How to Get A Christmas Cactus to Bloom
I got a Christmas Cactus last year and it has done well all year but never flowered again. What do I need to do to get it to bloom again? Thanks, Bill
Hi Bill,
There are several things that play a key role in helping a Christmas Cactus to bloom at the right time. A Christmas Cactus is a thermo-photoperiodic plant, so starting about 4-6 weeks before Christmas it needs 12 hours a day of light and 12 hours a day of darkness. During this time, the ideal night- time temperature should be 50-60 degrees. Reduce your watering slightly and do not soak the soil, only moisten the top few inches. Although a Christmas Cactus needs fertilizer when actively developing leaves, once the buds appear, do not feed the plant. Hear are some basic care tips for a Christmas Cactus.
Light: Place a Christmas Cactus Plant in
bright indirect light but never direct sun. Christmas Cactus Houseplants can live in medium to
low light, but flower buds may drop off or never form at all.
Water: Allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering a Christmas Cactus Plant. Buds fall off of a Christmas Cactus if the soil is too dry. Over-watering a Christmas Cactus Plant causes root rot. Reduce water after a Christmas Cactus Plant has finished blooming. Start watering again normally once the plant has started to produce new leaves.
Fertilize: Feed a Christmas Cactus Plant every two weeks in the spring and summer with a liquid indoor plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never feed a Christmas Cactus Plant after October 1st.
Temperature: The correct temperature is important if you want a Christmas Cactus to produce flowers. To set flower buds, the plant needs cool temperatures of 60-65°F (16-18°C) during the day and even cooler temperatures of 45-55°F (7-13°C) at night. Once buds have developed, Christmas Cactus like warm temperatures of 70-75°F (21-24°C) during the day and about 10 degrees cooler at night. Cool temperatures between 65-70 degrees help Christmas Cactus flowers last longer.
Humidity: Christmas Cactus Plants like moderate household humidity.
You can read more information about Christmas Cactus plants in the popular houselant section of the website.
