Can someone give me tips for my christmas cactus?

Question

Hi there. I have had this christmas cactus for nearly two years. Part of the plant died but the remaining part is doing well with new growth. My question is how can I get the plant to bloom? My mom has had several and they usually bloom for her. I keep mine in the shade mostly. It gets some sun. I water it once a week. It isn't close to heat either.

It starts to get pink tips on the end of the leaf but it never gets any further than that. Does anyone have any advice on how to get this plant to bloom or when it usually does?

Thanks so much.

Answer 1

For a period of 8 weeks starting in mid-September the plants require at least 13 hours of total darkness at night. If you are growing Christmas cactus in an area in your home where you are likely to turn on the lights at night or streetlights come through the window, put your plants outside where they receive bright but filtered sun during the day, but away from any kind of artificial light during the night.

See source for more information on growing and blooming holiday cactus

Answer 2

In September and October, Christmas cactus plants should be kept in a cool room where temperatures will remain around 50 degrees, give or take a few degrees. Be sure not to expose them to freezing temperatures. It's also very important they be kept in a room where no artificial light will be turned on at night.

Actually the key to getting Christmas cactus to flower during the holiday season, is the proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering. So during the fall months, the Christmas cactus should be placed in a spot where it receives indoor indirect bright light during the daylight hours but total darkness at night. (Much the same exposure you would give a poinsettia except a Christmas poinsettia requires warm temperatures whereas the Christmas cactus needs a spot where the temperatures are cool during the fall months.)

Answer 3

their are two types of christmas cactus. theirs the thanksgiving cactus and the original christmas cactus. in the wild the thanksgiving cactus blooms a bit earlier than the christmas cactus.

in october you will need to do a few special things to make the plant bloom.

first you will need to

a. put your plant in a oom that no one uses like a guset bedroom. this way it gets only the natural light and recieves a certain amount of darkness. also you will need to some how keep the room cold temps in the 60s are best at night or even all day.

b. if you have a corner where all your plants are you can put that plant inbetween them where it will get little light. also if the floor is tiled and it is cold outside then it will give it the extra cold too.

c. you can put it in a closet and neglect for two weeks and then water and neglect for two more weeks and repeat until buds occur

once the buds occur you can put your plant where every one can see it. a common problem when buds are lost is when it is near a draft, or when it is watered too much. in order to bloom you cant feed it or water it as often as you would.

you should stop any plant feeding now or in september.

if outdoors then the process of flowers houdl occur naturally if you live in a wam area, but not an area with hot winters above 80 or cold winters when the night goes below about 50 on average and 35 when cold