Christmas Cactus

BB78

Does anyone know where I can buy a Christmas Cactus?
I'd really like one but quite find them anywhere.

Farway

Can't answer the question directly, but part of the trouble may be they are very prone to drop their buds if environment [temperature / humity etc] changes

So I suspect not an easy retail product to transport & sell

Maybe a specialist nursery or garden centre? But you will have to watch it or you will have no buds by Christmas

Larumbelle

I bought mine from Homebase, and they seem to be in all the supermarkets and homewares stores round here!

However, as Farway says, they're not really very suited to being transported or stored in those kinds of conditions, let alone the level of 'care' they recieved there - they were all in far too small a pot as usual, plus waterlogged - that's why mine was flowerless but reduced to the princely sum of 20p :rotfl:


I would say definitely get one even without flowers if that's all you can find. Keep it somewhere cool and light, make sure the soil is well drained and don't over-water. If it's finished flowering (or if not, once it has), nip off the top 'chunk' of each flowering tip and pop them in a bit of compost and you'll have lots and lots of christmas cacti for next year (and lots of flowers too!)

BB78

Farway wrote: »

Can't answer the question directly, but part of the trouble may be they are very prone to drop their buds if environment [temperature / humity etc] changes

So I suspect not an easy retail product to transport & sell

Maybe a specialist nursery or garden centre? But you will have to watch it or you will have no buds by Christmas

Thanks. Not really bothered about it being in flower for Christmas, we had a massive one when I was growing up, always flowered around Easter and then after about 15 years it suddenly started flowering at Christmas too! I purely want one because we had one when I was growing up... and I never managed to kill it so it seems a safe bet!! :rotfl:

BB78

silvercharming wrote: »

I bought mine from Homebase, and they seem to be in all the supermarkets and homewares stores round here!

Everyone's got Poinsettia's at the moment so I thought someone might have Christmas Cactus too but been looking in Tesco's, Homebase etc with no luck.

A_Clock

Tesco have them about this time of year, I've got one at my mums that must be getting on for 20 years old, bottom is all bark!

Pepsi35_2

Christmas/Easter Cactus root really easliy - if you know someone who owns one ask if you can pinch a couple of bits, pop into some compost and it should take really quickly and grow well, I have a money tree bought from the school fete when we first moved here 10 years ago its now massive !! any bits which get knocked off I just pop into a pop and make a freebie pot plant -

Good Luck
Sharon

peter_the_piper

I know this sounds daft but when you get one make sure it is always oriented in the same direction when in flower. I've found that the flowers are brittle and they try to move around to meet the light and fall off.

clairelouise100

I bought mine in homebase about 3 weeks ago, i find the flowers don't last that long, but they are pretty when they are out x

BB78

Pepsi35 wrote: »

Christmas/Easter Cactus root really easliy - if you know someone who owns one ask if you can pinch a couple of bits, pop into some compost and it should take really quickly and grow well, I have a money tree bought from the school fete when we first moved here 10 years ago its now massive !! any bits which get knocked off I just pop into a pop and make a freebie pot plant -

Good Luck
Sharon

I have heard before that they root easily but unfortunately I don't know anyone whose got one. Thanks for the tip on the Money Tree, I've got 3 & didn't know broken bits would root. :beer:

BB78

clairelouise100 wrote: »

I bought mine in homebase about 3 weeks ago, i find the flowers don't last that long, but they are pretty when they are out x

How much did you pay for yours??
Looks like I'm going to have to have another good look round, only place I've seen them advertised at the moment is Jersey Flying Flowers @ £14.99!