A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum My newest addition.

Never had a blooming cactus , So I bought one this week.

dodge
How do I keep it blooming?

Uhhhhhhhh......
I might possibly be wrong, because it has been years since I raised my cacti... but...
I think that is a Cleistocactus strausii and if I am right, the flower should be 2"long and tubular. Is there any chance that the flower on yours is a fake flower that has been glued or pinned on? Unfortunately, some growers show their lack of class with this unethical practice.... I could be wrong!

Mr Bill

Your 100% correct.. GLued on . Lowes.. I never heard of that caper. Now I know.
Thanks bunches.
Now I will see how many notice that>LOL

YOur sharp eyed.

dodge

Oh my gracious---

Yep, this is an old practice to get people to buy these plants. If you look closely at the flower, it's usually made from paper! It's a shame that the growers feel compelled to sell their products falsely.

Fortunately this fool only paid one dollar for that .
On sale .
Had another that had a red top I gave to my sis.......Have to check that one too.
PS it was at Lowers................(Jack of rippers)LOL

dodge

If you had paid full price, I would tell you to take it back, and tell someone there to sit on it and spin! For a dollar...
I'd recommend that you try to get the flower and goo off there so the cactus can breath properly.
The 'pin it on' flowers are even worst put a hole in the cactus and almost always leaves an ugly scar, and often causes rot and the injured point.
Don't feel bad... I bought a couple of those myself, back when I entered my Cactophile period about 40 years ago!

I love how cactus' look in general, but I've never seen one with a real flower; just plenty with them "superglued" in place... You can see the glue looking at the picture; it's a real shame as I'd imagine a pretty "real' flower would be really cool :)

LOL....

Your correct. Sit an spin......Bill

N James.

I had thought at last a real bloomer..When I seen it .
Daaaaaaaaaa
thanks to a quick eye Boss here , an yes not that I look at it James I do see the glue on the photo..

I have to make supper , after that I may operate on it .Thanks.
Ps
I have cactus I planted years ago.. From seeds. They stayed small cause I didnt give them room to expand.. Will get a photo of that too.

OK Mr Bill
I removed the flower, it peeled off quite easily. Glue

No scars yet on it . thanks
Dodge

This is very common, the flower is fake. There are plenty of flowering cacti though, I see flowering cacti sold. Christmas cactus is very common and is easy to get to bloom. Usually it's the larger cacti that flower, very rarely do small sized ones flower.

Is it true a cacti flowers, and then dies?

Keith
thanks

It was a fake flower.. I have many christmas cactus, in bloom not .

That was a reall jerkey to know it was fake.. thanks to mr bill.

He is a pro.......

Glad we have him for our mentor.

dodge

Good grief.

an true.......
Many tricks in the bags nowa days

speaking of cacti dodge, the Christmas cactus is still alive and kicking. No blooms yet.

EEK

Sorry sheri, right now I have a slew in bloom.. Someone sent me a little one that was to be yellow this spring ..It even bloomed.. BUt it was pink??????????

Bloom 2 times a year>..

b

ladies I have several different containers of cactus---
(I even have one pot that I made from what Barb sent me--they were red & white as I remember)

but while I did have some bud one year, I have yet to have any bloom---could it be that they need to be root bound before they will bloom ???
I am sure that none are root bound yet---

Carol I dotn think so.. One I got this spring is just small an blooming. I will get some photo s 2 maro. Keep them out of the sun is one thing I do.....On the porch in the summer in shade.....No problem with blooms.......However something infected my large pot an I am spraying .. It ...... about 4 pots of them ..

well keep them out o f direct light is one thing I do---they are off to the right just inside of my west facing glass sliding doors---so while they get light (if I remember to open the blinds) they do not get any direct light.

If I feed at all it is the typs of houseplant food that can be given with every watering--and often as not I make it helf strength---oh well, I guess they will bloom if they want to, huh???

I have 6 pots of cactus, barb--one I potted from starts from you, one from starts I potted from Lynne & then 4 are from my Daughter Valarie. ---I really wish they would bloom---oh well, I guess I will be patient...

Well barb a yellow bloom would have been pretty, but hey--what you are getting is very nice as well.

Thanks so much for showing us a picture---it is very pretty.

Here are the others ..THink I have 4 pots.. Largest one is sort of sicky.. Been sprying with soap water. b

Just beautiful, Barb--thanks for letting me look-- :ding:

thanks bunches.

MY Red mandevilla is blooming very nicely indoors too.
THat flower is worth having .. I purchased it at Lowes this end of summer , on sale .
I am loving it.

b

yeah thats most deffinately a fake flower glued on there.

would yo be willing to send me a leaf from your purple Christmas cactus, ive never seen one that color before.