Holiday cactuses with a new shape

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Shule
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Location: SW Idaho, USA

Holiday cactuses with a new shape

#1

Post: # 41819Unread post Shule
Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:14 pm

I found these on my plants quite a while ago. I was hoping they would grow new segments so I could see if they were different from the regular ones, too--but, they hadn't grown any new segments; so, I decided to take cuttings (so the cuttings could focus on doing it). I took the segment under each with it; the reason for that, other than to make rooting it easier, was because if that segment produced such once, it might do it again.

I know other people have had similar irregularities before, but the new leaves weren't the same. I'm an essentially hopeful person, though.

I just set them out to root yesterday.

Pink-flowering Thanksgiving cactus:
IMG_20210223_132618.jpg
Ditto (same cutting):
IMG_20210223_132633.jpg
Pink-flowering Christmas cactus:
IMG_20210223_132658.jpg
Ditto (same cutting):
IMG_20210223_132712.jpg
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Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Nan6b
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Re: Holiday cactuses with a new shape

#2

Post: # 41823Unread post Nan6b
Wed Feb 24, 2021 8:27 pm

I'm looking forward to the results of this.

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Shule
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Location: SW Idaho, USA

Re: Holiday cactuses with a new shape

#3

Post: # 57481Unread post Shule
Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:59 am

Nan6b wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 8:27 pm I'm looking forward to the results of this.
Well, so far, they've grown several leaves, and none of them have the same shape--but I plan to continue with this, selecting for those shapes if they show up more.

The original plants (not the cuttings), however, did grow more segments like that (but not directly above other segments like that).
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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root_grow
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Location: Coastal Washington

Re: Holiday cactuses with a new shape

#4

Post: # 57565Unread post root_grow
Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:19 pm

My easter cactus has grown a few clades that shape at various times as well. I was given a different epiphytic cactus over the summer that I think is supposed to have mostly large flat leaves, but the previous 2 owners never gave it enough light and a lot of the new growth was more triangular (in addition to other clear signs of being sun starved), so I wonder if maybe it's something about lighting that causes it for the holiday cacti as well?

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Shule
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Re: Holiday cactuses with a new shape

#5

Post: # 57570Unread post Shule
Thu Nov 18, 2021 4:38 pm

@root_grow
I think it could be.

It kind of seems like it has something to do with plant stress. Since I've been fertilizing my plants better, and the aerial roots have disappeared, I haven't seen any new ones. Aerial roots are rumored to be a sign of stress in holiday cacti. They didn't go away until I started using Miracle Gro (but I had been using NPK and a few other nutrients before); so, perhaps it's some micronutrient, like copper, boron, molybdenum, or something. Before the MG, I had weird chlorosis issues, too, especially when the plants grew fast; that was only with my pink flowering holiday cacti, though, especially the Thanksgiving cacti. They've darkened considerably.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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