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Christmas Cactus

Hi all,

I've recently inherited this plant, which I think is a Christmas Cactus? Does anyone know how best to care for these? And is it looking a bit sad? I'm not quite sure how they're supposed to look! 

many thanks,

Tom

image

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 24,459

    Mine looked liked that so I reported it, kept it reasonably moist and put it on a cool windowsill with no sunlight. It's full of buds about to flower now.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,459

    After I reported it, I repotted itimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,976

    It doesn't look as if it's had a drink for a long time.
    I don't take much care of mine most of the year, and on occasions does look a bit like yours, but it needs water now and then.

    For it to flower it will need around 11-12 hours of darkness a day. I leave mine behind the curtains which seems to work ok.

    I'd say give it some water and a little feed if you have some. It'll soon perk up

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,827

    Plunge the pot in a bucket of water till all air bubbles stop and then let it drain.   Afterwards, repeat the process when the compost feels dry.  I give mine some liquid tomato or rose feed a couple of times in September/October and that usually helps with flowering.

    Mine didn't last year so I re-potted it and have given it a stern talking to along with a feed and it has perked up no end.  Don't tell it but I can't really throw it out as Possum "won" it in a raffle at her primary school.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Thanks all, that's really helpful! It was left in a house a relative moved into, they were going to throw it but I adopted it instead, but had no clue what to do!

    I'll repot, water and most importantly move it - it gets quite a bit of light where it is now.

    Thanks again for the advice!

    Tom

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,976

    Quite a bit of light is good for it Tom - mine sits on a south facing windowsill all year round behind the curtains and gets very little care.They need darkness too (at least 10hrs) to start flower development.
    Good luck and hopefuly it'll soon be a cascade of blooms

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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