Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus watering and fertilizing. How much darkness is needed for blooms?

[@rickl.orchids]

....Amy, you are one of the best growers on Utube......what a beautiful specimen, and a great tutorial on its care......being epiphytes, that grow on trees, like the orchids we love.....I was very happy to hear you give them calcium...I think its key for thier proper growth and to build the structure like yours has....so many great tips......blessings my friend......Vols face the Tide this weekend......good luck!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Rick! Thank you so much...that means a lot coming from you. I've learned so much from you...including the fact that plants need calcium. Every single plant I own gets calcium, and they grow like jungle trees! :) Big Red has been fed calcium ever since I got him and it shows...he's getting his own zip code soon, lol! Let's face it Rick...the Vols never fare well against the Tide. My nephew graduated from UT and the Bama game gets him every year. We don't need luck, we need a miracle! :) Blessings to you and Jan!

[@rbsamar]

Cool I came upon your KZbin. I am from East Tennessee. Also, I live between 75 and 40 split. I love your art your Christmas cactus. They are beautiful thank you for sharing that. Go Vol’s

[@rbsamar]

PS. My plants came in today from being outside

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@rbsamar I'm so glad you found my channel!! If I had a sheltered place outside, that's where I would grow mine. But the critters won't leave my plants alone. And it is their outdoors! 😊 Go Vols!🧡😇

[@tksixangels44]

My Thanksgiving cactus is already putting on buds. I'm so excited.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@tksixangels44 that's awesome! Thanks for sharing! 😇🌸🩷

[@tksixangels44]

Darling do you have IG or FB? I want to share a picture of my Wilson dendrobium with you. He has several spikes and a couple without leaves, has double spikes.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@tksixangels44 Hi! I'm just now seeing this comment...sorry for the late reply! I would love to see a picture of your Dendrobium...you can email it to me! Have a wonderful day and happy Thanksgiving! :) Amy

[@hillbillyorchids]

Great update Amy! Yep I had to show you as soon as i brought mine in, BAM, buds! 😊😂 i grow mine outside and bring in at the Fall.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@hillbillyorchids 👋 Hi Paula! It's amazing how quickly they bud when you grow them outside. Your outdoor space is perfect to grow them...its sheltered. Mine would end up 5 blocks away or gone with the wind....lol! Blessings my friend! 😇🌸🩷

[@sanjose528]

Hi there thanks for your beautiful videos! That sunroom you have is perfect. I'm over in northern California my thanksgiving cactus is outside all summer, last year-no blooms but its Oct 17th and there are plenty of buds temps down to 40's at night so I brought her in today 🤞for the blooms with the change to indoors!

[@implorapace]

Look at that beautiful cactus 🤩 What a great video! I’m a beginner and I’ve had my thanksgiving cactus for two years and we are finally good friends 😄 Thank you for the detailed tips, I will wait to repot and invest in a moisture meter. I deeply appreciate your blessing, may I bless you, your family and your plants as well 🙏

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@implorapace thanks so much for your sweet comment...so glad your cactus is doing well and you're good friends! 😊 Blessings! Amy 😇🌸♥️

[@anjimaru7180]

Thanks for the great video! Trying to figure out watering so I don't kill mine 😁

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much for watching! I have a playlist with monthly care tips and lots of information that will help you. Happy growing and Happy New Year! :)

[@Mimi-63]

Hi Amy 🌸, I love your videos, things you’ve taught for years somehow slips my mind 😳,the refreshers help soo much! I’m seeing some buds on several of my thanksgiving cacti, which is weird because it’s still been in the 90’s here in Texas but still always exciting to see buds ! Yesterday I ordered a “petite melon” t-cactus, it’s supposed to be mini 💖. Also ordered a heavenly pink, the picture looks beautiful & another Christmas cactus that looks pinky orange! As if I needed more 😅! Thanks to you, all of mine (12) are flourishing! You have a blessed week my friend 🌼🌺🌸🙏🏻! Chrissy 🤠

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@Mimi-63 wow, you have 12 cacti and counting! I've never heard of a petite t-cactus....you'll have to keep me posted on that one. And you found a pink-orange Christmas cactus?! Sounds stunning! I'm so glad my updates help you...they actually keep me on track too. Many blessings to you, dear friend! 😇🌸🌺🌿

[@Mimi-63]

@@OrchidWhisperer Amy I’m trying to order the glacier gold soil, is it the glacier gold compost?

