My Christmas cactus is starting to bloom. will it continue to do so if I repot it now?
I would not recommend disturbing the roots while it is in bloom. This article will give you more information on the plant and its care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/advice-for-christmas-cactus-care.htm
My brother in law inherited the family Christmas cactus which always had red flowers. He gave me some "leaves" and my little C cactus is healthy and growing well. It is now flowering with lovely white flowers with pink stamens. ??? Any ideas what happened? Nora A.
What most likely happened is that you got a "sport", or a genetic mutant that arose on one part of the larger plant. The cutting you planted must have carried the mutation. Here is more about plant sports:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/plant-sport-mutations.htm
https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/ppdl/Pages/POTW_old/5-31-10.html
Some Christmas cactus plants do produce white blooms, so now it seems you have one of those: https://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/adams/news/2012/getting-christmas-cactus-to-bloom
I have two Christmas cactus plants. One is doing real well and is going to bloom shortly, but the other one has purple leaves in the middle with the green leaves on the outside even though the green leaves have blossoms on them. Can you tell me what is wrong with it.
Problems with nutrient deficiency or excessively bright light can cause the purple leaves. Please see this article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/purple-christmas-cactus-leaves.htm
I made the horrible mistake of leaving my Christmas Cactus outside ONE day too long and it froze up one night. It was almost 20 years old. :-( All the branches dried up and fell off. Is there ANY chance it will come back? Is there anything I can do to help it?
There is nothing you can do to help recovery except to bring it in, and keep it from the cold. It does not handle cold very well as you have, unfortunately found out. It may recover just fine, but it may also lose a lot of its pads. I don't think it is dead. But it is very injured.
Here is an article that will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/christmas-cactus-cold.htm
Would you be able to tell me why my Christmas cactus is losing its branches?
This can happen if it is exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees. It is not hardy at all to cold weather. This can also happen due to overwatering, or putting it in incorrect soil type. Usually it is the cold that does it though.
Here is an article for more information:https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/christmas-cactus-cold.htm
Thank you so much. Can this branch re-grow? Would I put it in water or in rooting hormone?
What are the white splotches(looks like spilt milk) and white spots on the leaves?
This is powdery mildew. This is most commonly caused by overwatering, high humidity, or lack of air circulation. You can correct this by spraying with neem oil. You can also add just a little wettable sulfur to the soil to keep it away, and prevent it in the future.
This article will refresh you on the care of the christmas cactus: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/advice-for-christmas-cactus-care.htm
My Christmas cactus has just started to bloom. There are some flowers that have opened completely; however others look wet, flat and sticky to touch. I pulled them off very gently since they were not going to open. What could be the cause ? barbtritelli2K16@gmail.com
Blossom wilt is generally caused by excess watering which can lead to root rot.
Here is a link with more information.