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Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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Posted by mikey33 5b (My Page) on Sun, Nov 22, 09 at 12:17
| Hi all. I have a beautiful pink grocery store bought Xmas cactus. (Hybrid name unknown) I bought it last year, and it just had an explosion of blooms. I believe it is still in the same plastic pot and potting material it was purchased in. I have it in a west facing window. It must have doubled in size since last year. Well after the first flush of blooms I noticed a second flush coming. I picked off all the old and wilting blooms, hoping to put the energy into producing nice blooms on the second flush. I kept the soil moist, fertilizing a minute amount (8-14-9), and did not rotate the plant. All the buds are dropping off. What did I do wrong? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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| Too much water, methinks - they do like to dry out between waterings, from what I've seen. As they're originally from the tropical jungle, they'd go dry between rains, only retaining moisture for a few days when the medium they're growing in (dirt, fallen leaves, bits of bird and such) dries out. OTOH, if you've kept it moist before and it flowered, my suggestion is not correct and the jungle cactus folk who actually have grown this plant will help you out. |
RE: Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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Could it be the room is too warm? The year I proudly "displayed" my Thanksgiving cactus by the fireplace, the buds dropped rather quickly It was still pretty but with fewer flowers. I have read that the cooler the room, the longer the blooms last.
Hope this helps.
Beverly |
RE: Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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| Don't know, but it sounds like you interfered w/ the 2nd blooming. Don't think it necessary to pick off old blooms. NOT plants that want to be kept moist. In nature, they drain almost immediately given that they grow up in tree branches. Don't think fertilzing was helpful or necessary. I'm sorry to say, but I think it's a bit of killing it w/ kindness; these are not plants which like being fussed over; the less one does for them, the better. |
RE: Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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Thanks for the advice. I won't pick off old buds anymore....And I'll only fertilize in the summer. I'll also let it dry out between waterings.
Thank you |
RE: Schlumbergera bud drop...Where did I go wrong?
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Me thinks also, :o] it just may like the cool weather, and not grown in a Western window, I believe the sun sets in the West, well here in Los Angles it does.
They are used to filtered shade, or more, we grow them them with shade cloth over head and with a Northern exposure. Mine are outside. They are greenhouse grown in shade before shipping. Norma |
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