[@Mimi-63]

Also do you use super coarse or fine perlite?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@Mimi-63 the latest me sent me was Professional Growers Blend by Mountain West Products. That's the new name...I need to say that in my videos from here on out. Thanks Chrissy! 😇🌸

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@Mimi-63 I use the fine perlite. 😇🌸

[@teresabrockett7525]

Amy, I know you are in East Tennessee. Please let us know what's happening after the hurricane in your area. Your followers weren't even sure if you were ok. You were definitely in my prayers! I think everyone would greatly appreciate some updates. As always, we love and appreciate your videos. ❤🌺

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@teresabrockett7525 👋 Hi Teresa! Thanks so much for your prayers. We were very blessed to not be affected by the hurricane. But in areas about an hour away from my house...they were hit hard. It's difficult to wrap my mind around it. Please continue to pray for our area as there will be a lot of rescue and relief efforts and rebuilding. I appreciate you! 🙏 😇🌸

[@teresabrockett7525]

@OrchidWhisperer My prayers are with all involved. 🙏 Thank you for reassurance of your safety. ❤️

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@teresabrockett7525 thank you, Teresa. 🙏🙏

[@sharonholmes2470]

Amy! 🪴 I can't believe the size of big red! Had to do a double take on him for a minute. Just stunning! Still wondering 🤔 why our peach plants are so late in blooming even in our different climates. 😇

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@sharonholmes2470 👋hi, dear friend! Big Red...oh my he grew to monumental size after the last haircut! The more I cut, the more he grows! I have a theory about why some plants bloom later than others. We will chat about it. Today is 46 degrees here in East TN...yes you read that right! Tonight is our first frost of the season. Blessings to you! 🌵😇🧡🌸🩷

[@sharonholmes2470]

@@OrchidWhisperer Oh my! When it chills it chills fast, here too. Suppose to snow in the mountains at the 7,000' level on Friday here in Arizona. Only two weeks ago it was 101 degrees here. Amazing, but I'm very, very happy 😊

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@sharonholmes2470 that's amazing! ❄️ Snow so soon after 101 degrees! I think we're both very grateful for some cooler weather! 😇🌸🌵🧡

[@barbarapalese8095]

Such a beautiful plant! Any suggestions on how I can get mine so full?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@barbarapalese8095 👋 Hi Barbara! Yes, it's easy to get a fuller plant. In the spring, take cuttings and add them in the bare places in your pot. I'll do a tutorial in the spring to show how I do that. Happy growing! 😇

[@barbarapalese8095]

@@OrchidWhisperer hahaha, now why didn’t i think of this! Thank you so much!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@barbarapalese8095 I'm glad to help! 😇🌸

[@seament420]

Hi! New follower here! Wanted to know if you can tell me how I can determine which cactus I have between Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and welcome to my channel! I have a lot of videos on a playlist about holiday cacti. You can see the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti on this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGeWapuNbc2sotk I have a separate playlist on Easter cactus care, and you can see what they look like. Happy growing!

[@soussandavidoff4939]

Hi Amy,I ask you this question once more, I didn't get any answer, would you please explain how we trim my Christmas Cactus.??..I appreciate it in advance. thanks so much.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi! Sorry, I didn't see your question before! Right now isn't the time to trim them, or you'll lose the segments that are going to bloom. Springtime or early summer is the best time to trim. I have a playlist with lots of Christmas cactus videos, and this is one of the videos where I show how to trim: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5XTgGacjrGanLs I hope the link works, if it doesn't, it's the video from July 2022 on that playlist. Happy growing!

[@virginiadendy]

Great video, as usual, Amy! 💜 I'm wondering what kind of fertilizer you use. I've been using Jack's, both regular and then boom booster later in the season. It's worked well, but I'm running out. Am using MSU for orchids, wondering if it's okay for my Thanksgiving and Easter cacti, or do you recommend something else? I'd like to use what you're using because your results are fantastic. Have never seen one grow as quickly as Big Red, which is just incredible! 🌵💜💜💜 🙏

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@virginiadendy 👋 Hi Ginger! I use MSU on my orchids and my cacti. It works great. Big Red needs his own zip code...I can't wait to see him bloom! Have a great day, my friend! 😇🌸🩷

[@virginiadendy]

Thanks, Amy 💕

[@chockycake1]

Big Red is stunning .. do you water from the bottom of the pot? I have 3 Christmas cacti that I was bought/given last year…one already has a bloom on it! The other two have buds! I find your vlogs not only very informative but very calming 😊

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@chockycake1 wow, you already have buds and blooms! 🎉🎉 That's awesome! I water my cacti from the top...I have a watering can that I use to keep from getting the blooms wet. Thanks so much for your sweet comment...it made my day! 😇🌸🩷