Hi Bit, I like the blue hair, several years ago I did a summer of Pink hair!! Would show a photo but that's for somewhere else too I guess!
Purple, and Bit - I've found any of those Thanksgiving, or Christmas type cactus are very easy to propagate, one thing I'd say is to place the leaf (stalk) on moist soil, not wet, just moist and then don't water until you see a good amount of roots! As soon as you see roots you can plant it, and water as usual.
I went to a seminar last friday (Pacific northwest's Flower and garden show) and the presenter said that well established, pot bound cactus like this could easily bloom several times per year, maybe even having some blooms on the plant all year round!
Hasn't happened with mine yet!
I had 2 raised veggie beds in my apartment building's south facing yard, but no one helped me to care for them, and I felt like I was having to water all the time!! So this past autumn as I was taking out the tomatoes, which didn't do great, but not poorly, I decided to make these beds Sempervivum beds (hens and chicks) and now I'm obsessed with these little plants, I had no idea there was such a variety!!
Avoid the Sempervivum forum unless you want to become an addict!
Cheers
