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When does the christmas cactus bloom


How to make a Christmas cactus bloom

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Whether you want to make your Christmas cactus bloom in time for the festive season, or simply want to know how to make it bloom if it seems to have stopped producing flowers entirely, we have expert advice below.

Usually, Christmas cactus, also known as Thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus, blooms from November to January, but if you know how to grow a Christmas cactus, you will also know that getting it to bloom again will depend on getting both room temperature and light levels right. Plus, can you 'force' the plant to bloom again?

We've rounded up top tips on watering, lighting and the perfect temperature below so you can enjoy your Christmas cactus' blooms again.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to make a Christmas cactus bloom

The Christmas cactus can be made to bloom again if is subjected to:

The right light conditions – a week's worth of short days and long nights. A typical northern hemisphere winter will give you approximately 8 hours of daylight and 16 hours of darkness. Put it on a windowsill in a room that's rarely used, since even artificial lights will confuse it.

The right room temperature – Christmas cactus likes cool temperatures, no higher than 60ºF. 

Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild plant expert, explains how to make a Christmas cactus bloom: 'For a second flowering, you will need to reduce the amount of light it's subject to each day, ensuring it’s in the dark 12-14hrs, and stored in a cool room, with a temperature around 50-54ºF (10-12ºC). 

Rachel Martin, of Patch Plants , adds: 'Christmas cactus likes quite a cool temperature and will produce more flowers if kept below about 68ºF (20°C), so keep her well clear of radiators.'

The right level of watering – 'You would also need to cut back on watering, being careful to only water the top inch, and only watering again when it's dry to the touch, this change in conditions will force the plant into a dormancy period – which is vital for new spring flowers. '

The right fertilization approach – knowing when to fertilize Christmas cactus is important: the quick answer is to do so in growing season, from spring to fall.

If you do all this you should make your Christmas cactus bloom again.

When does the Christmas cactus usually bloom? 

The Christmas cactus is a winter-bloomer and comes into flower from November through January. 

How many times a year will a Christmas cactus bloom? 

The Christmas cactus will bloom typically once, however, you can prompt your plant into flowering again in spring with the correct conditions, for example by ensuring it has a short-day, long-night environment and cool room temperatures.

How long will it take a Christmas cactus to bloom again?

'It’ll take six to eight weeks for buds to appear, and a further eight to 12 to come into full bloom,' says that Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild plant expert. 

'Each flower should last from five to seven days, whereas the flowering period of the plant itself can last for three to six weeks. '

Why does my Christmas cactus bloom but not bud?

The reasons that cause Christmas cactuses to bloom but not bud include: rooms that are too hot, too cold or drafty; overwatering; and too many buds. 

If a Christmas cactus is sitting in wet soil, it may begin to suffer root rot. Ideally, you can allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again – and ensure the pot's drainage is good. Otherwise you may want to consider repotting the Christmas cactus to a more suitable container. 

As for room temperature, second budding requires a cooler room than first budding – 50-54ºF (10-12ºC) for second budding; between 60-70ºF (15-21ºC) for the first budding. 

And if the plant is too full, consider pruning it – remove older stems at the base. You can propagate a Christmas cactus, so this is a good opportunity to do so.

Why does my Christmas cactus not flower?

It is likely that you Christmas cactus isn't flowering because it is getting too much daylight or too little water, or being kept in a room that's too warm for it. Eight hours of daylight a day then darkness is a must. Bear in mind that the Christmas cactus is a forest cactus so while they don't like their roots in boggy soil, they don't like to dry out, nor do they like very dry, overheated spaces. It's unlikely that you need to repot a Christmas cactus since they don't mind being a little root-bound.

Why are my Christmas cactus blooms falling off?

Christmas cactus' blooms fall off because the plant is either over- or under-watered or because the room is too hot or too dry. Ideally, only water when the first inch or so of soil is wet and keep in a cool room that has a little humidity, too.

Ruth Doherty is an experienced digital writer and editor specializing in interiors, travel and lifestyle. With 20 years of writing for national sites under her belt, she’s worked for the likes of Livingetc.com, Standard, Ideal Home, Stylist and Marie Claire as well as Homes & Gardens.

3 Secrets to Getting Christmas Cactus to Bloom More Than Once a Year – Garden Betty

Does Christmas cactus bloom more than once a year? Oh yes it does!

If you followed my beginner’s plant care guide for Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), you probably had a profusion of colorful flowers in November or December and are wondering if you have to wait another whole year before your plant blooms again.

