how to get a christmas cactus to bloom

To get the Christmas Cactus to bloom you need to place it in darkness for 12-14 hours a day (overnight), and when I say darkness… I do mean dark – as little indirect light as possible is best. For the rest of the day it is OK to place the plant in bright, indirect light.

1. How do you get a Christmas cactus to bloom indoors?
2. Can you force a Christmas cactus to bloom?
3. How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?
4. How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
5. When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
6. Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
7. Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?
8. Should I prune my Christmas cactus?
9. Why is my Christmas cactus limp?
10. How long do Christmas cactus live?
11. How long does Christmas cactus bloom?
12. What months do Christmas cactus bloom?

How do you get a Christmas cactus to bloom indoors?

Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.

Can you force a Christmas cactus to bloom?

In order to further force a Christmas cactus to bloom, you'll need to move the plant where it will receive about 12-14 hours of darkness. Bright, indirect light during the day is fine; however, Christmas cactus requires at least 12 hours of darkness at night in order to encourage bud development.

How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom?

Christmas Cactus are extremely popular when November and December roll around. I happen to like them even when they're not in bloom and think they make fine houseplants. But wait, did you know that they can repeat flower? Mine started re-blooming in February, so yes, Christmas Cactus do flower more than once a year.

How often do you water a Christmas cactus?

Plan to water every 2-3 weeks, but only water when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches feel dry.

When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?

Step 3: Move the Mature Cactus to a Dark Location

In late September or early October, place the mature plant in a dark room or keep it covered (under a box or bag works fine) for at least 12 hours a day.

Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?

In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn't be sitting directly in water).

Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?

Coffee is a trusted secret that many people use to keep their Christmas cactus healthy and blooming each year. Just make sure its plain black coffee. Find this Pin and more on Christmas cactus tips by Barbra Thelen-Byrnes.

Should I prune my Christmas cactus?

Pruning a Christmas cactus, large or small, will help it to grow fuller and bushier, which in turn results in more blooms in the future. The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is right after it has bloomed. At this time, the Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and will start to put out new leaves.

Why is my Christmas cactus limp?

Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you've neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Continue to water sparingly every few days until the soil is lightly moist.

How long do Christmas cactus live?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when properly cared for, Christmas cacti can live for 20 to 30 years. If you provide long nights starting around October 1st, you can force the Christmas cactus to bloom year after year. Cool night temperatures can also encourage it to bloom.

How long does Christmas cactus bloom?

Christmas cactus is a long-lived plant with bright blooms that appear around the winter holidays. Normally, blooms last at least one to two weeks. If conditions are just right, the impressive flowers may hang around for seven to eight weeks.

What months do Christmas cactus bloom?

The trick to getting your Christmas cactus to bloom boils down to three critical things: light, temperature, and water. Typically, the bloom season for this plant comes during fall- in the last days of October and the early days of November.