Christmas Cactus

[Drisgirl]

OK -no funny answers here.

I have a cactus that does nothing all year in fact I had almost forgotten about it -then yesterday I noticed it had started sprouting buds.

Seriously -how can it possibly know theres only 3 weeks until Christmas?

[probably]

hi, because you see, hrugh, in australia, (where cactusus are bred, the weather is always hot. white hot! so therefore it always seems a a bit like like christmas to the little fellas. you cant really blame them mrs. best smile and think of cricket.

[probably]

the missing three lines are for sale. bbc

[Drisgirl]

CRICKET -are you mad -tee hee -I can think of other things to put me to sleep -lol

Thanks though x

[perigra]

the easter cactus is far cleverer as easter falls on a different date each year which is determined by some calculation to do with the moon or something.

so how does it know?

[Drisgirl]

Exactly perigra -I am astounded -genuinely.
I honestly couldnt believe it.
There must be a reason for this -I have googled and came up with nothing.

[thatbloke]

if the leaves are a kind of flat thing that sort of grows another bit that looks the same and overall it looks like a load of little arms all swinging out (oh the power of the written word ) then you may have a Christmas cactus.No problems... keep it in a fairly light area and water it a little (and ONLY a little ) and then about Christmas (surprise surprise ) you may be rewarded with a quite spectacular flowering display. After the flowers die down its back to ignoring the poor little thing the way you have this year and next Christmas.....

[Aquagility]

They're not all so clever. Mine had an explosion of colour about three weeks ago, and has now gone back to sleep.

[Drisgirl]

thatbloke -thats exactly what I have and it does bu$$er all all year then all of a sudden it starts to form buds and flowers -but how does it know its coming up for christmas -cos thats when all the buds flower -I mean -i could understand if it started to bud in November or January but how does it know when its Christmas.
I am sincerely bemused -lol

[perigra]

Do you think it has something to do with the baby jesus?

[Thunderbird+]

The nursery people that grow these plants have got it down to a fine art and have them expertly timed to bloom around christmas time. My mum phoned me about half an hour ago to say, the one that I bought her last week has just burst into bloom, she was really thrilled.

[Drisgirl]

lol perigra -I havent a clue -I am just astonished.

My heating has been on since September (well not full time) but why now.
I know I seem a bit demented (some would say SEEM lol) but I really cant believe it.

[perigra]

Some plants are very sensitive to daylight. the christmas cactus is probably triggered into flowering when the days are shorter.

[Drisgirl]

O now that would make sense perigra - TY
Thunderbird -that makes sense for new ones but i've had mine for yonks and it really does just sit in the dunces corner until this time of the year-be on the windowsill soon the way its going-loll

[Robinia]

yes it's all due to light levels...mine's in a spare room that has no artificial light & has just burst into flower too...

see here

[Katie7]

Mine also flowered about three week ago - just remember they don't like being moved if you do you'll probably find all it's flowers fall off. They must get used to where they are and adjust to that 'climate'.

[Drisgirl]

TY Robinia and Katie -better late than never -lol