Sunday, June 27, 2010

Todays Flowers; Magic Carousel;



Rosa Magic Carousel offers rounded petals edged in red and frame snow-white centers. The vigorous plants grow about 50 cm high. Zones 5-11


Christmas cactus;

The common holiday cacti (Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, ) comprise several closely related species in the genus Schlumbergera and the species Hatiora gaertneri, often called Zygocactus in older works. They are originally forest cacti, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 1000 and 1700 meters (3300 to 5600 feet) above sea level in the Organ Mountains north ofRio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America. They are called Flor de maio (May Flower) in Brazil.
Many modern holiday cactus cultivars are hybrids between Schlumbergera truncata and S. russelliana, first hybridized about 150 years ago in England.
Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera and Hatiora hybrids) include:
Christmas Cactus, (S. bridgesii, S. x buckleyi, Epiphyllum x buckleyi)
Thanksgiving Cactus, Yoke Cactus, Linkleaf Cactus, Crab Cactus, Claw Cactus, (S. truncata, formerly Zygocactus truncatus)
Propagation
Holiday cacti can be propagated quite easily by removing a single segment and planting it a quarter of its length deep in a pot filled with slightly sandy soil. It helps to put some kind of rooting hormone on the base of the cutting. Place the pot in a well lit area (but not in direct sunlight) and keep the soil moist. The cutting should begin showing signs of growth after two or three weeks.
Care
The joints of the plants are quite fragile and can break apart if the plant is in poor health. The flower buds' joints are especially easy to detach.
Watering
The soil should be evenly moist for best growth, but they are intolerant to constantly wet soil and poor aeration. If outdoors, an established plant may only need to be watered every two or three days in warm, sunny weather; or every week in cool, cloudy weather.
Lighting
Christmas cactus will do best in bright indirect light. Long term direct sunlight can burn the leaves and stunt growth. If taken care of properly, a single planting can last for hundreds of years.
Flowering
Christmas cactus will create flower buds when subjected to cooler temperatures.

Click here for Today's flowers.

14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful flowers, Titania! They are both gorgeous. I have a few of the Thanksgiving Cactus for indoor house plants. I love them.

Anonymous said...

Love your pictures.
Great shots and information.
I have not visited your blog for a while or responded to your posts.
Sorry!!
Time is like sand between my fingers..running away.
LG Gisela.

Rosamaria said...

Beautiful photos, dear!
Roses are always beautiful.
I had a Flor de Maio, but as I was out for a long time e nobody took care it died as all my flowers.
Have a good week!

Inday said...

Beautiful, soft and dainty petalled Rose.

My Christmas Cactus about the same colour as yours is also blooming. It is new and has just started to bloom.

Lovely Monday to you.

Flowers.

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Titania, thank you for sharing more of your beautiful flowers. Always so beautiful. Have a great week!
An English Girl Rambles

April said...

Magnificent Rosa and lovely Holiday Cactus!! Always a pleasure to see what you are growing.

Kim, USA said...

Oh my gush your roses is pretty and your Christmas cactus makes my eyes big!! I haven't seen a pink cactus mine is red. Love it!


Purple blossom

Carver said...

Beautiful roses and Christmas cactus and good information.

lotusleaf said...

Lovely flowers. I had not seen a pink Christmas cactus.

Jama said...

Lovely flowers!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

That Rosa Magic Carousel makes me think that an artist has painted the pink border round the petals. How unusual and spectacular.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Today is Swiss Day. Do you celebrate?

Costea Andrea Mihai said...

beautiful roses!

The Intercontinental Gardener said...

And Christmas cactuses are flowering now... I never got used to daffodils in August while in Melbourne, and now I dearly miss that "anomaly" for us born on the other hemisphere. We will be spending Christmas on the hills of Apollo Bay by the Great Ocean Road, and our whole family is already so excited about it.