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Campbell Vaughn: Tips to take care of a holiday cactus

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Campbell Vaughn: Tips to take care of a holiday cactus


It is tough to be humble sometimes, especially when you are so good at something that people stop and look in awe.

I wish I could say this about me, but people still stop and look in awe; not at what I have done, but what happens around every Thanksgiving in my office in downtown Augusta. This time every year, anyone that comes by my office gets to gawk at a Thanksgiving cactus that is in full bloom and it is amazing.  

I picked up a small 4-inch holiday cactus from the super friendly folks at Sanderlin Greenhouses when they hosted a meeting for our office a few years back. I took the little guy back to the office and planted it in a nice pot I had in the corner. This cactus just keeps getting bigger and bigger and the reason the plant does so well has nothing to do with my plant growing prowess.

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My office faces directly east and literally has an 1880s built curved window the plant sits under and gets indirect light all day long. All I do to keep this plant moving is water it about twice a month and fertilize it three times a year. The rest is done on its own. 

I have always loved these holiday cacti, mostly from a plant my mother had for a gazillion years that was a cutting of my great grandmother’s. It would always bloom for Christmas every year. And I have found they are easy to root and pretty easy to grow.

There are actually two similar plants we know as holiday cacti that bloom in the fall and early winter. They are in the genus Schlumbergera and originate from Brazil. These plants are epiphytes, meaning they live in the branches of trees or on rocks. Other plants that do this are Spanish moss and orchids.  

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The two different varieties of cactus that begin to bloom this time of year are the Thanksgiving cactus (Schumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). Supposedly, they bloom for their respective holidays, but growers can manipulate them to bloom earlier or later, so beware.

To distinguish between the two varieties, look at the shape of the flattened stem segments. The Thanksgiving cactus have pointed tooth-like notches and the Christmas cactus have more rounded notches. Another way of telling them apart is that the Thanksgiving cactus has yellow anthers (the male part of the flower that carries the pollen) and the Christmas cactus has purplish-brown anthers. 

How do the plants know when to bloom? It goes back to photoperiod, the amount of daylight compared to darkness. Thanksgiving cacti are short day plants. To set their flower buds, they need 14 or more continuous hours of darkness. It can’t be interrupted with any kind of light. They also need cool night temperatures, between 60-68 degrees. Keeping them outside on a porch is ideal for flower blooms to form in our area.  

Once the cactus blooms, keep the plant above 50 degrees and below 90 degrees or they will drop the buds. Other reasons for bud drop are too much light, cold drafts, over watering, under watering, or a sudden change in temperature.

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After your holiday cactus blooms, cut back on the watering for a few weeks to let it rest. Then water when the soil becomes dry to the touch. Fertilize the plant monthly with an all-purpose houseplant food. A liquid fertilizer like Peters or Miracle Grow works best. Cacti have a high magnesium requirement, so once a month in the summer, water with 1 teaspoon Epsom salt per gallon of water. You’ll actually have more flowers if you stop fertilizing the plant once the summer ends. 

There are a few other things you can do to keep your holiday cactus happy. Make sure your pot has good drainage holes, and keep your cactus somewhat potbound. Repotting is necessary only about once every three years. Additionally, for bushier plants and more flowers, pinch back three or four segments of each stem in June. You can also use these prunings to propagate a new plant. Just place the cuttings about an inch deep in potting mix (you want one of the joints between the segments to be underground) and water the soil well. You can also cover the container with a clear plastic bag secured with a rubber band around the container to create a mini-greenhouse for about five weeks, until you have roots. The only major disease these cacti have is root rot, which can be prevented by avoiding excessive watering. 

My final advice is to put keep your cactus outside on a porch for most of the year, after the danger of frost in the spring until November. If you don’t have a porch, put the plant under a tree where it can get filtered sunlight. The holiday cacti will reward you with blooms galore for your holiday festivities. 



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Augusta, GA

What’s the status of tiny home projects in Augusta, Aiken areas?

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What’s the status of tiny home projects in Augusta, Aiken areas?


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond and Aiken counties are seeing an increase in homelessness as their “point in time” counts wrap up.

