i have a christmas cactus i bought in jan..its small, i replanted it weeks after i got it..its got lots of new green leaves, but its very dry, even though i gave it water a week ago..Should i go ahead and give it more water?
~*~Louise~*~
Louise, since these plants are succulents (fleshy), they can store water for
quite a while. It doesn't hurt for the soil to get dry as long as it's not
left dry for long. In fact, it's good NOT to water this one too much except
in active growth & blooming. Even then, you want the soil to dry out some.
A good way of knowing when succulents needs watering is to judge how firm or
flaccid the leaves are. If the leaves become a little softer & can wrinkle
when gently bent, it's time to give it a good watering. But if the leaves are
still quite stiff & firm, wait a bit. In cooler, more humid weather they
don't need watering very often.
I belong to an international plant community & a number of the members are
experts - one is a university lecturer, another a botanist who does research
in the field, & another a professor who's about to retire. All are
enthusiasts about cacti & succulents & have taught me a fair amount. For
example, I knew that the Christmas & Thanksgiving cacti were epiphytes
(plants that grow on bits of moss & soil in tree branches) but didn't realise
that they are actually cacti & not just nicknamed that. So like most cacti,
they prefer a good watering to replenish their losses but like to dry out
between waterings.
Hope this helps you. If your plant is sending out new green shoots, I'd say
the conditions must suit it. (-:
Judy
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/houseplants/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/houseplants/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:houseplants-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:houseplants-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
houseplants-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
thanks Judy, she is actively growing...She has tons of green leaves on her,
but the soil is dry to the look and touch...its a small plant and can see
it..I did water it a week ago, so thats why i was asking..The new neaves are
still fne to the touch..i will go a little longer before i water it..
thanks Judy..
~*~Louise~*~
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/houseplants/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/houseplants/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:houseplants-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:houseplants-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
houseplants-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