The surprising answer is: Nope!

Given proper care under the right conditions, Christmas cactus can actually rebloom in February—and this goes for Thanksgiving cactus or any houseplant labeled simply as “holiday cactus” as well.

Here’s how to get a repeat flowering from your holiday cactus long after the holidays have passed.

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Secret #1: Reduce watering.

In October, start reducing the amount of water your plant normally receives. Lightly water the topmost layer of soil (just the first inch or so), and only when the soil feels completely dry to the touch. Too much water may cause flower buds to fall, so the first inch of soil should be moist (but never waterlogged).

The new, minimal watering schedule will force your Christmas cactus into dormancy, which is critical for getting the plant to bloom (and rebloom). This is where being a lazy houseplant gardener works to your advantage!

Secret #2: Provide at least 12 hours of darkness.

As a short-day plant, Christmas cactus needs 12 to 24 hours of darkness every day to enter a flowering period.

If you keep your plant in an office, this is pretty easy as there’s a good chance your office stays dark all night. At home, however, it can be a little tricky finding a suitable room that’s dark from sunset to sunrise with all the artificial lights we turn on in the evenings.

My suggestion if you want your Christmas cactus to bloom again? Move it to a spot where it’ll get at least 12 uninterrupted hours of darkness, like a closet or basement (where the doors stay closed).

If you don’t have a space with absolute darkness in your home, you can also cover the plant with light-blocking fabric (like blackout curtains) around 6pm and remove it the next morning after 6am.

To make sure the fabric doesn’t crush your plant, I recommend placing the plant under an upside-down hamper (or any similar structure that can act as a frame) and draping the fabric over that.

Keep your plant in this cycle for approximately six weeks to promote the production of flower buds.

I’m not a morning person, so I sometimes even leave my plant in darkness for up to 16 hours a day. When this happens, I’ve found that new flower buds start forming a little sooner—usually within a couple weeks.

Remember that wherever you store your Christmas cactus at night, it needs to be in total darkness for a minimum of 12 hours. Be mindful of street lights, motion-sensor lights, or nightlights. (I know it sounds crazy, but it’s all light to the plant.) Do not turn on any lights at night, even for short periods, as it can disrupt the darkness cycle required and affect the blooming process.

Secret #3: Keep temperatures cool.

The ideal temperature for Christmas cactus to bloom is 50°F to 55°F, and the room has to be free of cold drafts and hot drafts. So keep it away from leaky doors, heating vents, and fireplaces, or any place where the temperature fluctuates a lot between warm and cold.

At home, I turn my heat down to 62°F at night and leave my plant near a well-sealed window, which keeps it cool enough in the evenings.

When people ask why their Christmas cacti grow flower buds that eventually fall off, the problem is almost always caused by drafts, warm temperatures, or too much water.

Recommended products for Christmas cactus care:

What to do once your Christmas cactus blooms again

While creating these ideal conditions to force your Christmas cactus to bloom a second time might feel a little intimidating, it’s actually much easier done than said.

Just follow these tips and you’ll get an extra show from your Christmas cactus to brighten up the dreary days.

Related: 10 Cheery Holiday Houseplants to Grow If You’re Bored With Poinsettias

The bloom this time around is much more sporadic and won’t be nearly as big as the holiday extravaganza you got, but it’s beautiful nonetheless and should last at least a month or so to take you through the rest of winter.

Flowers typically last about five days, and the cooler your home remains, the longer the flowers stay in bloom. (Warm temperatures will cause flowers to fade faster—when they start to look bad, I simply twist them off.)

Once the flowers appear, gradually increase watering as you go back to your normal care routine. The amount of moisture required will depend on temperature, humidity levels, lighting conditions, container size, and the mix your plant is potted in.

In general, Christmas cactus should be watered every 10 days or so in winter, and every 7 days in summer (sometimes more often, if you live in a sunny, arid climate.)

Read next: How to Care for Christmas Cactus Year-Round So It Can Live 100 Years (Seriously!)

cactussucculent

photos, caring for the Decembrist at home, plant propagation

Contents

Schlumbergera Christmas cactus is popularly called the Decembrist, as this plant blooms in most cases by European Christmas - in December. There are species of Schlumbergera cactus with generic, scarlet, orange and white flowers. But what if Schlumbergera does not bloom, and why is this happening? How to provide the plant with proper care and propagate it at home? nine0003

Types of indoor flower Schlumbergera (Decembrist)

Indoor flower Schlumbergera ( Schlumbergera ) - a small genus of cacti originating from the tropical forests of Brazil, represented primarily by the well-known Decembrists.

