Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Amateur Gardening

    Ask John Negus

    Jan 07, 2020 3 minutes

    Why do cactus flowers change colour?

    QI bought a white-flowered Christmas cactus and took a cutting of it. Both the original plant and the cutting started flowering, but the flowers on both are pink. Why is this?

    Ursula Riniker, via email

    A As the cutting you took is genetically identical to its parent it is reasonable to expect it to flower the same colour, but it is odd that both should have changed colour.

    Christmas cacti are sensitive to light and temperature, and these can influence flower colour. They flower from November to March, after

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from Amateur Gardening

    Amateur Gardening2 min read
    Simply Divine Dahlias
    Your plant recommendations from expert plantsman, Michael. Hello team, it’s a big moment for nostalgia this week as we talk dahlias! I have such fond memories of my grandparents’ garden, with beautiful tall dahlia plants topped with all the flower ty
    Amateur Gardening5 min read
    Cannier Composting
    The most sustainable compost is homemade, so starting a compost heap is an extremely positive thing to do. It provides us with superb, nutrient-rich organic matter that’s full of beneficial microbes to enrich our soils. Assembling a compost heap with
    Amateur Gardening4 min read
    Radiant Runners, Dandelion Delights And Slow Worms
    The countryside here on the border between East Devon and West Dorset is full of yellow, from fields of oil seed rape, fluttering brimstone butterflies and if I’m lucky to spot them, yellowhammers. There’s plenty of yellow in the garden too, from dan

    Related