Plants
 

Is there anyway I can take a plant with me to Canada. I know soil is a big no no but can you get a lience or something? :unsure:

Re: Plants
 

Hi Gloveman,

Sorry to be nosey but i'm really curious to know what type of plant it is you'd like to take with you - i've got visions of a hugh, healthy, shiny cheese plant you've grown from a tiny cutting & tended to lovingly - unlike my own plants :o

Cheers, a nosey Arris ;)

Re: Plants
 

I have a christmas cactus that has been in the family for about 50 years and as I am the last member of my family I really would like to take it with me. It would be the end of an era to get rid of it.:)

Re: Plants
 

I know the ones you mean, they can get really big - I guess yours must be if it's 50 years old, wow, a real sentimental plant - hope you get to take it with you :)

Re: Plants
 

It's not that big as I prune it back but it does flower beautifully every year and it has been around even longer than me. It would travel fine in the container but I don't know how to go about taking it.:unsure:

Re: Plants
 

I didn't know what a Christmas cactus was, so I looked it up and found out that it was called a poinsettia in Canada. A Google search reveals that the Latin name is Euphorbia pulcherrima.

I suppose I intuitively should have figured out you were talking about a poinsettia. They are very popular in Canada at Christmas time. They are all over the place -- in shops, offices and people's homes. In December there are several dozen of them for sale in my local supermarket. However, I didn't think of the plant as a cactus, and that's why I didn't make the connection.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why you're willing to leave behind the people who have been in your family for 50 years but are not willing to leave behind a plant that has been in your family for 50 years.

Also, you say it'll do fine in the container. If you are referring to the container in which your household goods will be shipped, I don't know how you can be so sure. I would have thought the plant would die of thirst during the voyage.

I personally cannot see the point of your going to all this trouble for a plant that you'll be able to replace by walking into the nearest supermarket (although I do understand the point that the plant you could buy from the nearest supermarket wouldn't be the one that had been in your family for 50 years).

However, if you really want to pursue this project, a good starting point would be Canada Border Services Agency's web page about food, plants and animals. By following a series of links from that website, I found a form called Application for Permit to Import Plants and Other Things under the Plant Protection Act.

Hope that helps.

Re: Plants
 

Sorry Judy wrong.

Christmas cactus is not a poinsettia.

Christmas Cactus is Schlumbergera (often called "Zygocactus")

Trust me we have one. :)

...and it's in bloom right now, so much for Christmas.:confused:

Cheers
Steve

Re: Plants
 

Thanks for the clarification, Steve.

Re: Plants
 

They often bloom at Easter as well. Mum used to call hers a "Christmas-and-Easter Cactus" :)

Religious little blighters! :D

Re: Plants
 

First, as you have already been corrected, a christmas cactus is not a poinsettia.
Second, I am not leaving my family behind as they are all dead.
Third, being a cactus it will survive perfectly well in a container and I have taken advice on this.
Fourth, a thing that has been in my family for 50 years could not be replaced anywhere least of all at a supermarket.
Fifth, I didn't ask for your personal opinion just advice on how to get plant to Canada.
Sixth, thank you I shall look on this site and see if it can help
Lastly, yes I took offence at your reply

Re: Plants
 

It would appear that no you cannot bring it.

Quote from the website which you may have seen by now.

Allowed into Canada.

All items must be clean and free of pests, soil and roots.


The operative words being "free of soil and roots".


Perhaps you can take a cutting from the plant and bring that with you. Then you at least have a piece of it to start over with.

Re: Plants
 

I don't think you you will be able to take the complete plant because of the soil - I'd love to take some of my plants but have investigated and it seems a no-no if they are potted up in soil. Christmas cacti root very easily so perhaps you could take loads of cuttings in your hand luggage and root them up when you get to the Island?

Joanne

Re: Plants
 

Thanks Joanne - I can't bring them on in water before I go because they will have roots so if I cut off some leaves I suppose they might survive long enough to pot up when we get there.

Am I going to get through Customs with them do you think?

Re: Plants
 

I wonder if putting your cuttings in damp tissue or cotton wool would do the trick.

As for customs, I wouldn't have a clue - but if you took the cuttings last thing they wouldn't have any roots on :confused: may be worth a try.

Re: Plants
 

Thanks to all, I think I'll give the cuttings a go and just have to find a really good home for the plant. Not sure how damp tissue would be treated in view of current security but it has to be worth a go.:thumbsup:

Re: Plants
 

Who knows. I've taken meat products through before and haven't been caught - but be aware that you're lying when you tick the "I am carrying plants (in my case meat) - yes/no" box and that's probably not a good way to start your PRship if caught.

I had a line prepared - are they the meat version haggises? really? oh no, I don't eat meat! I thought I picked up the veggie ones, officer - but I'm not sure how you could get out of it if caught. Carefully wrapped exotic cuttings can't just fall into your handluggage or be confused with anything else :unsure:

Re: Plants
 

I have successfully rooted xmas cacti clippings that were quite dried out.... I mean clippings that had been tucked into a folded map and found under a car seat a week later dried out. They were shrivelled up a bit but not as much as I thought they would have and the puffed back out and rooted with ease once I got them into some dirt (with very good drainage).

