Easter cactus
by
Teresa C
+13
This cactus was given to me a 3-4 yrs ago. It has grown a lot and looked good every year until now. It is wilting away and I have done all I know to do. Any ideas? I would really like to save it if at all possible. It blooms white with a touch of pinkish/purple. I am guessing it is an Easter cactus but not really sure.
Easter cactus
16 answers
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Could be several reasons for its decline. try these:1. up pot it. it may be root bound. use miracle grow soil if possible.2. put it in the shade for a week.3. do not over water. water to the top of the container once a week. no more.Good Luck.
TRD Designs Ltd.
on Sep 25, 2012
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Has it been outdoors or indoors? Any chance it went through a frost already? It actually looks like some I've had that I forgot to water during a dry spell. Tom's suggestions are good. Be sure to bring it indoors before frost or freeze.
Ellen H
on Sep 25, 2012
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Thanks Tom, will give it a try. Thanks Ellen, it has been inside. I check the soil each time before watering. I think I have watered it correctly.
Teresa C
on Sep 25, 2012
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It appears to be overwatered.. i have two and water them maybe twice a month. I wait till the dirt is completely dry before watering. also place in a sunny window. it looks like it can be saved
Jamala W
on Sep 25, 2012
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Dont give up on it Teresa....I had one that got hit last year by the cold that I accidentally left outdoors and forgot about....I thought it died...I mean it completely died back to the pot, and the entire plant came out of pot, and then this Spring/Summer I found it growing it again! I was amazed lol! Tom's instructions are good though, and if you have never potted it up, I would definitely try that. Good Luck!!
Angela A
on Sep 26, 2012
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I always thought Christmas (or Easter) cactus did better being pot-bound. I suspect watering is the culprit.
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 26, 2012
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I've had the same one for almost 9 years now. It tends to go through cycles of looking good/looking bad. I'm in a very dry climate in Vegas and only water mine every other week. Normally when it looks bad, it's because I water and then my husband doesn't realized I've watered and does it again, so I'm with the others when the diagnosis would be overwatering. There doesn't seem to be much consistency in the timing of blooms...mine has been a Christmas Cactus, Valentine's Cactus, Easter Cactus, and Thanksgiving Cactus, so I just call it a "Holiday Cactus".
Leslie D
on Sep 26, 2012
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You guys and gals are so smart! I took it out of the pot to find it waterlogged. I have attached pics for you to see what a mess I have made. Thanks for all your help. Lesson learned.
Teresa C
on Sep 26, 2012
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They're resilient and your plant should rebound now that you've found out what the problem is. Good luck!
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 27, 2012
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I have successfully started a new Christmas cactus from a cutting gifted to me by a museum curator. It comes from a plant in a very, very old home. The curator and I were visiting, and I said that my great, great aunt had had a plant that we knew to have come over from Sweden when her mother came to America. My cutting died and the mother plant was lost. So she insisted I take a slip from this massive cactus. This mother plant is dated to 1879!! I let the cutting harden fro two days and then stuck it in a pot outside. It was limp for a while but now has firmed up and is putting on new growth.
Lori J
on Sep 28, 2012
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What a great story, Lori.
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 29, 2012
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Not Easter Its a Christmas cactus.
Lori T
on Oct 22, 2012
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I re-potted my moms Christmas cactus for her, and accidentally broke a piece off...brought it home, stuck it in a pot of dirt, and that's where mine came from! Douglas is right, they are quite resilient!
Angela A
on Oct 27, 2012
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It looks a lot better now and appears to be on it's way to recovery! Thanks everyone!
Teresa C
on Nov 18, 2012
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Good news. Here's to its long health!
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 19, 2012
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i remember my mom putting it in a dark cool place and stopped watering it in order to get it ti flower at a certain time i have experimented for several years and came close this year,,,,it bloomed 2 weeks before christmas so will make another adjustment this year
Marty Perry
on Mar 10, 2013
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