Cactus Flower

[Joe Guy]

I took this photo in my backyard today. The plant blooms only once per year. The rest of the time it's boring looking....

[Sue U]

That's lovely.

[BoSoxGal]

Yes, very pretty. Can we get a slightly wider shot with better aspect of the foliage? It looks like some variety of what's commonly known as Christmas cactus - but which blooms all year round in fact. Mine are blooming again now, for the third time since around Thanksgiving.

[Joe Guy]

Yes, very pretty. Can we get a slightly wider shot with better aspect of the foliage? It looks like some variety of what's commonly known as Christmas cactus - but which blooms all year round in fact. Mine are blooming again now, for the third time since around Thanksgiving.

I cropped the 1st photo because the plant itself is not very exciting to look at. It is a Christmas cactus and it only blooms once per year. There is a way to force them to bloom more than once but I've never done that. So anyway, by special request, here's another photo of the plant:

For perspective, it is in an 18 inch wooden pot and stands a little over 2 feet high. The plant from the tip of one side to the other is around 4 feet.

[BoSoxGal]

Thanks! It's lovely. I think it's actually an orchid cactus, native to Mexico in original but this would be a cultivar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disocactu ... enkinsonii

They don't like a ton of feeding, but if it's been in the pot a long time without the dirt being fed or replaced, that might account for less abundant flowering. Once a year is nice anyway, it's something to look forward to!

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postde ... 20steroids.

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/garde ... piphyllums

It's possible yours is getting too much sun, if it is in full sun - that might account for the yellowish foliage. They like bright morning sun but then do best in partial or dappled sun during the full daylight hours.

[Joe Guy]

Yes, I guess it is an orchid cactus. I'm not sure why I thought it was a Christmas cactus. Maybe because it only blooms once per year.

I think it gets the right amount of sun. It just doesn't get the right amount of care. I have never fed it. It's one of those things in my garden that I just check on, water and clean up every once in a while.