. I've had to listen a few times and stop the video so I can take notes...LOL
It might help you to set the playback speed to .75x
This lady knows her facts!
I bought one last Christmas, re-potted it in Cactus Compost and it’s doing really well! Thank you for your tips x
Lynsey, what kind of Cactus Compost did you use for your Christmas Cactus? I have trouble getting mine to bloom.
Cindy Nordlie Hi Cindy, I used Cacti & Succulent Potting mix from Westland, I live in the UK, Gloucestershire and we have a Garden Centre near to us called Dobbie’s , they have a house plant station, which is really good. I hope this helps xx
I have the thanksgiving variety. When my mom passed I got three of them, all pink. That first year, I killed the 2 small ones but managed to keep the big one alive. The big one is still alive and doing well and I have picked up 4 others. If you can't kill em', grow em'. I don't fuss around with them but they bloom like crazy anyway and this is how I do it.
I live in Northeast Wisconsin, less than a mile from Lake Michigan. The small town I live in is known as "the coolest spot in Wisconsin" and it is. Our winters are a bit milder but much snowier (is that even a word?) than surrounding areas. I put all my plants outside in late June and the cacti get a somewhat sheltered area. They are left outside and checked for bugs about once a week and watered if we have a very long dry spell. Before the first frost they come back in and are put in my unheated front porch after being checked for bugs one last time. The porch is their home for at least two weeks and they have tons of buds when they come into the house. This works well here in Wisconsin where the light and dark cycles are conducive to blooming. Wish I could send pictures. Sorry, very wordy.
It’s June 8 and my Christmas cactus are still budding. 😳💕
It’s June 3, 2021 and my Thanksgiving cactus is blooming! It bloomed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and now Memorial Day! A real mystery!
Good morning! Thanks for this! Watched your video of repotting a 200 year old cactus and this info helped.
I’ve had my thanksgiving cactus for the past two years. It didn’t bloom in 2019, but bloomed during Easter 2020 and now again during thanksgiving 🤗
Did you move her? Maybe she just found a spot where she's happy?
Coming to think of it, you’re right. The first year, she was placed in bright direct light and the night lights were on daily for quite a while during the night, so I guess she barely rested.
The second year, she was under indirect light, and barely any night artificial light ... and voila, she flowered twice in the year!
My Thanksgiving cactus is constantly in bloom. I've never seen anything like it before.
I found the perfect spot in my home for my Thanksgiving cactus. It starts blooming around November 1st and is filled with big blooms. The blooms last 2 to 3 weeks and then starts again every 3 weeks or so and keeps it up until Spring! It is in a upstairs cooler room facing the East and every Spring I set it back about 6 feet from the window and then move it back to a foot from the windows in October. It is about 10 years old. I keep it setting on a bed of pebbles with water in the bottom but not up to the bottom of the cactus pot. I also have a little humidifier running in the room in winter months.
I'm looking after a Christmas cactus that is about 50 years old (it was my great grandmother's) they're very hardy but I've learnt a bit from this video xx
Your videos are amazing because they are focused and have loads of information. Your voice is pleasant and you really give helpful tips on the subject. Thank you so much!
You did a great job explaining the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. Now I am able to take care of my Christmas cactus. Thank you for helping me with and knowing the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus and how to care for my Christmas cactus without A lot of other distractions.
I have one large Thanksgiving cactus blooming now that I've had about 4 years. One small one that was very small when I bought it last year that's yet to bloom. My Christmas cactus I thought was going to bloom and decided to have a growth explosion instead. I bought one labled "Summer Cactus", which I had never heard of before, earlier this year. Turns out after watching this all the way to the end, it's an Easter cactus. I've had segments break off before and stuck them in soil, but never had any luck with getting roots. Remembering a trick my Grandmother taught me, if I drop the ends in water I get roots forming in about a week.
I just gave away two Christmas cactus. One which was given to me about 4 years ago, which I kept in a West window and is huge. This one seems to bloom 2/3 times a year and I've never re potted it nor have I ever given it any fertilizer and watered it about every week and a half. I gave it a whole bottle of water, the kind you buy at the store and drink. I really didn't give it much attention but it keeps on blooming. The other one, I bought and that one I kept in a Northwest window. It had plenty of light but not much sun. It also didn't bloom as much as the other one, maybe twice a year and I never put either of them in the dark. When I moved, I had to give them away as I had no place to put them but I did like them a lot.
I have to remind myself that Christmas cactus blooms for me in June/July/August (Australian winter) and Thanksgiving cactus in March/April/May (Australian autumn). Easter cactus is the same though.
I've had a Christmas Cactus on a window ledge in my shower area. I've had it at least 14 yrs, it blooms twice a year in a closed terrace cotta pot. I water it 1-3 × per week. I live in Chicago & just love it !
This will be our family's new go to holiday video as we have killed one per year.thank you!
Insects. Not insects
Same! I always kill with kindness...overwater everything!
