Christmas Cactus First flower of 2017 in kitchen (Close up) 31st October 2017 002

Schlumbergera x buckleyi or more popularly know as Christmas Cactus (in UK) Holiday Cactus (in USA)

What a pretty! Here it is known as Mayflower, because it blooms in may. It were one of my granny favourite flowers.

The Mayflower here in the UK is the Hawthorn tree. This is a small tree that is absolutely smothered in tiny white blooms in late April & most of May.

Thank goodness for Latin names for plants & animals!!! Where would we be if we were talking about "Mayflowers" & had different plants in mind!

It doesn't really flower here at Christmas time naturally, it's flowering season can be adapted by changing lighting & heat conditions.

Same here about the Christmas Stars, but I refuse to change watering or some other conditions just for having it blooming to my delight.
I've been looking in nursery houses for the Mayflower, not lucky at all. I have to find someone around to give me a cut to reproduce it. They can be found in different colors here, white, yellow, salmon, purple, pink, orange and red.

I presently have Pink, orange/salmon & dark red. I used to have a white one but I think it may have died. I don't remember seeing it last year. I don't remember seeing the yellow one either! At least 3 years ago all these colours flowered lovely in our kitchen.

Look out for a few photos on my photo page!

I will.

Its lovely Balcony, my red one is flowering beautifully, the white is just forming the buds so won't be long, think I've lost my gaudy pink, cannot grumble it was mum and dads, definitely over thirty years old, trying to get some of the leaves to shoot but not looking promising, so will have to buy a new one,....I'd love a yellow one..

Hi Lincs. if you send me your address by PM I see if I can send you a leaf or two. They grow very quickly from leaf cuttings which are a doodle to root.