We ’ve all felt the magic of a home adorned with holiday decorations — twinkle brightness , gay ornamentation , and the enthralling scent of seasonal treats filling the air . But among the quintessential holiday décor , few plants capture the spirit of the season as attractively as the Christmas cactus . With its vivacious , show - stopping blooms , this succulent offers a burst of color just when the days seem at their darkest . However , get your Christmas cactus to bloom with the vacation season can sometimes feel like a horticultural secret .
Is your Christmas cactus obstinately keep back its bloom year after year ? Do you wonder what secret lie behind coaxing those fabulous flowers out of their hiding ? If you ’ve endeavor to sync the blooming schedule of your Christmas cactus with your holiday plans but found it an elusive project , this article is for you . We ’ll demystify the factors that lead to successful blooming and guide you through a tried - and - dead on target method for timely , radiant flowers . Let ’s turn that shy succulent into the life of the holiday party !
How to get your Christmas Cactus to bloom
If you own a Christmas cactus , you sleep together how enchanting those wintertime flower can be . These succulent plants , aboriginal to Brazilian rainforests , can add a vivacious plash of people of color just when the days are at their shortest . However , getting your Christmas cactus to bloom can sometimes finger like a mystery . No vexation — translate on for a comprehensive scout on coaxing those fabulous prime from your plant .
Begin by reducing the temperature somewhat . Christmas cacti opt cooler temperatures leading up to their rosiness sentence , ideally between 55 - 65 ° F ( 13 - 18 ° cytosine ) .
The Christmas cactus requires a period of darkness to rig buds . Give your flora 12 - 14 hours of shadow each daytime for about 6 weeks , starting around late September or other October . Simply covering the plant with a cloth or placing it in a dark room can be efficacious .
During the dark period , trim back watering . You do n’t want to get the plant whole dry out out , but cut back enough to let the top inch of soil to become juiceless to the touch . Once buds appear , resume your normal watering .
Use a balanced , all - purpose fertiliser to sustain your plant . However , stop fecundation about a calendar month before you anticipate flower ; this encourages the industrial plant to focus its vigor on flowering .
Being native to rainforest , Christmas cacti apprize higher humidity . If your indoor air is dry , consider put a humidity tray underneath the pot , or periodically mist the plant .
A good pruning after the blooming cycle can promote a bushier plant and more blooms in the subsequent class . Be certain to remove only the segment at the end of each root .
hold in occasionally for signal of aphids or other pests , as these can suppress blossom . Treat any infestation with insecticidal soap or neem oil , making certain to espouse product guidelines .
A snug spate encourages flower , but if your Christmas cactus has distinctly outgrow its can or if the soil has become too acidic , repotting into a slenderly larger containerwith novel , well - drain soil can give it the room it involve to flourish .
Sometimes , despite your best efforts , plants have their own timelines . strain or historic period can move the blossom cycle , so do n’t be discouraged if it takes a season or two to get it correct .
By come after these crest , you may set the stage for your Christmas cactus to produce its spectacular blooms , in good order on meter for the vacation season .
Why isn’t my Christmas cactus blooming?
The letdown is palpable . Your Christmas cactus sit around there , intelligent in all other respects but mysteriously miss those dazzling blooms you were so looking forward to . You might be fret your head , wondering what went wrong . But before you declare yourself a die plant parent , have ’s dig into the possible reason your Christmas cactus is withholding its floral beauty .
Christmas cacti require specific light conditions to typeset buds . Too much direct lighting or discrepant dark / light cycles can throw off its blooming .
These plants like cool temperature leading up to their flush time . If your habitation is consistently warm , this might discourage flowering .
Both overwatering and underwatering can be detrimental . The plant needs a somewhat dry menstruum before bloom , follow by even watering once buds seem .
Though not heavy feeder , a over deficiency of nutrient can stifle bloom . Use a balanced fertiliser , but forefend over - fertilizing , specially close to the expected blush period .
These cacti are native to Brazilian rainforests and value higher humidness . Dry indoor atmosphere can discourage bloom .
A great deal that is too tumid for the works can lead to root growth at the disbursement of blooms . Christmas cacti wish to be somewhat source - bind to flower best .
Recent repotting , drastic changes in brightness level or temperature , or a pest attack can all try the plant , affecting its ability to bloom .
If your plant is immature , it may not be matured enough to flower . besides , older plants may have slim down or more erratic blooming .
Different Schlumbergera hybrids ( the genus to which Christmas cacti belong ) have different flower patterns . Ensure you have a Christmas cactus , not an Easter or Thanksgiving cactus , which have unlike bloom time .
Aphids , root rot , or other subtle diseases can sap the plant life ’s vigor , preventing it from flowering .
If you ’re facing a bloom - less Christmas cactus , do n’t misplace pump . Identifying the issue is the first step toward a answer . With some careful modification to its care , you may set the stage for a spectacular floral display in season to come . relief assured , a flower Christmas cactus is an achievable goal , and the journeying to get there can be as rewarding as the destination .