Thank you so much! It turns out that I have a Christmas and a Thanksgiving Cactus. Thanks for the tips.
They love the rainy season in Florida. I hang them on my tree branches.
Gardener's Supply wish list just got their new catalog; Demeter Collection, potting bench, elevated raised bed, mobile planter cart. Love Gardener's Supply!!
Can you do a care video on. Christmas poinsettias.!!! 🎄🎁🌸
How can I see theses videos?
Mary Player just type in the CZcams search bar Garden Answer poinsettias
Absolutely love your Dad !💙
He could become a regular on the channel and educate farmers to inspire future farmers! So much good information is being lost with people like your Dad. He could share it!
I appreciate your well prepared videos and ability to "stuff" a ton of information into ten minutes or less!
So beautiful Laura, my poor garden is looking a little tired here in FL. We have had lots very hot temperatures, and extreme humidity and not as much rain as we usually get. I just can’t get out to weed either.😢 looking forward to some cooler weather so I can get back outside. But I look forward to your videos everyday! Thank you for sharing❤
I would love to see some videos on roses!
But how would you balance the camera on a rose?,😶😶🛸🛸🎥🎞📽🎬🌷🌷🌹🌹🌷🌷
This plant reminds me of me.
No wet feet! But I do want a hint of moisture. And the perfect temperature at every moment. High maintenance
Thank you! I got gifted a Christmas cactus a couple months ago and surprisingly it's still alive and okay (Plants normall die on me really fast, which makes me want to take care of this one even more). I've been googling a lot on how to take care of it and honestly more often than not I've come out of it even more confused that I started off with. But this video really helped me a lot with how straightforward it was. Also learned that I've apparently been overwatering it, yikes!
Continue to watch her! She has turned my brown thumb, green!
I got my two Christmas cacti three years ago on clearance for 1.50$. they've been happily blooming every now and then.
Mine in Thailand is hanging outside, sheltered from too much sun by one of my Frangipan trees and an Indian Cherry tree, just above a water lily pot. Plenty of natural humidity and it withstands temperatures from 65 to 100+ during the course of a year, it gets 12 hours of darkness every day. It keeps growing and flowers a couple times a year,
I put ice cubes on top of the soil once a week. Works for me. I do this with my orchids too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I moved my Christmas cactus into our bathroom, hanging in front of the window and have been watering it like you advised. It has little tiny blooms on it! I'm so excited!
Is it in direct sunlight in front of the window?
@@chevellemann8367 It's in a South facing window, so direct morning light but it stays more bright filtered the rest of the day
This is exactly how I care for my African violets and they do great. I'm getting a Thanksgiving cactus from a friend this week, she has two and they are taking over all her indoor plant space. Thanks for all the tips. I feel confident that my cactus will love it's new home.
Omg, today I bought my first Christmas cactus, a red one...and you do a video on this plant, thank you! Your video is quite helpful
For sure a lighted seed starting stand😊😊😊
Sooo confused! I read many articles that say they like their soil to be nice and moist during their blooming season. I have it it my bathroom but it started looking limp. I cut a bit of leaves off and mist it once a day but she still doesn't look good. So now imI have it in my loving room non direct light and water it when the soil is dry. I have not checked the roots yet. Maybe I just need to trim it back some more
You are a wonderful teacher. Unlike other people, who just mention risks, you give us the solution in case a problem does occur.
Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge.
Awesome information. Thank you so much for sharing! I think the snow that we get once in a lifetime here in south Texas got mine this year. I've had it for probably 12 yrs. I got the start for it from my grandmother, who taught me all the things you told us about the care and keeping of Thanksgiving Cactus. Thanks again. Merry Christmas to you guys!
Mine blooms by itself. I never force it 🤗
I'm desperately trying to save the one I gave to my mom last year for her birthday. She passed away in August and I'm determined to revive it but it's not looking good. I hope your wisdom will help me. Great video...thank you. :)
Lisa Jennett Wood my guess is you’re probably overwatering, I would try less water and less often
That tree is so beautiful 🌳👌💛💚 the blueberries look yummy
Oh my Gosh!! Thank you so much for this video! I have my husbands Grandmothers Christmas cactus and the last few years it won't bloom. I transplanted it this fall (will have to do it again as you said to put them in a clay pot) and I am so scared that I will kill it that I hate to even move it or do anything different to it. I was even nervous about transplanting it. It is a big plant. I couldn't seem to find any info on the proper care of a Christmas cactus till now. I am going to try all your tips for caring for it and hopefully it will bloom next Christmas for me. Thanks again and keep up the great videos. Merry Christmas.
Linda Daley (
I have had a Christmas cactus for everal years, but I didn't
rally know how to care for it. I watered it along with my other plants, which are growing great, but
unfortunately the Christmas cactus was not. It was alive, but not growing or blooming at Christmas, The past week I've been researching how to care for it, so I'm on a new journey to bring it back to a healthy life.
