Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas Cactus/ Today's Flowers

Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)

I have kept this lovely Thanksgiving cactus for several years in a kitchen window.  I love it's candy cane colours but I confess I treat it badly so was surprised to see it sprouting buds, then bloom.

A white Thanksgiving cactus

This white version was a recent gift. Maybe if I treat it badly it will bloom again next year. What do you think?

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cactus are forgiving. They seem just glad to be alive. I know in the desert they go from feast to famine. My mother used to have them and some period of time would go before she thought to give them a drink.

Your cactus seems to be thanking you for something.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my blogging buddies...

Patty, and Abe Lincoln
Brookville, Ohio

Lowell said...

I think they are both beautiful plants and that while you may neglect them to do other, more important things, like take pictures, they love you and will bloom perfectly when they're supposed to. So you can take a picture of them!

Birdman said...

Not a BIG flower guy, but these are simple and beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Christmas Cacti has such interesting flowers - completely unexpected from the jagged edges of the plant.

Melissa B. said...

One of my Christmas cactuses half-bloomed last week. I'm waiting on another in my classroom to bust out at any minute. Love your Superior Snap!

Unknown said...

i don't think i have ever seen a cactus flower in real life. these are beautiful!

min is at
http://savorthebite.blogspot.com/2010/12/todays-flowers-18-clitoria-ternatea.html

Dianne said...

it's so pretty!
perhaps it does like being abused :)

NatureFootstep said...

The white one looks about the same as mine. The other one, we have similar coloring, but I think this one has stronger color at the edges.

We have a saying in Sweden, if I translate it it is liek this, " dear child has many names". We call this flower November cactus, yoy write christmas cactus and I have also seen thanksgiving cactus. :)

RedPat said...

Lovely flowers! I just this morning discovered buds on an orchid that I have mistreated for 2 years - maybe that's the trick!

msdewberry said...

I think Cactus thrive on neglect. They don't like too much water so neglecting to water can't be bad! The blooms are beautiful!

Michelle said...

Nice picture...reminds me of my mom's Christmas cactus.

Dimple said...

These are gorgeous! They are among the flowers which I kill, but I like to admire other's efforts!
Blessings!

SquirrelQueen said...

I have noticed that the worse I treat a houseplant the better it seems to do, when I fuss over one it almost always dies. Beautiful blooms and photos.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

I always think such a humble plant produces these brilliant, exotic looking flowers. Not to much water, they store it in their flat leaves. Mine grow in the fork of trees. They make huge basket specimens.

Artlover said...

In Swedish calls they "Novemberkaktus". I´ve bougth one with white petal as you have here. Very nice captured

Carver said...

The Thanksgiving Cactus are so beautiful. I used to have a Christmas Cactus that bloomed at Thanksgiving some years and Easter other years.

Randy said...

What beautiful blooms. Nice photos too.

Rose said...

They are beautiful!

Judy said...

The white blossoms are new to me! I sure hope they bloom for you again next year, as the shape of the flowers is so unique!

Anonymous said...

lovely, lovely!
Paz

Small City Scenes said...

Aren't they just lovely. Love the orange color.
Mistreat them, don't water too much, keep them in the dark---they will thrive. MB

Randi said...

Your cactus are so beautiful. Love the flowers. I have to admit that I never have had a cactus...

Francisca said...

I'll be the last to say that it's a good idea to treat anything badly so it/he/she will behave better or well! But I do believe - no, I know - that there are souls - and why not cacti - that will bloom despite being treated badly. I've given up even trying to be good to my plants... but fortunately in the tropics everything (native) grows, grows, grows... My flower for today is HERE.

Francisca said...

PS. Bad me... I forgot to say I think both your blooms are eye candy!

kayerj said...

I just love Christmas cactus, your shots are beautiful.

fini said...

I have lots of cactus, but none got flowers like this..I too, sometimes tend to neglect my cactus..;p
Simply beautiful!!

Arija said...

Ha, ha, bad treatment is what they crave. over water and they die, let them dry out completely and water and they say thank you with flowers.That's the way of the desert.

The bi-colour surely is a cultivar and indeed very pretty.

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.