This year, I thought I'd have another go. I decided to buy a bigger, more established plant hoping that it would be more settled in its pot and grow well. It was encased in cellophane and as soon as I brought it home and took off it's protective wrapping half of the plant fell away. It looked as if the exact same thing had happened with this plant as last year's, much of the foliage had turned to mush. Since then, more has rotted away. Here you can see what it looks like today, there's a huge gap in the centre of the plant now where the stems have rotted and the foliage on the right hand side is another part which has broken off.
It doesn't look very healthy where the stem has broken, it's obviously diseased.
Here is a part which has broken off, you can see where the stem has rotted. Much of the plant has gone the same way.
I'm really disappointed that my attempt at growing a Christmas cactus has been thwarted again but I'm not going to give up, I shall have another go with another plant next year.
I purchased a healthy plant from a garden center, more expensive, but lovely plant, unfortunately once home most of the buds fell off, which is typical as the plants don't like any changes. BUT next year it will be lovely. My advice to you is buy one now and have it settled so by next Christmas you will have loads of blooms.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame the buds have fallen off. I went for a more expensive plant this year too, hoping that I wouldn't have the same problem as last year but the same thing's happened again. Oh well, I'll try again next year and hope it's third time lucky.
DeleteAbandon it to a far distant part of the house - well as far as you can manage! - don't water it, don't give it too much light or not enough and just leave it to its own devices. I am an arch houseplant killer and that is what I have done to mine and it has been with me and continues to flower for four or so years now. Good luck next time!
ReplyDeleteI'm always careful not to give a plant too much care and attention as they can be killed with kindness. I think this is why my orchids do well, they're mostly left to their own devices too. I'm glad your Christmas cactus is doing well for you.
DeleteHi I have had my Christmas cactus for five years now and I split into three separate plants this year. I have never had a problem with them but I am very bad with plants hardly ever water them, possibly once every couple of weeks ( maybe that's a good thing with a cactus) but I do try to keep it in a sunny place.
ReplyDeleteHope you have more luck.
Heather
Your Christmas cactus must be doing really well to be healthy enough to split into three. I think you're right about them not needing much water, I think the problem I've encountered is because they've been drenched before being sold.
DeleteHow sad! I have several. All flower each year and one is around 20 years old. I tend to ignore them most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the nursery where yours were started had problems with overwatering and transit. Good luck next time. You could try with an Easter one??
Have a good xmas.
Wow, 20 years old, how lovely to have kept it going for so long. I think you're right about the nursery overwatering, it's such a shame as the plants really can't recover from it.
DeleteI must admit I rarely have indoor plants, as I don't have a lot of success with them …
ReplyDeleteI did find this link 'How To Care For A Christmas Cactus' which you may find useful for next years plant!
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Christmas-Cactus
Such a shame for you because the flowers are such a pretty colour.
All the best Jan
I don't usually have indoor plants either, just a couple of orchids but I would really love a Christmas cactus. Thank you for the link, definitely useful should I ever manage to buy a healthy plant.
DeleteWhat a shame. They're something that I've never tried growing. Google Christmas cactus care and click on the RHS webpage for good advice on these plants. Well done for not giving up and having another go next year. xx
ReplyDeleteI think there must be lots of problems with these plants as I've seen them being sold in other places with the same problem. It's not even as if it's anything I've done, or not done, as half the foliage dropped off as soon as I brought it home. I'm definitely not going to give up though, there aren't many houseplants which I really like so I shall definitely give it another go next year.
DeleteWhat a shame, and such pretty flowers too. Sadly, I have don't have any advice to offer. I'm useless with plants. X
ReplyDeleteIt does have pretty flowers, it's such a shame that this has happened.
DeleteOne of mine spent part of the summer outdoors this year, after being scorched/ bleached with the sun in the conservatory. It revived and has got a few flowers on it now and lives in the bathroom. The other stayed in the kitchen and is smothered in blooms. They were bought for 50p each after being reduced in Homebase around 6 years ago. I hope you manage to get one that hasn’t been drowned as they are beautiful when they flower.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to save your plant with a spell in the garden. I think there must be many plants sold in the same condition as mine as the same thing happened last year. It's such a shame.
DeleteOh, what a shame! I had one in my younger days & little brother has one that was my Mum's & it still flowers each year & she passed away in 2010. I suppose our weather is kinder for something like that, but I'm wondering about being cased in cellophane whilst up for sale. They do like lots of light, air & dry warmth. The cellophane would tend to make it sweat in a heated atmosphere. Just a thought. Better luck next year. Take care & huggles.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that your brother has your mum's plant and that it's still going strong. I must admit that I wondered the same thing about it being sold in cellophane, though the top was open and it had air holes in the sides, but I don't think it can be all that good for it.
