I have a sign just outside my kitchen door that says, "Warning: House plants die within these doors. Save a plant and keep them from these premises." I could give you a long list of the plants that have died under my care.

But this Christmas Cactus is an oddity. Not only has it grown, it has thrived. The winter I purchased it, the not-yet-opened flowers fell right off after bringing it home. That was disappointing! Later I found out that the cold draft will do this. It would have gotten cold from the store to the car and the car to the house.

It not only blooms at the normal time in December, but I've also had blossoms in the spring or in the fall along with the standard bloom time. I have heard that people can force flowerings. I have done nothing but be amazed. I am not sure how I do it. About all I can think is that I have moved the plant around, so maybe the lighting change has something to do with this.

I barely remember to water it, and maybe once or twice a year I give it cooled leftover coffee. That is only about as often as I will ever have leftover coffee.

Last year, I did overwater. I think it was because I actually had some remembers working. I noticed when I was about to water it last summer that the soil was saturated. I took it to the plant doctor at the local nursery. He gave me some great advice. One, in the summer, they do not need to be watered every week. And two, he said take the plant out, soil and all; set it up in front of a fan on low to allow the water to evaporate. I've not had a problem since and it still continues growing.

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