Four images from the photo library which I can just about equate to the competition brief
Cleistocactus ferrarii GC85
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nice Graham Charles cleisto (sadly no longer with me) showing Christmas red and green in the flowers!
The others are to prove that Echinopsis hybrids arent all pale and interesting but some can produce a good christmassy red! All 3 are Schick hybrids
Echinopsis X 'Hot Lips'
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Echinopsis X 'Temptress'
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Echinopsis X 'Infinity'
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As a Christmas bonus all three have nice green stigma!!
Enjoy,
Regards,
Pete
BCSS Macclesfield and East Cheshire
12x8 greenhouse : main interests Echinopsis (incl. Trichocereus, Lobivia etc) hybrids and (because everyone needs a bit of challenge in their lives) Stapeliads!
What lovely colours in all this winter snow . I have 2 'Christmas Cacti' and have never had them flower again Any idea why? One is quite a large plant and I 'rescued' it from school a few years ago as it was being binned (I clean there!) but no sign of flowers. Temp in front room abour 22C at moment and it is on a sideboard away from the window. It will need repotting next year I think. The other smaller one looks abit sad - on kitchen window and gets quite warm but no direct sunlight now. No buds showing on that either. What am I doing wrong
sue46 wrote:What lovely colours in all this winter snow . I have 2 'Christmas Cacti' and have never had them flower again Any idea why? One is quite a large plant and I 'rescued' it from school a few years ago as it was being binned (I clean there!) but no sign of flowers. Temp in front room abour 22C at moment and it is on a sideboard away from the window. It will need repotting next year I think. The other smaller one looks abit sad - on kitchen window and gets quite warm but no direct sunlight now. No buds showing on that either. What am I doing wrong
Sue,
Can you find a shady spot outdoors for the plant next summer. Keep it well watered over the summer. Flower bud formation should be triggered by the cooling temperatures in autumn. Bring the plant indoors at the first sign of buds or before any frosts. This works for me.
George
Uckfield, East Sussex. Small but varied collection of cacti, succulents and a few others.
sue46 wrote:What lovely colours in all this winter snow . I have 2 'Christmas Cacti' and have never had them flower again Any idea why? One is quite a large plant and I 'rescued' it from school a few years ago as it was being binned (I clean there!) but no sign of flowers. Temp in front room abour 22C at moment and it is on a sideboard away from the window. It will need repotting next year I think. The other smaller one looks abit sad - on kitchen window and gets quite warm but no direct sunlight now. No buds showing on that either. What am I doing wrong
Sue,
Can you find a shady spot outdoors for the plant next summer. Keep it well watered over the summer. Flower bud formation should be triggered by the cooling temperatures in autumn. Bring the plant indoors at the first sign of buds or before any frosts. This works for me.
The only place I could put them could be at the front of the house - does not receive any direct sunlight during the day only first thing during spring/summer. Little sheltered as well from heavy rain. Thanks for your advice.
sue46 wrote:I have 2 'Christmas Cacti' and have never had them flower again Any idea why?
An excellent article in the December Journal may help!
Ever hopeful, trying to grow plants from arid sunny climates in the UK!
Lithops, Haworthia, Adromischus, other south African succulents including Ceropegia and some Crassula.
. I have 2 'Christmas Cacti' and have never had them flower again 
Any idea why? One is quite a large plant and I 'rescued' it from school a few years ago as it was being binned (I clean there!) but no sign of flowers. Temp in front room abour 22C at moment and it is on a sideboard away from the window. It will need repotting next year I think. The other smaller one looks abit sad - on kitchen window and gets quite warm but no direct sunlight now. No buds showing on that either. What am I doing wrong 
may help!