If you’re wondering when your Christmas cactus will start blooming, there are a few things to keep in mind. The plant typically flowers between December and February, but it can also bloom as early as October or as late as March. Christmas cactus thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and cooler temperatures, so if you live in an area with warmer weather, you may need to keep your plant in a cool spot. Water the cactus about once a week, allowing the soil to dry out in between watering. With a little patience, you should see your Christmas cactus bloom in no time!
The Christmas cactus typically begins blooming in late November and continues through December.
What triggers a Christmas cactus to bloom?
To encourage bud set, provide bright light, temperatures between 55 F and 65 F, and 13 hours or more of continuous darkness each day.
If your Christmas cactus is blooming, it’s probably because it received the proper treatment in fall and early winter. Christmas cactus plants should continue receiving dark, cool treatment for at least six to eight weeks, or until buds begin forming Once buds have formed, it usually takes up to 12 weeks (or less) for blooms to appear.
When should I put my Christmas cactus in the dark
This step is important in order to force the cactus to begin its blooming cycle. By depriving the plant of light, you trick it into thinking that winter is coming and that it needs to bloom in order to survive.
A Christmas cactus can bloom up to two times per year if they’re given the proper care and dormancy conditions. It’s normal for them to bloom in December, and sometimes they will flower again in the spring. By providing the cactus with a cool, dark place to rest for about two months out of the year, you can encourage it to bloom a second time.
Where is the best place to put a Christmas cactus?
If you’re looking to add a holiday cactus to your home, it’s important to place it in an area with partial shade. An east or west facing window is a perfect spot, and aim to keep the temperature around 70° to 80℉. With a little TLC, your holiday cactus will thrive and bring some extra cheer to your home during the holiday season!
It’s important to water your plants every 2 to 3 weeks, but only water them when the top one third of the soil is dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry.
How do you stimulate a Christmas cactus to grow?
To grow a Christmas cactus, choose a location with indirect light and plant in Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry and increase humidity around the plant. Feed from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food.
Assuming you are referring to a Schlumbergera truncata, also known as a Zygocactus or Christmas Cactus, here are some tips on watering during its dormancy period.
As the plant enters autumn and heads towards winter, it will start to slow down its growth and enter a period of dormancy. This is when you should reduce your watering to once every four to six weeks.
When you see buds begin to form on the plant, this is a sign that it is coming out of dormancy and is ready to start growing again. At this point, you can go back to your regular watering schedule.
Should I water my Christmas cactus when it is blooming
To keep your cactus blooming its best, water the soil evenly and mist it frequently. Place the plant in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun. Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.
The Christmas cactus has a bloom cycle that is dependent on dormancy, water, light, and temperature. During the late fall, from October to the middle of November, you should cut back on how much you water your Christmas cactus. Let the top two or three inches of soil dry out between waterings.
What is wrong with my Christmas cactus not flowering?
If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom properly, make sure it is not exposed to artificial light at night in fall. Flowers may also fail to develop if the plant is exposed to temperatures above 70°F. Night temperatures of 60 to 65°F with slightly warmer daytime temperatures are ideal for flower formation.
Holiday cacti need more magnesium than most plants, so be sure to fertilize them monthly during the growing season with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) diluted at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. However, don’t apply the magnesium sulfate the same week as regular fertilizer.
Do Christmas cactus need a lot of sun
Christmas cactus plants are best kept in bright, indirect sunlight. They can burn if placed in direct sunlight, so if you are going to place yours indoors near a west or south-facing window, make sure to filter the light with a sheer curtain.
To get your Christmas cactus to bloom, you need to give it long, uninterrupted dark periods. Begin the dark treatments about mid-October to have plants in full bloom by the holidays. Christmas cactus plants will also bloom if they are subjected to cool temperatures of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
How can you tell a Christmas cactus from a Thanksgiving cactus?
The three cacti are all in the Schlumgera genus, but have different shaped leaves. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) has very pointed and claw shaped projections on the edges of the leaf. The Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) has leaf projections which are more scalloped or tear drop shaped.
The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that blooms best when it is slightly potbound. This means that it should be planted in a pot that is just slightly larger than the one it is currently in. For example, if your Christmas Cactus is in a 6″ grow pot, you should plant it into an 8″ pot. This will allow the plant to have enough room to grow, but will still encourage it to bloom. I’ve seen older Christmas Cacti that are planted in relatively small pots and they’re doing just fine. Just make sure that the pot you choose has at least one drain hole to allow for proper drainage.
Final Words
Christmas cactus typically start blooming around late November to early December.
It is typically around the end of October or early November when Christmas cactus start to bloom. However, if the plant is kept in a cool environment with little light exposure, it can delay blooming until early December.
