The Power of Pruning

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cactus  December 2012
December 2012

All most from the beginning my 38-year-old Christmas cactus has bloomed prolifically every Christmas.  Over the years I have given away hundreds of shoots to friends and family.  And then two years ago things changed.  It quite blooming.  And I haven’t had a single bloom in the last two years.

December 2012
December 2012

What changed?  Two things that I know of.  One – I moved it from one side of the living room to the other, away from the window.  Secondly, I bragged to some friends that my cactus always blooms and I waxed poetically about how “I” make that happen. 🙁

Those same friends were in our home after Christmas this year.  The conversation turned to my cactus that had not a single bloom in sight.  I repented and said I obviously didn’t know what I was talking about and apparently have no control over that cactus.

So, after I cleaned up the house from Christmas I decided a good pruning was in order.  I clipped and clipped watching dozens of leaves fall to the floor.  Normally I would save a few, root them and pass them on.  On this particular day they all went into the compost pile.  I spoke to my plant as I clipped away.  Then I gave it a big drink of water.

That was about 3 weeks ago.  Look what I found today:

January 2015
January 2015

Two little blossoms.  A new start. Beautiful.

Are feeling a little “pruned” lately?  Maybe feeling a little “clipped too close?”

I too have experienced God’s pruning and during the process it doesn’t feel too good.  Actually, it is easy to feel sorry for oneself.

But take heart.

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  John 15:2

Pruning is a good thing.  Pruning brings out the fruit we are all meant to bear.

2015
2015
“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”   Hebrews 12:6

Pray for pruning and watch and see what is just waiting to bloom in your life!

Happy Gardening,
Blessings, Catherine

christmas cactus 3

 

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2 thoughts on “The Power of Pruning”

  1. I also have a Christmas Cactus even the same color and it dose not bloom well if I move it away from a window also… but the strange thing about this cactus is that every time we move homes and it is moved it blooms again. As if to say ” wonderful” we are at a new home and new beginning and I am happy… wonderful plants !

    Reply
    • Thank you for sharing this Jolynn. When I read your comment I got goose bumps because I have moved my cactus from coast to coast and half-way back again. Plants … wonderful plants! Blessings to you!

      Reply

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