It is a common misconception that Christmas cactus blooms only at Christmas time. In reality, these cacti can bloom at any time of the year, depending on the conditions they are grown in. They typically bloom in the late fall or early winter. Christmas cacti are native to Brazil, and they are part of the cactus family. These plants are relatively easy to care for, and they make great houseplants. Christmas cacti are known for their beautiful, showy flowers. If you are looking for a plant that will add some holiday cheer to your home, a Christmas cactus may be the perfect choice.
The Christmas cactus typically blooms around Christmastime, hence its name.
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. This will give you the best chance for flowers during the winter holiday season. Long nights should be started in late September or October and continued for eight weeks.
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.
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark
The goal is to give the plant at least 12 hours of complete darkness each day. This will help to induce flowering. Once the plant has been in the dark for a few days, you can begin to slowly reduce the amount of time it spends in the dark. After about two weeks, the plant should be back to its normal light schedule.
If you want your Christmas cactus plant to bloom, you should give it long, uninterrupted periods of darkness. Start the dark treatments around 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.
Where is the best place to put a Christmas cactus?
Holiday cacti should be placed in an east or west facing window with a temperature between 70° and 80℉ for best results.
Water your Christmas cactus when the soil feels dry to the touch. The Christmas Cactus thrives in dry environments, so be sure to water around once every 2-3 weeks.
Should a Christmas cactus be watered while blooming?
When watering your cactus, be sure to keep the soil evenly moist. You can mist it frequently to help with this. For light, place the cactus in an east-facing window. This will give it moderate light as well as some direct sun. As for fertilization, apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.
If you’re Christmas Cactus isn’t blooming, it’s most likely because you’re not watering it enough, or because the humidity around the plant is too low. Diana Cox from The Gardening Talk says that if you increase the amount of water you give your plant, or increase the humidity around it, your Christmas Cactus should start blooming again.
How do you take care of a Christmas cactus that won’t bloom
To get a Christmas cactus to bloom, water it less frequently beginning in October and provide twelve hours of darkness and twelve hours of indirect sunlight each day. Keep the plant cool for best results.
During the fall, 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. This will help the plant to enter a state of dormancy. Once the plant is in dormancy, it will be able to withstand colder temperatures and will begin to bloom in late December.
Can you use Miracle Grow on Christmas cactus?
To ensure your Christmas cactus blooms beautifully, follow these simple tips:
-Plant your cactus in a potting mix specifically designed for cactuses and succulents, like Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.
-Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. This succulent doesn’t like to sit in soggy soil.
-To encourage blooming, increase the humidity around the plant by misting it occasionally or placing it on a pebble tray filled with water.
-Feed your cactus from after blooming until fall with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food.
The Christmas cactus is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant that can brighten up any holiday season. With proper care, it can even last for up to 100 years! So if you’re looking for a festive and lasting addition to your home, the Christmas cactus is definitely the way to go.
What are the signs of overwatering a Christmas cactus
As long as you water your Christmas cactus when the surface feels dry to the touch, it should be fine. However, if the stems start to get soft and mushy, you are overwatering it and if the stems look shriveled, you are probably under-watering it.
Misting your cactus every day is the best way to keep it healthy. A few squirts from a spray bottle is all you need. Only water the base of the plant when the soil is completely dry to the touch.
How do you keep a Christmas cactus bushy?
Pruning an older plant will cause new growth to emerge. The plant will put out new segments wherever you trim. This is a great way to deal with a leggy plant, as it will fill in, making for a bushier, fuller Christmas cactus.
To get your Christmas Cactus to bloom, it’s best to keep it slightly potbound. Mine was in a 6″ grow pot and I planted it into an 8″ pot. I’ve seen older Christmas Cacti planted in relatively small pots and they’re doing just fine. Just make sure the pot has at least 1 drain hole.
Warp Up
The Christmas cactus blooms from December to February.
It is said that Christmas cactus blooms best when it is kept slightly pot-bound, so do not be too quick to re-pot your plant. The Christmas cactus blooms in response to shorter days and longer nights, so if you want your plant to bloom, you will need to mimic those conditions.
