Christmas cactus moves regularly

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Shule
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Location: SW Idaho, USA

Christmas cactus moves regularly

#1

Post: # 64088Unread post Shule
Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:51 am

We have a small floppy Christmas cactus (it's supposed to be floppy). Every 5 to 7 days or so, it flops to the other side of its pot. This isn't like a one-time thing (and it's not wilting). It goes from north to spread across the pot, to south, then back to north again (without spreading across the pot), and it repeats. It seems to be healthy. I had another plant (a clone of the same type) that also flopped from north to south periodically, until it got older (then it stopped).

Anyway, I'm not really sure what causes it to move, but it doesn't seem to have to do with watering nor the position of the sun.

It's not caused by adjusting the position of its container.

Maybe I should adjust its container to see if it'll flop from east to west instead of north to south.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Labradors
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#2

Post: # 64131Unread post Labradors
Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:21 pm

How interesting! Please let us know if moving the pot makes any difference!

I'm very excited to have been given a true Christmas Cactus which, I am told, also blooms at Easter :). I already have a Thanksgiving Cactus, so maybe I won't need to buy an Easter one now :).

Linda

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Shule
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#3

Post: # 64436Unread post Shule
Mon Feb 28, 2022 8:34 pm

It hasn't moved again, yet, since I moved it to face east (instead of south).

My hypothesis is that it was moving to distribute the light across both sides of the plant (instead of having one side get all the light).
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Shule
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#4

Post: # 64454Unread post Shule
Tue Mar 01, 2022 6:46 am

Ahah! It recently moved, from east to southwest.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Julianna
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Location: Monterey Bay, CA

Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#5

Post: # 64516Unread post Julianna
Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:28 am

Is there some kind of draft or heating vent or something like that nearby? Or is the window area cooler than the rest of the house?
-julianna
10a Monterey Bay
Lover of Fogust, tomatoes, flowers, and pumpkins

Setec Astronomy
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#6

Post: # 64518Unread post Setec Astronomy
Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:48 am

Maybe plants are just smarter than we give them credit for. This topic seems to be begging for a Disney movie...maybe something along the lines of "The Brave Little Toaster". (Which I don't think was a Disney movie)

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Shule
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#7

Post: # 64525Unread post Shule
Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:05 am

@Julianna
The room has a small fan in it (to prevent mold from growing), but it's not blowing on the plant. The plant is probably about ten feet away from the window, but right by the window seems to get colder when it's cold. It's further from the window than most of the plants. The room is heated.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Julianna
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#8

Post: # 64529Unread post Julianna
Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:30 am

Shule wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:05 am @Julianna
The room has a small fan in it (to prevent mold from growing), but it's not blowing on the plant. The plant is probably about ten feet away from the window, but right by the window seems to get colder when it's cold. It's further from the window than most of the plants. The room is heated.
Cc are pretty mobile. One thing that they will do is move all around before they shatter. I was wondering if it is kind of living on the edge of thinking about shattering and it always just holds back because it ends up being fine.
-julianna
10a Monterey Bay
Lover of Fogust, tomatoes, flowers, and pumpkins

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Shule
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#9

Post: # 69011Unread post Shule
Thu May 05, 2022 2:16 am

My Christmas cactus hasn't changed directions since the last time I said it moved (maybe it moved up a few centimeters). Just thought I'd give an update. I think changing the pot direction as I mentioned I did earlier did have an influence here.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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Rockoe10
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Re: Christmas cactus moves regularly

#10

Post: # 69013Unread post Rockoe10
Thu May 05, 2022 4:02 am

This sounds like a prank i would play on my wife, 😜.
- - - - - - - -
Rob, ZONE 6A with 170 days between frost dates, Western Pennsylvania

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