Christmas cacti are known for their colorful blooms, so failure to flower is disappointing. The good news is that there are a few tips and tricks you can use to improve your chances of having a festive display.
These houseplants usually bloom between November and January, but they do require some Christmas cactus care. It is not uncommon for them to flower again in early spring, if conditions are ideal.
To help your plant perform at its best and learn how to make a Christmas cactus bloom, we consulted with houseplant experts. They share their top tropical plant care tips below, including watering and lighting advice.
3 ways to encourage a Christmas cactus to flower
“The best way to encourage blooming is to maintain a happy plant,” says Kiersten Rankel, an expert from the plant-care app Greg.
Justin Hancock, a Costa Farms horticulturist, believes it is beneficial to consider the environment from which the Christmas cactus originated when developing your care routine.
‘Native to tropical rainforests in South America, it grows on trees, so it is accustomed to bright shade, warm temperatures, and relative humidity.
1. Avoid watering mistakes
Underwatering and overwatering are common Christmas cactus mistakes that should be avoided if you want to see lots of blooms. To maintain even moisture, Kiersten recommends watering when the top one to two inches of soil are bone dry.
Justin adds, ‘Take care not to overwater; it would rather be slightly dry than too soggy.’
Using a moisture meter, like this one from The Sill, can help you determine how frequently to water your Christmas cactus.
2. Get the light levels right
Keeping your holiday cactus in a bright spot ensures that it has enough energy to produce a large number of flower buds when it is time to bloom,’ says Justin.
However, Christmas cactuses prefer periods of darkness. Justin estimates that it will take eight to ten weeks of long nights for the buds to appear.
During this time, providing bright light for 11 hours or less during the day and darkness at night for at least 13 hours is critical, he says. ‘If you have a guest room or another area where you do not turn on lights after the sun goes down, that is an ideal location for easy reblooming.
‘Giving it cool night temperatures also helps to induce blooms,’ Justin explains. ‘It can drop as low as 55°F at night (but prefers to be warm during the day).’
3. Apply fertilizer correctly
‘Periodic fertilization can also help give it a boost by ensuring it has all of the nutrients it requires and is not hungry,’ says Justin.
Knowing when to fertilize a Christmas cactus is critical: do so during its growing season, from spring to fall, and always follow package directions to avoid damaging your plant.
FAQs
How many times a year will a Christmas cactus bloom?
The Christmas cactus typically blooms once per year. However, Justin Hancock, a Costa Farms horticulturist, observes that a well-cared-for plant can bloom several times per year if given long, dark, and cool nighttime conditions.
How long will it take a Christmas cactus to bloom again?
Buds will appear in six to eight weeks, followed by eight to twelve weeks of full bloom. Each flower should last five to seven days, with the plant’s flowering period lasting three to six weeks.
Why are my Christmas cactus’s blooms falling off?
Christmas cactus blooms fall off because the plant is either under- or overwatered, or because the environment is too hot or too dry. Remember to always keep your plant away from central heating to help prevent the latter.
Looking for more Christmas plants with stunning flowers? Consider planting amaryllis bulbs indoors or forcing paperwhites in a jar as part of your holiday décor.