Tag Archives: Christmas Cactus

Random Reflections

Whatsoever is lovely…day 15

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Thanksgiving cactus

Another exotic. When I got this years ago because I liked its colors. I called it a “Christmas Cactus”, but apparently it’s actually called a Thanksgiving or crab (because of the shape of its segments) cactus. Also known as a Schlumbergeria. I played around in Topaz Studio 2 trying out different painterly effects.

Gan Xingfu (chasing happiness) 赶兴福

This November I am chasing happiness by photographing and sharing one lovely thing I see each day. I do edit the photos, often with an artistic effect like the one above, because playing with a lovely thing makes me happy.

Note: My son checked with his co-workers and, while they haven’t heard the phrase gan xingfu, they thought it was just fine to use.

For more explanation about this project check out this post: Whatsoever is lovely…day 1.

This is posted for Nanopoblano and Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Flowers, Holiday

Pick your holiday cactus

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I looked into it a bit last year and learned that my zygocactus, also known as schlumbergera, is a Thanksgiving or crab sort, not a Christmas cactus (hence it is about done blooming). Mine also tends to flower in spring, often around Easter, and sometimes again in summer. I guess it likes the bay window.

Close-up of a schlumbergera truncatus bloom.
Whenever it blooms and whatever you call it is is a handsome flower.

For Cee’s Flower of the Day and Macro Monday (officially on hiatus for the holidays).

home, Snapshots from a Happy Life

You learn something new every day

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KSM-20181123-Christmas_Cactus-01

Both the Thanksgiving and the Christmas Cactus fall under the genus Schlumbergera which I learned as Schlumbergia years ago. The Thanksgiving Cactus has little spine-like notches coming off it’s leaves (just like a crab claw hence that common name) whereas the leaves of the Christmas Cactus are smoother. The Thanksgiving Cactus is timed to flower in November/December whereas it’s December/January for the Christmas Cactus.   —From How to Grow Christmas Cactus

Today was day for learning: in addition to learning that my “Christmas Cactus” was actually a “Thanksgiving” or “crab” cactus, I learned how to ftp into my currently under construction wordpress.org account, and how to fix the mysterious problem of the disappearing posts within it. I am so-o ready for a good night’s sleep.

Cee’s Flower of the Day