I just googled... it looks like having the cuttings dry out actually is beneficial as too much moisture causes rot.

http://gardenline.usask.ca/plants/cactus-3.html

Good luck. :thumbup:

Re: Plants
 

I've just found out that I can apply for a permit to import the plant so I'm going to try that and if that fails cuttings it is. It's only $35 to apply for a permit so it is worth a shot.

Thanks to all:thumbup:

Re: Plants
 

The benefits of blonde hair, eh Biiiiink? :thumbup:

Re: Plants
 

Hey great, a plant permit - where did you find out about that (sorry, being nosey again :o )

If that's a no go (& hopefully it won't be), Pea's 'dry' cuttings sounds a try.

Keep us posted & good luck :thumbup:

Arris

Re: Plants
 

I've had a look on the web for some detailed instructions. They should travel fine and I'm sure customs won't look in your hand luggage - I think they are Ok as they won't have roots or soil.

1. Take at least a 3 or 4 stem segment and twist it off at the joint. Some people do take sharp scissors and cut right at the joint - you decide on the method you'd like to use.

2. Allow cuttings to dry a minimum of 24 hours so they seal over.

3. Using 1/2 peat moss and 1/2 perlite soil mix, moisten to just moist - not wet. Plant the cutting half the depth of the first segment in the soil mix.

4. Set in a bright window or bright area outside. Mist it to keep soil from drying out completely. Don't water.

5. The cutting will wilt. Don't be alarmed. This is normal. When it starts to come back to life again - roots should be growing at this time. Any new growth on the cutting is also a sign that your cuttings is taking root.

6. When you see the above signs - you can water normally which means when the soil is dry 1" down -- water until water runs out bottom of container -- then pour off any excess water.

7. Once the cutting has grown one new segment you can start fertilizing until October 1st. Now it's time for blooms!

8. Prepare for blooming - Leave outside to get natural cooling temps at night and natural hours of daylight. If your plant is inside - keep it cool and give it light equivalent to outside daylight.

9. If you are lucky, you will get blooms the first year around Thanksgiving or Christmas. If you root early in the year, this is very possible.

10. After blooming, the plant should rest until March. Watering should be decreased - water when 2" - 3" of depth is dry before re-watering as stated above. Don't let your plant dry out completely. Do not fertilize during this dormant period.

Re: Plants
 

Apparently the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issue permits so form all completed ready to fax. I'll let you know if it works!

Re: Plants
 

My bad. Sorry, gloveman.

Re: Plants
 

Oh aren't you good - sounds like I'll have no excuse not to get it right. Thank you so very much for taking the trouble to do that. Sounds like everyone will be getting cacti for Christmas this year then!! Many,many thanks.:D

Re: Plants
 

My pleasure!

One of my only regrets about emigrating will be leaving my precious acers and fuschias behind - fortunately there seems to be plenty available on the Island. I'll just have to start again!

Joanne

Re: Plants
 

Check out at a florist and ask them about taking cuttings/what you're doing, they sell little packets of things to make cut flowers last longer, so maybe they'd have something that would work for cacti as well. Less stress for it than plain water maybe.

Re: Plants
 

I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with the permit as I have a Peony that was once part of a larger plant that belonged to my grandparents and then my parents.

Apparently as a plant it doesn't like being moved a great deal, however, we've successfully had it in two places in our garden and it is currently growing a treat and had loads of flowers last year!

And, the same as you, it is of sentimental value to me as I don't have either my grandparents or parents so I'd love to take it with me. I know it's only a plant but when it flowers the memories are very precious. And $35 is a small price to pay if you can take it in the country.

Zoe M. xxx

Re: Plants
 

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with this too, Good luck Angela, it's gotta be worth trying, oh, and this is a useful thread for others to search on in the future if needed.
Robin :)

Plant Gel - Soil Alternative
 

Re: Plants
 

You can send cuttings to your friend here via ordinary post.
Place the cuttings between a greeting card and tape them
on the card to keep them together.

I have a Christmas cactus that is so hardy that it is 12 yrs. old.

Yoong

Re: Plants
 

Thank you everyone for your tips and help. If I can't get a permit at least I know that I will get a cutting over there someway. I could try taking some with me in my hand baggage and sending some in the post to myself as we have an address to go to and sending a bit more for luck to friends over there as well.

Where there's a will there is a way!:thumbsup:

Re: Plants
 

Thank you

Re: Plants
 

Plant is coming with me!!!:thumbsup:

Re: Plants
 

Great news! I love Christmas Cacti too. Mine is starting to bloom again :D

Re: Plants
 

If you cant take the plant then perhaps you can give it a close friend as a reminder of you. maybe that would seem fitting as they would know how much it meant to you, then the history would hopefully live on, with a twist to it.