roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

Christmas Cactus

Is now a good time to start the dark treatment? I thought it was a Thanksgiving cactus, but now I think it is a Christmas cactus.

User avatar
Gary350
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7392
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:59 pm
Location: TN. 50 years of gardening experience.

What is dark treatment?

told2b
Senior Member
Posts: 196
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:07 pm
Location: North Jersey, Zone 6

Christmas cactus need 12/14 hours of darkness at
night in order to get buds to develop. Also have to
cut down on watering to force dormancy and keep
the plant cool.

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

It is not a Christmas cactus , I was wrong. It is a Thanksgiving cactus. It looks like it is growing some, the serrations look like they are growing. Does anyone know where the new growth looks like?

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

100_3288.JPG
I tried to get a good picture, but still have not mastered the at of taking close pictures. I can't tell if this is new growth or a flower bud. If someone could tell me I would appreciate it!

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30504
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

That looks like a new leaf. Flower buds are pointy and pod-like.

thanrose
Greener Thumb
Posts: 716
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Jacksonville, FLZone 9A

Can't tell just yet, but if we saw it in person we'd know. Do you know what color flower this cactus will have? If red, you'll likely see a very rosy cast to where the new growth joins the green cladode. Salmon or white, forget about it just yet. Second thing I'd look at is the fullness of the new bit. The new cladodes are still kind of flat, while the flower buds are a little cylindrical projection. The little tips, those thorny looking projections are on both the leaves/cladodes and the flower bud this early on.

Congratulations and many happy returns.

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

Ok, you were right, it is a new leaf, but hey at least it is growing, right? I am just thrilled about that, as for flowering, I will let it do what it wants, and bloom when it wants. Whenever it does, it will be pretty. The flowers on this cactus are red and white, it was blooming when I first got it. I will find a picture of the bloom and post it below this post.

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

100_2752.JPG
Here is one of the flowers.

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

2 more new leaves coming on! I can't believe it is growing in the winter! I thought most plants were dormant in the wintertime except for Amaryllis.

ButterflyLady29
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1030
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:12 pm
Location: central Ohio

I never give mine any dark treatment. They stay outside until the temp drops to around 40*F overnight then they come into the basement and stay under florescent lights 24/7. It gets chilly down there and the cold forces flowering.

roseycheeks
Green Thumb
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:51 pm
Location: Lakeview, Ohio zone6

100_3299.JPG
100_3298.JPG
Here are some pictures of my holiday cactus, I decided to just let it do what it wanted to when it wanted to do it. So I just leave it be, water it some when it gets dry and keeps it kind of cool, it seems to like it as you will see in this picture.



Return to “Cactus Forum - Cacti Including all Succulent Plants”