My Christmas cactus bloomed beautifully this year. Last year, the plant produced only two anemic flowers, but it had been recently transplanted. The plant was a gift from my former and wonderful cleaning lady, along with orders that I was not to tend to the cactus - that she would do what needed to be done every two weeks when she came. Alas, she is now gone, so the care and feeding are left up to me, and I don't seem to have done badly by the little dear.
I included my pine needle baskets in the photo, because I believe they are lovely. The two covered baskets came from the World's Fair in in New Orleans in 1984 and were made by Native Americans, but I don't know which tribe.
The basket with the contrasting light and dark colors was woven by a Coushatta Indian tribesperson, but I don't have the weaver's name. The tray under the coffee table is especially beautiful, with its lacy design, and I know it was made by an African-American woman from this area, but I have no name. I wish now that I had more information on the baskets.
The baskets and tray are quite sturdy, as they have survived intact, despite handling and mishandling over the years by my grandchildren.
Mine are blooming too - they are descended from a starter branch of a cactus that belonged to Jim's grandmother. There are now 2 of them - quite large and many starts that I have given away. I also have one that our daughter gave us - with wide leaves like yours. It survived almost freezing in our car as we traveled from Oregon to Wyoming a couple of years ago. They mostly don't like too much water- sort of wait for their leaves to look saggy then add water - I feed them when blooming but don't know if that is what to do.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I took my mother's cacti when she went into the nursing home, but they were in bad shape already, and I believe I over-watered them and lost them.
ReplyDeleteI water my plant about every two weeks, or when it gets very dry. I fed the plant a few weeks ago, but I don't know if that affected the flowering one way or another.
Mine just stopped flowering. It was gorgeous on Thanksgiving. Last year it bloomed at the same time and then again at Easter. So much for being a Christmas cactus. I feed it once a year after blooming. I keep it in a window that doesn't get much artificial light and water only every couple of weeks. Seems to work.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, my plant sits on a south-side window sill and doesn't get much artificial light, because the room has two widows, and no light is on during the day.
ReplyDeletetwo widows, very sad room:-)
ReplyDeleteBrian, LOL. Not even one widow.
ReplyDelete