Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri or Schlumbergera gaertneri …. Easter Cactus:
Splendid.
-cvj
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May 6th, 2006 at 9:28 am
I think all this flower regalia takes a lot of energy out of that plant, as no matter how much water we give it, our seems a little droopy. Maybe we over watered it?
Looking at it now it seems a little purple? My wife has a green thumb, so I know she seems to intuitively know what is right?
May 6th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
I call it an “Equinox Cactus.” (To go with my family’s re-naming of Christmas Cactus as “Solstice Cactus.”) And it really IS splendid.
May 6th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
A rather striking plant! Yet one thing puzzles me…Since “red and green” traditionally symbolize Christmas, I am surprised the Easter Cactus is not called a Christmas Cactus. However, if this cactus only blooms in spring, then I understand why it is called an Easter Cactus. Then again, if this cactus is originally from the Southern Hemisphere, then it might bloom during a springtime Christmas.
May 6th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Plato: most cacti don’t like being watered regularly — they’re well adapted to making the most of the infrequent storm, so usually they do well with infrequent waterings. And they like direct sunlight. Maybe this is your problem?
–IP
May 6th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Cynthia:-There is a cousin of this plant called “Christmas Cactus”, which blooms around that time, and one that blooms close to Thanksgiving, with the obvious name. Their flowers are very different. They are also in the Schlumbergera family….Schlumbergera bridgesii and Schlumbergera truncata, apparently.
-cvj
May 7th, 2006 at 12:50 am
IrrationalPoint,
Some of my wife’s flowers in a collage on name.
Yes I showed my wife the picture of Clifford’s and she said it was a Christmas Cactus. We were quite surprized to have the plant for a while and noticed the blooms starting about a month ago.
Not really in a good lighted spot(afternoon sun only), so she moved it this morning. INside plant, and in a northern region while still a bit cool in the mornings, outside is not an option right now.
I’ll probably suggest to move it with her seedlings, and follow the sun. Let the soil dry a bit.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Nice collage, Plato! Can you make it bigger?
May 7th, 2006 at 1:00 am
It becomes distorted for some reason the bigger it gets.
Maybe some body can increase the jpg size for viewing?
May 7th, 2006 at 1:04 am
ah! try this
May 7th, 2006 at 1:19 am
Much better! Thanks!
May 7th, 2006 at 2:42 am
Plato. Your wife is incorrect. The plant is what I said it was. The flowers on a Christmas cactus are different, and, as I already said….the Christmas cactus blooms closer to ….Christmas.
Cheers.
-cvj
May 7th, 2006 at 11:06 am
Ruth Ellen – you make a good point! While the blooming cycle of the “Easter members” of this cacti family roughly follow the Equinox, the blooming cycle of the “Christmas members” of this cacti family roughly follow the Solstice. Thanks for sharing your input!
May 7th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Clifford:The plant is what I said it was
Yes of course. I was referring her commment to ours.