The picture is of the Christmas Cactus that was abandoned here when we bought the house. It’s obviously doing well. One could say “in the pink of health” even, if one were Dad-Joke inclined.
That’s the Cactus of Theseus. It’s a clone of a Christmas Cactus that goes back at least to my grandmother, if not my great grandmother. Dad gave me a few leaves when I was back home last. I planted them and got the cactus. I’m not sure what to call it. Is it the same cactus? Not really, but sort-of because “clone”. Is it a “legacy” cactus? “heirloom” doesn’t seem right. It may be a heirloom cactus, but that’s not same as clone of a clone of a clone (however many times that happened).
For those who don’t know, “heirloom”, when applied to vegetables, means “breeds true” and is in opposition to “hybrid” – not “GMO”; a GMO vegetable may also be heirloom (although that would be unexpected). I’m not sure if that definition of “heirloom” applies to all plants, all sexually reproducing plants, or just garden vegetables.
I’m pretty sure it didn’t bloom this year (it did last year, when it was much smaller) because it is in partial shade at that spot in the window. It didn’t get the daylight cues it needed to realize “Oh! It’s Christmas!” I’ve moved it into full sun in the hopes that I’ll get a Birthday Cactus (my birthday is in February).
Marked Up 