Finally Thriving Christmas Cactus

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I've had trouble on & off w/ Holiday Cacti. Some time ago, I was favored w/ some cuttings of 'true' CC & set them to grow in various settings in my apmt, to try & learn how to grow them better.

I've got some pieces in mix of Bark, C&S mix & Perlite, which do OK. But I also started experimenting w/ them in Hydro, originally just tossed a couple of pieces into a bit of water to hold them 'til I was read to pot 'em up.

Wish I had better pix, but these are in Leca stones, w/a little bit of water & they're doing great!

Stopped to take more pix, so great it's working for me.

Another, larger set up.

Loaded w/ new growth tips.

Roots seem happy. Nice to have happy accidents w/ one's experiments such as this one.

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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5

7 years ago

I look at these and wonder (sometimes) why I've never grown them. It's well-known I like me some jungle cactuses. This is a wonderful nurturing of them, Karen. Good job.

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Comments (8)

Karen S. (7b, NYC)
Original Author
7 years ago
Thx Jeff, striking to me how much happier they seem this way than in mix. I suppose Leca stones & a bit of water is more like it's natural setting insofar as it's not mix, just something to support them structurally, while allowing their roots easy air / moisture exchange.
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green_vibes (z. 7/8)
7 years ago
CC grown in Hydro makes sense, doesn't it? I wonder why I've not seen (or thought of) it before.
Karen S. (7b, NYC) thanked green_vibes (z. 7/8)
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
Original Author
7 years ago
Sorry I missed your comment Green Vibes. Maybe try some yourself, maybe, spread the word, maybe we can start a trend ;>)

Jeff, I didn't realize you liked these guys, don't recall you growing any other tropical cacti. Maybe try some?
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Bringing this back up to refer readers & friends from another thread w/out taking it over.

Will try to post updated pix, these hydro grown CCs continue to rock!! I am pleased as punch!
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hey Rina,

This one's for you, happens to be a hydro pot of a CC (left ) & a TC (right). See the jagged points (crab claw like) on the right?

This is a recent pic (10 days ago), but I just checked what it's in cause I've got a few of these experiments in several places. This one is in actual small rocks (large pebbles) which sit inside another small cup w/ wet sphag at the bottom. Roots are happy too.

I need to take another pic tomorrow at different angle. The right hand one (TC) as 4 new segments, slightly more pale green, very pretty.

ETA: edited to correct it's the left one (CC) w/ the new segments, sorry, my mistake.
hibiscus909
6 years ago
Glad you shared this. I am going to try it (leca)!
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Good to hear Hibiscus, why not? Hope you'll share progress reports.

The small rocks, or large pebbles I mentioned (not Leca) in this one.

Happy roots catching the west sphag kept in cup beneath it.

New TC segment on right, jagged points & lighter green.

This TC cutting was gift from plant friend, it supposedly blooms yellow she was told. Not such a common TC color as far as I've seen. Here's hoping.