Christmas Cactus CrossPollination??

[bluelacedredhead]

I have three Christmas Cactus. One is white with a hint of pink; one is salmon and the third bright pink.
I've just brought them in from summering outdoors and they've begun to bloom.
Is there a chance that they would crosspollinate and become all some strange shade of pinky purple?? :eek:

[boston]

I would think if you grew seeds from those that you might get some different colors but cross pollination should not affect the flower color of a grown plant.

[flowerpower]

Like Boston said, only if you saved seed would x-pollination occur. If mine gets one flower I will be happy. I had to combine 2 pots this summer. So It's not pot bound at all.

[bluelacedredhead]

Well I was making jokes on the weekend about my Thanksgiving Day cactus..and just like you FP, my DIL said to just be glad that mine are blooming..She recalled an Aunt complaining every year that her plant never bloomed.
Ever since I've summered them outdoors, they bloom like mad when I bring them in before Frost. I think I read somewhere that after them being outdoors, I am supposed to put them away in a dark place and bring them out in mid-December to force the blooms?

[johno]

At the garden center I worked at (way, way back when) we covered the Christmas cacti with blankets to force them to bloom right when we wanted to start selling them...

[flowerpower]

I have never put them in a dark place to control the bloom time. Amaryllis either. Maybe that's why my amaryllis bulbs bloom in the spring and summer. lol I don't care as long as they flower.

[Nutter]

Yup dark place cool temp.. thats what I do for Christmas blooms.. as to crossing.. don't think so..

Nut