Schlumbergeras

Separated from my Schlumbergera

| Flower Roberts

This is the first time that I have been away from my Schlumbergeras while they are blooming. My daughter, Rose, sent these photos today.

Prepped with weak bloom food and less light.

They are in better shape than expected, because I prepared them for my absence while I was home last month. I cleaned them up, added a weak bloom solution and some sprinkle fertilizer.

Salmon Schlumbergera

My collection is much smaller now, but I know that the houses of my friends will be full of these bright blooms.

Blooming in cool semi-dark basement room.

I will add a several links below from days gone by when I was obsessed with these plants. They burst into bloom just when that first hint of cold-weather-blues kicks in. That is why I love them.

Saved by Schlumbergeras

Blooming Again?

Beauty By the Pot

I hope I can find that GOLD one again. If you have one from me, please save me some links next spring.

To share: Twist off pieces. No scissors. Three links minimum. Harden off for 3 days, then dust with root hormone and plant in light, loose soil.

FLOW away from her flowers

Neglect Leads to Rehab

| Flower Roberts

Do not assume you can neglect your green babies and get away with it. There will be consequences that you will have to address sooner or later.
I parked my Schlumbergera collection under a giant camellia in April and did not turn, feed or water until October, due to surgery and an accident. Did I really expect perfect shape and blooms in December?

Before bag treatment.

No. I just hoped we would all survive. I did and they did, but the results are not pretty.
I feel as lop-sided as they look. I do think their month in a plastic bag helped with hydration.


They are blooming. These are the best looking ones.

The best of the bunch.

The others are pitiful.

Plants not under bag.

It’s almost time for some rehab. I will let them bloom through the holidays before pruning and repotting.

Since I do not care for more plants, I will lay the twisted off segments back in the pot from which they came for a few days. Then dust segment ends with root-tone dust and repot the plant and its segments at once.

That way I do not mix up the colors. That’s just me being OCD.

Neglectful FLOWER

Schlumbergera Struggles

| Flower Roberts

Many of my precious Thanksgiving cacti are struggling. Some plants are shriveled from lack of water, many are misshapen from not being turned regularly, a few are contorted from lack of pruning/purging, some are discolored from wrong minerals or wrong lighting. There are even a few which have no buds at this late date.

These are all signs of a bad mama. I have been ‘bad busy’ again. I also have too many green babies. I will be having a Plant Purge Party in the spring. I cannot keep up with the needs of so many plants. ‘Old Woman in a Shoe’ syndrome will not do!

I did go through most of the care steps as usual, but I have not been attentive. I treated them all the same, instead of noticing the needs of each. They should have been watered more frequently and thoroughly. I missed some feedings. Neglect is apparent to the trained eye. The blooms are still beautiful, but the plants have signs of struggling.

No worries. I have started a rehab program…for the plants. Each is getting time in the kitchen to be purged and watered. I know it is not the best time to do this, but we only have now. So I am doing it now. Better late than later.

All’s well that ends well!

Bad Mama FLOW

Dreamy Dragons

| Flower Roberts

I am thankful for my Thanksgiving cactus collection.

Just as life outside wanes, they bloom in fiery colors.

This fall they are more important to me than ever.

As I face many changes in my own life, it is a comfort that these are the same.

Their colors are a constant. Their blooms dependable. Holiday cheer as usual during the unusual.

So much else is different now. These blooms are a blessing.

They are the dragons of my dreams.

Flying in to protect my spirit from darkness.

My heart is grateful.

Flower in her lair.

My Gardens Move Inside

| Flower Roberts

It’s almost time for our first freeze here in North Carolina.

Many plants have been moved inside.

Last Christmas’s poinsettia. Not dark treatment needed.

Now my job is to water and turn pots.

My workshop is a jungle. It is my inside garden now.

I enjoy weaving around among the flowers and greenery.

The colors are a comfort as the world outside turns brown.

The Schlumbergeras are starting to bloom.

I distribute these throughout the house.

Any bloom is a mood booster.

Flower

Flower Fireworks

| Flower Roberts

The Schlumbergera buds keep emerging in my cool workshop.

I bring them up when they bloom, so I can enjoy them in my office.

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I really love the bright colors on a dreary, cold day.

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Hundreds of buds are waiting to burst open.

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It’s like flower fireworks for New Year’s Eve.

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Happy New Year

Flower

 

Looking in the Mirror

| Flower Roberts

Things should appear as they are.

I do not agree with augmentations to make things appear like we wish them to.

I usually hold up blooms so I can photograph them.

But that is not their normal posture.

I wanted to capture them as they are, hanging down like chandeliers.

I placed a mirror underneath some orange blooms.

Now you see what the hummingbirds see.

Reality is lovely.

Love what is in the mirror.

Flow

 

White Blushing

| Flower Roberts

I just brought this up from my unheated workshop.

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I love how it has blushed pink. It reminded me of one of the fairy’s dresses.

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The blush can be seen moving down the buds.

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When the blooms finally open, only the tips are white.

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I think this is gorgeous coloration.

I do love the whites, but their blushing is pleasing.

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Flower

Schlumbergera Sampler

| Flower Roberts

My Schlumbergera collection is blooming a little late this season.

I have various colors.  I will always love the red for Christmas time.

My three favorites are white, gold and salmon.

Both the gold and white blushed pink this year.

I went out of town for Thanksgiving, so I think the temperature dropped in my home.

I have read that getting cooler than 57 degrees Fahrenheit causes an increase in pink and red pigments.

I may experiment with a gold and a white next year to see if this is true.

Many more buds are forming in my workshop. I should have blooms through the New Year.

I so appreciate flowers this time of year.  It’s another dreary, rainy day here.  Bright flowers help my mood.

Hooray Schlumbergera truncata!

Flow