I purchased a new clay pot and saucer, cactus soil,, cactus plant food and pebbles for the saucer,
so there's no sitting in water, and to create humidity. The pot will rest on top of the pebbles
I have run water to flush out any fungus in the old pot and drained it well to prepare it for transplant.
In October of next year, 2023, I will remove the plant from my north facing window sill in my bedroom, where there is plenty of light but no direct sunlight. I will put it in the dark, for that one month, in my bathroom where there is no window. This will start the blooms for Christmas.
Wish me luck. I'm excited to see what will happen.
That was super interesting! It sounds like they are more closely related to Air Plants than cactus or succulents. I have a couple and I love them.
Oh wow! I pick up a Christmas cactus today,open CZcams to find info how to care for it and this video was there waiting.... After watching I this it's a Thanksgiving 🌵.
Thank you so much for this video and your knowledge!
Mine literally bloomed peach blooms yesterday Beautiful but now I'm not sure what it is😊what color is yours?
Such a FANTASTIC video Laura :-D I LOVE my Christmas cacti :-D thanks so much for sharing and sending lots of love an dhappiness and plant power from Ireland XXXX
I had a Christmas cactus that was about 14 years old,but once I relocated to Florida,from NY, my cactus died. From your information, it was a drastic change for the cactus. Laura, I love your vlogs.
I moved to Florida from ohio and I used to have Christmas cactuses that didn’t do as well as the one I bought here in Florida. I keep it outside though as opposed to keeping it indoors and it has bloomed twice in just a couple months apart already and the ones I had in ohio I couldn’t get them to bloom even once after I bought them with blooms and I had them for years with no new blooms ever! I probably should have put it in a dark place and used fertilizer which I didn’t do 😢
Thank you! I’ve had a THANKSGIVING cactus for a number of years(although we thought it was a Christmas cactus! 😊) but it has never really grown much. You have just given me the reasons why, although it has recently had a bit of a growth spurt, with a number of new leaves developing. I will reposition it, and add some gravel to the saucer and see what develops from now on. Thanks again!
Regards
Gail from the UK x
My Mom had a Christmas cactus that at full size was 3' across and bloomed at Christmas and Easter.
Love the information and your picture have helped me identify which one I have which was difficult because it has bloomed all 3 holidays. My big problem is that it will suddenly drop leaves. They are healthy, (firm and bright green). I have lost upwards of 20 in one day easily. Any suggestions.
I get the thought, guessing. they are root bound. I have same issue and I know mine are needing larger pots.
You are so informative and you waste NO time in your videos. Thank you!
Thanks to your video I now know that I have a Thanksgiving cactus! Just purchased it yesterday from a local supermarket and although it's tiny it is loaded with beautiful pink buds! So excited to see this plant grow!
I never have done darkness for them. I usually put them outside in June to October 15th. They set buds and bloom in two weeks after I bring them in. Z5a.
great video. I appreciate the info. I have a Thanksgiving cactus that has bloomed now twice this year.... in late SPring and now early December. I also have the Easter Cactus which has never bloomed. Now I have to figure out how to bring the blooming cactus out of the cool basement upstairs into warmth without bud drop.
Garden center workers can also suggest various beneficial insects to combat pests. One doesn't always have to grab an insecticide straight away, this is especially true for those of us who have worked hard at developing healthy soil for our plants.
Exellent video!!!! I have 10 of these and I just love them!!!! They’re so easy to maintain...I even have some out on my patio and some do get direct sun and they’ve been doing fantastic! They just have to become acclimated to a certain spot and left there...well that’s my experience with them anyway...they’re gorgeous!!!
I feel way more confident taking care of cacti after watching your videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I swear you look so much like Kylie Jenner before her surgery. Very pretty!
I have a Thanksgiving cactus, was told by my friend that gave me the cutting that it was a Christmas cactus. Thanks for the foliage identification.
Thank you for the great information! I want a garden answer T-shirt!
brittney Tucker Yes. I would love a t-shirt or a sweatshirt.
Ooo, that sounds like a great idea!
I agree, I would love a t- shirt! 😀
I would LOVE a shirt!!! I love your videos!!
Hi!
I grow my Christmas cactus in a mix of pine bark, a little bit of coco cuir and a little bit of sphagnum moss. And they are all doing great.
Stay safe and happy gardening!
Marc
I've been growing mine in orchid substrate, and the cactus seem to love it. Their roots don't get bound up, the water flows through really well. I think it might replicate their natural environment better than cactus mix. I've had great luck with this so far, although I've only been doing it for less than a year. But I got blooms from two of my three Easter cactus (first time they've bloomed since I bought them about 7 years ago.) My Thanksgiving cactus is a very reliable bloomer, so I don't know if this change of potting material will affect it or not.
A big plus with this medium is weight. The pots are a lot lighter than they were before, and as they are hanging plants, this is a plus!