Not All I'd Hoped For But?

[MrSeedy]

I must say that as many years as I've looked at pictures of both Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti, I still can't remember the difference between the two other than the "normal" blooming time for each. Seems a bit early, and after trying the "outdoor" method to encourage blooms this year, my efforst were rewarded to a degree. It seems with leaving them outdoors where the natural shortening daylight hours encourages them to start setting flower buds, and does help develope more flower buds than indoors where they may get lots of artificial light interfering with the number of "light" hours, but I've always suspected the "big" move indoors might shock them to a degree, with the different light intensity, as well as the suddenly warmer temeratures, if they've been outdoors somewhat into the much cooler outdoor temperatures of early and mid fall. Sure enough it seemed many of the smallest buds did turn yellow and drop off, which seemed for some strange reason to be all on the one side of the plant, and that left nearly all the bigger buds to open just on one side. Oh well it is pretty, but not what I'd hoped for and I yet have to achieve the flowers that I"ve seen on many commercially grown plants that litterally look like they're smothered in blooms, though I've even seen those drop many blooms in their move from greenhouse to store and then again to a house. I don't think they take kindly to all those changes from their orginal home in a greenhouse, and its' the same thing unfortunately , with many other "holliday" plants this time of the year, and the gardenias being maybe number one in dropping all those buds they might have , when you buy them in the store. I've heard that story time and time again about gardenias , from disappointed gardenia buyers, who've bought some covered with flower buds , only to have all the flower buds drop off at home even before they open. Oh well, but that's plants for you and part of the challenge. Even my gardenia moving from outdoors to indoors for the winter , dropped most of it's largest buds, but there are new smaller ones already comming on!!

[MrSeedy]

I just realized, that even outdoors the plant may have the uneven bud distribution, and that could be because it was near a wall , where only the front portion of the plant got the brightest light, so the back part never perhaps had as many buds even when still outdoors. Might have been better results had the plant been in a more open position where the light and sun was more even perhaps??

[Marimum]

It has been my experience with this lone CC on my desk here at work...from all I've read that they like to have a significant amount of time in the dark this time of year, and low overnight temps about 50 or so.

Last year, I put my CC in a box when I left work, and didn't take him out until about 9am the next day. Didn't seem to harm him any, and buds set on all ends.

This year I completely forgot about the 'box method' and it's blooming its head off now. Buds formed regardless of whether or not it was put in the dark for an extended period of time.

I only water it when the leaves get limp. It's in I'd say a 6" pot, and when I do water it, I give it 12-16oz at a time, then leave it alone for about 4-6 weeks when the leaves start getting limp again.

Sun is in a Southeastern window that gets morning sun and diffused afternoon sun.

Mine's pink flowers with green & red leaves. I repotted it either 2 or 3 years ago, and he's ok for now, but could probably stand another repotting soon. Growth has been VERY slow- I'd say I've had it for about 5 years total, and it has about 12 shoots with the longest one being 7 leaflets long.

Anyway, not sure if any of this is pertinent to your original discussion, but figured I'd toss my 2? in.

btw, I LOVE the pure white one!

[MrSeedy]

I agree with everythign you said, but in my case I think artificial lighting from the next room interferes most years with the shorter daylength that helps them set buds, but rather than have to cover them and all that indoors to give the proper amount of daylight, I just left them outdoors , where the daylight changes naturally this time of year, and also they do get the cool overnight lows there as well. Some folks always do the "fall" thing to get lots of blooms on their Christmas Caxtuses , and then bring them in before frost to enjoy the flowers indoors. Usually I dont' even put them outdoors for the summer, but they did love being outside this year. I must say despite them being called "cactuse" they will enjoy extra moisture and lots of fertilizing in the summer months for faster growth, and more flowers later on. I don't barely let mine dry out in the summer, but they do have to be in quck draining potting mix to avoid rootrot!!

[Sneezie]

:blink: Very pretty Mr. Seedy

[grindle]

Nice one Mr S. I always stand my plants out during the summer and bring them back in around September, I was told to do that years ago when I found I wasn't getting flowers, now I do every year :D

[buster]

Awesome, Mr. Seedy. Connie

[Audwoman]

That is really pretty MrS. I love white. My gardenia did not flower this summer and a lot of it died. I repotted, will see how it does this winter in the aquarium.

[MrSeedy]

Sorry to hear about your gardenia Aud. I see my smaller one ,that got a repotting last spring to a pot much bigger than the old one, really should have an even bigger pot already, and I'm maybe guessing , but that Holytone I put on the soil this last summer has given it the larest , greenest , and healthiest leaves it's had in many years. Whereas for some plants overly "lush" looking leaves can actually mean they'll flower less, that doesn't seem to be the case for my gardenias , which always flower better when the leaves look healthy and green. Not always easy with those "iron" and acid loving gardenias!! Could it be as well , that perhaps your gardenia got a bit too dry a few times in the heat of last summer?? I've read they can be somewhat "drought" tollerant when well established for more mature plants, but I"ve never found them to tollerate much dryness at all and always stive to keep mine moist nearly all the time. They hate soggy soil, but also dry soil, so it's a matter of perhaps watering frequently but not too heavily , should the soil be not so fast draining and somewhat heavy.