DeleteI had one for about 5 years but as it grew I had no good spot for it and then it got to dry when we were away for an extended time so I had to pitch it. They really are so very pretty. Perhaps I'll give it another go. Hadn't even thought about it until you mentioned it. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
That's a shame. I think these type of plants like conditions just so, not too went and not too dry. Many people have poinsettias for Christmas but I'm not too keen on them and these Christmas cactus are such a pretty alternative.
DeleteI agree with previous comments that this problem is probably overwatering and 'wet feet'. I've grown zygocactus before and they like very well draining soil, lots of light but not necessarily harsh direct sun (like we have in Australia - it can be scorching). Mine grow best in morning sun / afternoon shade. I am not sure of the light quality in the UK - maybe direct sun there will be just right?
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can try growing it in a hanging basket instead of a pot to see if that helps the drainage. My zygos could go for weeks without watering in hanging baskets lined with coconut/coir matting.
Another way to reduce the stress on the plant is to remove the flowers until the foliage recovers. It can use its energy to grow instead of using it all up in flowering.
I hope you have found some answers to your particular problems by the time you read this. - Jodie
Thank you for your suggestions. I don't think this plant is going to recover, it's too far gone, but I'll definitely try again. They're such lovely plants and at least bringing a sick plant home with me has encouraged me to read up on their care so I should be all set once I manage to buy a healthy plant.
DeleteIt is a shame that you no longer have a local nursery. A good nursery with proper horticultural expertise is invaluable. I wish you all the best with the next try. Many of life's lessons are learned by trial and error.
DeleteI do miss the local nursery, it was a great place to buy plants from as the staff in nurseries seem to be more knowledgeable than the majority of those in garden centres. There's always successes and failures in gardening so I'm just putting this down to that and I shall definitely try again.
DeleteIt's disappointing when you buy a plant and then you find that it doesn't do well, perhaps because of poor management where you bought it. It sounds like your Christmas cactus was over watered. I have two, one that I've had for a long time growing in a hanging basket in the covered yard. I've noticed there are flower buds forming again. The newer one is in a pot on the kitchen window shelf. It has flowered once. I tend to leave them to their own devices and water them now-and-again. I hope you have more success with another plant next year.
ReplyDeleteIt is disappointing. I bought a more established plant this time after the setback last year but found it has the same problems. I suppose it's inevitable when mass producing plants for a specific event, like Christmas, that they're not going to be given the care and attention they need prior to being sold. Maybe I'd have better luck buying one at a different time of year.
DeleteThe plant must have been happy at one point for it to flower but it obviously hasn't been well treated well since. Can you take it back to the shop where you bought it? They need to know that these plants are not up to scratch - and possibly retrain their staff not to overwater!
ReplyDeleteI shall see if I can salvage it, though I doubt that's possible now, it's getting worse day by day. It's such a shame.
DeleteI'm the same with indoor plants; they just die :( That's why I have some imitation ones. Cheap and cheerful :) Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteI enjoy having cut flowers in the house but I've never really gone in for house plants. I do hope I can get one of these Christmas cactus to survive.
DeleteI think as a few others stated neglect may be the key, but that won't help if it does have a disease as you suspect. I'm the worst at houseplants but this year was actually thinking of giving a Christmas cactus a go after seeing so many lovely ones in friends homes on Instagram. Then we got the kitten, so that plan went out the window, at least until she gets a bit older and I can be assured she won't be munching on it. Did you get it from a garden centre/nursery (vs. a grocery store or that type of thing)? I would think that they would be a bit more reliable in terms of the quality of their products.
ReplyDeleteOur local nursery closed down a few years ago, so sad as it was a wonderful place. We have several garden centres close by but they become more of a Christmas grotto than somewhere to buy plants from at this time of year. I've bought plants from nurseries, garden centres and grocery stores and have found good and bad in them all. I do miss the local nursery which closed down though as I had some wonderful plants from there. Yes, you do need to be careful with cats, I remember ours chomping on anything he could get to.
DeleteI'm playing catch up on blog reading ... did you get the page of your Agatha Christie book ?? how annoying! The ballet sounded lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas cactus that I have had for many years is not looking too good this year.
Love and blessings x
I managed to read the end of the Agatha Christie book on a PDF so I did find out what happened in the end. We had a lovely time at the ballet, something we'll definitely do again, perhaps around Christmas time again as it was a lovely way to start the seasonal festivities. I hope your Christmas cactus manages to pull through and doesn't end up like mine.
DeleteAh now that's very topical. While we were away we put our indoor plants outside but the temperatures dropped. Most plants were fine but the Christmas cacti look dreadful. I've brought them inside and will see what happens as they warm up. Will they recover or is that the end? Fingers crossed for yours too.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Christmas cactus pulls through, I don't think they like such drastic changes but you might be able to save it now that you've brought it back indoors. Fingers crossed.
DeleteOh...what a shame! Same thing happened to mine.xxx
ReplyDeleteI think it must be a common problem, they seem to need ideal conditions to thrive.
Delete