I have had this rather neglected Christmas cactus for years. (So mistreated, in fact, that I call it a Christmas cactus when clearly it is a Thanksgiving cactus—a close relative of the Christmas cactus. This one, with its clawed leaves, is Schlumbergera truncata, while Schlumbergera bridgesii, the Christmas cactus, has notched—rather than pointed—leaf edges.)
It’s been in the same pot for more than a decade, and I give it only the most minimal fertilizer when I’m feeding the rest of my indoor plants during the summer months. Despite that, it that has decided to produce two blooms for me—in two different colours, no less! Just to be clear, this is the same plant producing blooms of different colours. Has anyone encountered this before? I’m not troubled by it – just curious as to why. Is this an example of reversion?
helene says
Good day to all I also have a cactus but mine blooms twice a year just full of bloom now and we are in may unusual but pretty
hi says
Interesting1 These are very pretty!
bye says
Pretty
Tracy Kremer says
Hi. Yes, I also have a christmas cactus that I bought with bright fuschia coloured flowers. The next time that they bloomed, they presented me with THREE different colours on the same plant! I was amazed. A part bloomed in bright deep pink, part in an orangy red shade and another in white tinged with soft pink. It then went on to bloom again at easter with only deep pink flowers, and then as that wasn’t enough, it has bloomed again in the summer with brilliant white flowers. It keeps me fascinated.
John says
I have one that blooms with some red and some coral colored flowers. I loveit!
Lindsay says
Mine bloomed with white and peach. It’s odd too. It bloomed in March. They said it was a Christmas cactus, but turns out it’s an Easter cactus
Teresa says
I too have one with three different colors, a light almost lilac purple/ pink a dark fusia pink and a peachy color. It to has been through ruff times but continues to live through it all.
Andrea Bellamy says
They’re amazing, aren’t they Teresa?
Elizabeth says
I have non idea why this occurs. I had a coral one I ordered because I like the color. I have had it for years AND it has taken it forever to flower — I am a classic plant-killer. BUT, this is probably the second year I am finally getting flowers, this time more than three. I have noticed, when I finally started to get flowers, that I have a mix of coral and white.
Andrea Bellamy says
That sounds really pretty, Elizabeth!
Kyle says
The reversion of Christmas cactus or any other plant to a differing color is called colloquially “sporting”—as in a change in color, form, texture or shape. A genetic mutation for weal or woe (& sometimes Woh!) It’s botanically usually hybrids “reverting” (which is the more correct term)to old traits because they’ve been forced to be “X” color or form by breeders. Kinda like a puppy mill, sadly.
Sometimes genetic sports are great new additions like a more rufflely leaf that you clip & propagate to make a unique baby plant. Voila! Now you’re a breeder!
Kyle says
Sorry needed addendum to the 3 color phenomenon. In the greenhouse trade, you might have 3 colors of Schlumbergera cultivar in close proximity to each other & the cross pollination of dna exhibits later. More than likely, though, 3 colors or even more exhibit from a hybrid program that has advanced say from a native white to pink to pink-red to red through generational breeding. Old world roses are prime examples & even bear the names of past lifetimes of the rose like an eponym of an eponym of an eponym. Most are clones & not open-pollinated to secure more dna strength over time—thus mutation city.
Judy Jacobsen says
My Thanksgiving cactus has one leaf with two blossoms. Is this common?