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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Is this just beginner's luck?

First of all, the winner of the $10 Starbuck's gift card. It goes to the writer of comment #11, which is Cristie Glasheen. Cristie, if you'll email me your mailing address, I'll pop this in the mail this afternoon -- email lili.mounce@gmail.com

Now on to today's post

Last June, I told you about my taking a cutting from a Christmas Cactus plant in late winter, and that it had rooted after a couple of months. (that post is here)

I later discovered that it's a Thanksgiving Cactus, not Christmas (the pointy leaves are the giveaway). But they're all part of the same plant family.


Anyways, take a look at what's developing on a couple of the leaves -- blossoms!!

I began the cutting just short of 1 year ago, and now I have blooms. Beginner's luck? Maybe!

This made me very happy to find blossoms developing, and motivated me to take another cutting a few weeks ago. I hope this next cutting does as well as the first.


Closely related to taking cuttings from my Thanksgiving cactus . . .

I took several more cuttings from my African violet. But beyond those cuttings (and this attests to my scrounging nature), a few weeks back, at one of the teas where I serve, they used African violets as the table centerpieces. Well, there were a few new to me colors on the tables. When I was asked if I'd like to take one home, instead I suggested that we let one of the other ladies take mine home, but could I please have a leaf cutting from each of the different variety/color plants. I think I took 5 cuttings, to add to the soil where I already have some rooting. I just put my plucked leaves into a zip loc baggie, then plunged them into the soil once I was home. And now I wait. I'm hoping for a couple of new colors to add to the one I already have.

13 comments:

  1. do you make your own rooting hormone?
    I just learned how and used it on some fuchsia cuttings.
    all you need is a willow tree (or access to willow leaves) and a blender. A web search will give you the specifics.
    Sadly my home is too dark for African Violets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi frugal spinster,
      No, I've not made it, but heard about it. I bought a tiny packet f rooting hormone a few years ago. It keeps for ages, and a tiny amount does the trick. It may be a while before I need more. But thank you. We do have a willow (several) on our property.

      And fortunately, African violets and Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus don't seem to need any rooting hormone whatsoever.

      My African violets are near a south-facing window. That seems to be enough sunlight for them. Same with my Thanksgiving cactus. But I understand about dark houses around here.

      Delete
  2. I didn't know there was a Thanksgiving cactus. We have always laughed about my husband's Christmas cactus being an Easter cactus, since that's when it typically blooms, but maybe there is such a thing as an Easter cactus! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      there is a Christmas cactus, a Thanksgiving cactus and, yes, an Easter cactus. You may have an Easter cactus.

      Delete
    2. Ha! Maybe I'm a genius without knowing it ...

      Delete
    3. I did not know there was a Thanksgiving cactus either Kris!
      Rhonda

      Delete
    4. The leaves of each look slightly different from one another, and they do bloom near their holiday.

      Delete
  3. I always enjoy when I can make something successfully from next to nothing, which a cutting is a great example of. Hooray for the blooming Thanksgiving cactus, and good luck to you with the African violet cuttings!
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary,
      I know what you mean. I like investing myself in something, rather than money. Seems more personal when gifting, too, if I've put some of myself into it. This Thanksgiving cactus will be a hostess gift sometime next fall or the one after.

      Delete
  4. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter cactus! Who knew. I wonder which one I used to have that never bloomed at Christmas?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know, myself, until someone else asked me about mine. The leaves are slightly different on each one. That's one way to tell which is which.

      Delete
  5. Congratulations to the winner, Cristie Glasheen. :)

    Your Thanksgiving cactus is beautiful. I used to have a Christmas one, which was so pretty, but got lost in a move.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Belinda,
      Oh that has happened to us, too, with moving. Sometimes we leave plants behind (if moving a distance). Other times, they just didn't fare well with changing window exposures.

      Delete

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