I have had a Christmas cactus since about 1982. It has gone through some ages and stages. This summer I took it outside for it's annual bath and this year the micro manager insisted that it get a good haircut. So I trimmed it back as it was really overgrown. When Christmas cactus get a short haircut they usually don't bloom that year. Surprise , surprise , there are blooms. The November blooms have just finished and Christmas buds are showing.
So life is good.
When I came here in 1969, the Vice Principal had quite a few plants in his classroom. He's in the staff photo I shared in the last post. He's second from the left in the second row from the top. He retired in 1982 and guess what ? He had some plants to dispose of. I took them all. There was a very elderly Christmas cactus which didn't do well in the classroom. I kept the plant and found a large pot. When I retired I brought it home and started new plants from the old one 
By the way, those people wondering which was me in this photo? I'm third from the left in the bottom row. This is a long time ago when I was about 40.
Now I'm wondering how long ago this plant was started.
Now today I wanted to do some research on the Christmas Cactus. I was very disappointed to find that most of the sites were about sales of Christmas Cactus plants. Commercialization!
I make sure my cactus sits in the same light all year. They are very sensitive to light and if they are moved from place to place do not bloom very well.
So this old cactus is going to have some nice blooms for me at Christmas.
Nice to have blooms even after a haircut! I had a Christmas Cactus once...it was my Grandmothers then my Aunts and so huge that I took cuttings and shared with my cousins. I have since given up on plants in the house:)
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas cactus can stand a lot of abuse. They are tough.
DeleteI'm glad to see I chose the right photo out of your "lineup." Let's see some pictures of your cactus! What color are the flowers?
ReplyDeletePlain reddish pink flowers. The plant is very productive as it will have more than 20 blooms.
DeleteNice to hear that the Cactus is still going strong..one I've never had success with!
ReplyDeleteMy oldest plant is a Money plant..Crassularia..found as a small spring on a cold Cardiff pavement in 1998.
Plants have interesting histories. I quite often started plants for kids and wonder how many of those plants are still on the go.
DeleteThat is a grand Christmas cactus. Mine have never lasted that long.
ReplyDeleteDon't swear at them! Talk nice to them!
DeleteWhat a prickly post! 😎 You early 80s photo was still carrying the 70s look.
ReplyDeletetHAT'S ME ALWAYS BEHIND TIMES BUT NOT BY MUCH.
DeleteThe Christmas Cactus is one of my favorites. We have a baby one, it just had a few blooms this year. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips on the Christmas cactus. Now I realize what happened to ours!
ReplyDeleteThey don't like to be moved to different amounts of light.
DeleteMy Christmas cactus bloomed around Thanksgiving and I'm not sure if it will bloom again for Christmas. Sometimes it has even bloomed around Easter but I don't know when it decides to bloom. I'm just glad when it does!
ReplyDeleteYour plant is doing the right thing. It should bloom at Christmas.
DeleteI have one plant in our house that I know for a fact is now 40 years old. My 5th grade teacher gave me a shoot off her plant, as she did everyone in our class, on her last day of school before retirement. I relayed that story a few years back when I went to visit her in a nursing home and it brought a nice smile to her face. She died a couple months later.
ReplyDeleteI started many plants for kids. I enjoyed that and so did they. Sometimes a Mom or two would get a plant.
DeleteRed, You said, “When I came here in 1969 …” Is that when you arrived in Red Deer? So now I’m wondering, what year did you retire? I do think you intended to include a picture of the Christmas Cactus in this post … yes, we would like to see that plant … and how old is it … 25, 30 years???? Wow! John
ReplyDeleteI came to REd Deer in 1969 and retired in 97.
DeleteThat’s wonderful that it is blooming. You definitely have a green thumb. The photo is great!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see I picked you out correctly. Christmas cacti fun facts, too.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't intending to make a challenge about the photo but it was fun.
DeleteMy Christmas cactus is blooming right now.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Christmas cactus that came from Tom's parents house that has to be at least 75 years old.
ReplyDeleteSome o these plants have long and interesting histories.
DeleteChristmas cactus are lovely, especially the ones that bloom more often than Christmas. I guessed the correct photo.
ReplyDeleteMine blooms three times a year. I thought that I would be unrecognizable.
DeleteHey, you were and are a really handsome guy!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure our Christmas cactus died. I should have cut it back too. Doggone it! Or maybe transplanted it. Darn!
I hope you get some blooms!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Cacti are really pretty. I hope you get your blooms.
ReplyDelete