Submitted by Joan Regan
The garden has been sleeping for a while so I have shifted my passion over towards my in-house garden – my house plants. Come December some of us pick up or are given a Xmas plant, namely a beautiful Poinsettia. Over here on the corner it is sudden death for them. I love the look of them and they hate me – hate me with the passion of Scrooge. However, a few years ago I discovered the Christmas Cactus. They like me – they really do. And that feeling is mutual.
After meeting Marlene’s I immediately got my very own and we have become good friends, although she never wanted to flower. That is till now.
Last summer, after fertilizing my Orchid, I gave her (Xmas cactus) a drink. She responded by bursting out with buds within a few weeks and still has more coming. I also gave a shot to my Africa Violet and she is still blooming. I know, it’s the fertilizer, not my green thumb. Coincidence? Not. There is a logical answer but…. One thing for sure, I will be trying the same thing come summer of 2020.
BTW, my Orchid is still struggling (sniff, sniff).
Becoming such a fan of this pretty house plant I treated myself to another and a friend also got me one the exact same colour. They are a mass of bright pink and more buds showing daily.
According to Face Book (& F B never lies) what we have are not Xmas Cactus but Thanksgiving Cactus, so this explains the earlier blooming.
House plants are mostly tropicals and growing in the wild they are used to constant nutrients, so I have been giving them 1/2 strength house plant fertiliser all year round. They are all doing great. All except the Orchid?!?
Another great house plant that I call a Xmas plant is the Spathiphyllum/Peace Lily. Ya I know it means Easter, but mine likes to bloom come December and is sending out a couple of blooms now. Another healthy plant from Peacocks. Might just pick up another while there still are some. This is a no fuss plant at any time of the year, but also has a great thirst and will get pouty if not given enough water. Just like us all I guess.
Writing this it is raining and not at all looking Christmasy, but that can change hourly up here on the Peninsula. But I do have the decorations out, just not the tree.
The Calendar says it is soon – very soon. So, Merry Christmas and the very best for the year ahead from the Bury Rd Garden,
Joni Pete & Canoe.