Because of this, Augusta and Aiken leaders are working on bringing tiny homes to help provide resources to those struggling.

The transitional tiny home projects will be the first of its kind for both communities.

Organizers with Bridge Builder Communities in Augusta are a little over a month away from breaking ground on 25 tiny homes for young adults aging out of foster care.

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The Aiken County Homeless Housing Coalition says they’re making steady progress with the city to get its 45-home project approved.

Homelessness continues to be a big issue but community advocates are getting that much closer to bridging the gaps.

Jackson Drumgoole with Bridge Builder Communities says helping to bring solutions is more than just a project.

“I have family members that were in orphanages and in foster care right here in Augusta. So, I saw the impact of the homelessness piece, I saw the personal impact of the foster care piece,” said Drumgoole.

Drumgoole says Hurricane Helene and increased site work expenses are a challenge but not too much to stop the mission of bringing security to the region’s at-risk youth.

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“It’s preventive. I mean, once you have housing, safe, stable housing, you can function and focus on other things, like education, like your health,” he said.

In Aiken, city leaders are on the second reading of potentially changing a city ordinance to allow transitional tiny homes.

Augusta Riverwalk named after city’s first Black mayor

It’s a step leaders say may play a role in addressing Aiken’s growing homeless population.

George Clare plans to bring 45 of the miniature concepts to full size near vital resources, like the Aiken Center for Alcohol and Drug Services and Emergency Medical Services.

“The Aiken community is very much behind this project. I’ve been contacted by lawyers and bankers and engineers and businessmen saying. We need this,” said Clare.

Drumgoole says seeing efforts on both sides of the river is inspiring but it will take every aspect of the community to see the most change.

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“You have to tie into everyone in the community to solve the problem, because if one part of our community has a broken leg, then the other limps,” said Drumgoole.

Bridge Builder Communities in Augusta expects to start breaking ground in March with more announcements coming shortly after.

The second reading to allow tiny homes in Aiken will be February 10.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta museum celebrates life of former Mayor Edward McIntyre

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Augusta museum celebrates life of former Mayor Edward McIntyre


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Thursday, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History celebrated the life and legacy of former Mayor Edward McIntyre Sr. at a panel.

McIntyre served as Augusta’s first African American mayor from 1981 to 1983.

During his time as mayor, his leadership paved the way for cultural revitalization and economic development.

We spoke with McIntyre’s son, Edward McIntyre Jr., about his father’s legacy.

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“I’m very proud and it’s time for him to get the recognizable aptitude that he deserves. Sorry, he wasn’t here to see this,” said Edward McIntyre Jr. “It’s nice to see these people here to help honor my dad and their journeys. He helped them get certain positions and careers started.”

We also spoke with the executive director of the Lucy C. Laney Craft Museum of Black History, who says this is a great way of teaching the younger generation about the history of the former mayor and other local figures.

“Get Augusta Reading” kickoff

“Go out and mentor a young person who might be having trouble reading or something to that effect. So, look at these past examples not as things in the past, but look at these past examples as ways to then live your life. History is a great blueprint for how we can then sort of effect change in our current society,” said Corey Rogers.

Augusta will honor former Mayor McIntyre with a Riverwalk naming ceremony.

The event will take place on Friday at noon at 15 Eighth St.

Under his leadership, the concept and development of the Augusta Riverwalk came to fruition transforming the Savannah Riverfront into a vibrant and cherished community space.

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Augusta, GA

Colleague remembers former Augusta Commissioner John Clarke

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Colleague remembers former Augusta Commissioner John Clarke


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Some sad news for Augusta government, as it was announced Thursday that Former Commissioner John Clarke has died.

Clarke passed away after from respiratory failure.

He served as District Ten commissioner before losing his seat to Wayne Guilfoyle in 2022.
A former colleague says he will be missed.

“He was a straight shooter, and when he told you something you could take it to the bank over the years I’ve built a good friendship and he was like a mentor to me and sadly he’s going to be missed,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice, who served two years with Clarke.

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John Clarke was 78 years old.



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