I love Christmas Cactus and have an old large plant that performs like clockwork every fall and even sometimes in the late spring too flowering with large dark pink or light red flowers. Seems super hardy. Two years ago I acquired a small apricot Christmas Cactus and while it is growing it seems slow. Not too sure if that is cause it is a hyrbrid or not. This year it has 4 flower buds. I've never had a white one so few days ago was in a local nursery and bought a "white" Christmas Cactus and while the buds look white as they're getting larger I'm seeing tinges of pink. Am guessing a blush of pink will be ok so long as this guy grows big and gets tons of flowers every year Anybody else have a pure white one? OR is the blush of pink normal?
I used to work in a flowershop and a greenhouse. I honestly can't tell you if I can remember pure white. I just don't know.
The normal christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) and the similar "Easter/Spring cactus (Rhipsalidopsis). The green leaves look quite similar; however the flower structure are different. I have had white ones of both sorts and I have only had one Schlumbergera plant that was pure white and as I recall, it was a double. The pinkness in this plant sort usually have some degree of pinkness, but it can vary. The Rhipsalidosis plants that I had were all pure white. It is also interesting to note that there are a few Schlumbergera hybrids that are bi-colour for the daring owners. Good luck with yours. Not that I am an expert or anything but I can offer you a couple of tips from my own experience: --Once the green leaves begin to issue flower buds do not move the plant until the flowering has completely finished or you risk bud drop. It is very sad to loose your flower flush before it happens. --Let the plant become root-bound before planting it on...and with the info above--never pe-plant a Christmas cactus while it is still in bloom.
I am now curious to identify the various Christmas cacti that I have. All were presents or plants left behind by friends or offspring. (Everyone knows I have too kind a heart where plants are concerned.) So I will observe them. I do know some cacti have more divided leaves, others have leaves that are less so.
Say Lady with the too kind a heart---Would you post a few pics when they are well in bloom? There are such lovely-coloured ones available these days.
I've ultimately answered my own question and in the case of a Christmas or Zygo Cactus white is tinged with PINK although from afar the flowers appear white. This is my PINK PINK Christmas Cactus and no mistaking it IS pink The Apricot coloured Christmas Cactus is not a large plant and it only has a couple flowers not yet open but it'll be a lovely peachy apricoty colour once it does open. Lastly my RED Christmas Cactus that is really IMO a dark pink. Not sure if anybody has redder reds but this is as red as I can get.
Re: Peachy yellow Christmas Cactus - This is the 3rd blooming cycle since I've had it. It isn't fast growing and has only set up a few buds but they're an absolutely gorgeous colour. Am hoping the plant itself will start to grow more so the blooms will be heavier like the red & pink one.
Only just starting to bloom. Look carefully for the buds. They look like they will be white or pale pink. Bright pink! "Reddish" at least for an xmas cactus More anon.
Oh Cayu-- yours are also not bad. Boy, oh boy!! There is some bright and beautiful colours over there this year. Really nice.