These epiphytic plants are probably more widespread in cultivation than Echinopsis. But in contrast to the latter, there is absolutely nothing cactus in their appearance: the absence of thorns (there are only weak bristles), a stem consisting of leaf-like plates, numerous large flowers, somewhat reminiscent of fuchsia flowers, so usually they are not recognized as cacti. The correct generic name for these cacti is Schlumbergera, although you can often find the outdated name Zygocactus. nine0003

Due to the unusual period of flowering - at the beginning of winter - we call them Decembrists, in other countries - Christmas cacti. Note that under our conditions, it is the Decembrist, that is, the flower of December, that is the most common Schlumbergera bucklei (Schlumbergera x bucklei) in culture. Natural view - Schlumbergera truncata normally blooms earlier - at the end of October - November.

The most familiar to us is the hybrid flower of Schlumbergera (Decembrist) bouclei. It has small light green segments with rounded projections along the edges. The flowers are purple-pink, almost radially symmetrical. Another species common in culture - Schlumbergera trunkata - is distinguished by jagged protrusions along the edges of the segments. nine0003

As you can see in the photo, this Schlumberger cactus has bilaterally symmetrical flowers with a pronouncedly oblique flower tube:

In nature, there are several dozen flower color options, and breeders have added many more varieties in recent years. So in the Schlumbergera (Decembrist) trunkat plant, you can see a variety of flowers - from white to purple. An amazing rarity is the variegated form of this species.

Why do Schlumbergera buds fall and what to do if the Decembrist plant does not bloom? nine0015

Although Schlumbergers are undemanding in culture, there are still problems with them. Primary: Loss of segments and buds and lack of flowering. Why do Schlumbergera buds and segments fall off even with good care? The main causes are infection with a red tick and the death of the roots. Sometimes it is believed that segments and buds crumble from lack of moisture, and such a plant begins to be watered abundantly. This is not true. Even with strong drying, the Decembrist will rather wither than begin to shed segments. nine0017 Therefore, if the segments fall off abundantly, they should be carefully examined: if the base is yellowish, with small rusty spots, the tick harms! He himself can be seen, especially through a magnifying glass. With a strong infestation of these tiny pests, there are many on the surface of the plant. If neither a tick nor traces of its activity are found, check how firmly the plant holds in the ground. Swinging means something is wrong with the roots. The best solution is to have an emergency transplant.

Look at the photo - in Schlumberger (Decembrists), like most other epiphytic cacti, the root system is very weak: acidification of the substrate; burn with concentrated fertilizer; damage by pests). If during transplantation it is clear that the roots are unhealthy, the root system must be cleaned of earth and dead roots, washed with hot water, dried and planted again in a fresh mixture. The first time after this, the plant is watered carefully, often sprayed and kept in a humid atmosphere (in a greenhouse or under a plastic cap). If the roots are healthy, then during the care and reproduction of Schlumbergera, a regular transplant will benefit the plant. This procedure is well combined with the formation of the crown. nine0003

The fall of segments and buds can also be caused by stress due to a sharp change in the conditions of detention (for example, if a plant that has been standing in the shade for a long time is immediately exposed to the open sun). Physiological disorders associated with a lack of any elements can also lead to the dropping of segments and buds. Finally, the Decembrists rarely, but there are diseases caused by microorganisms. They manifest themselves in various spots or drying out of young shoots, which is why the affected segments also fall off. When caring for a Schlumberger cactus, it should be borne in mind that a small number of segments fall off even in healthy, normally developing plants - as a result of the natural formation of the crown. The fall of some of the buds can also be a normal phenomenon in the case when too many buds have formed and the plant simply cannot afford to give so many flowers. Violation of the optimal care regimen during the flowering period - too low a temperature, insufficient watering, rearrangement of the plant - can also lead to the reset of some of the buds, including large and fully colored ones. It happens that the buds on the Decembrist (more often - on varietal specimens of Schlumbergera trunkata) appear again in the spring. The fall of such "untimely" buds is obviously a normal phenomenon. nine0003

Why doesn't Schlumbergera bloom at all or produces very few flowers? So something is wrong with the content. The main possible causes are lack of nutrients and light. If the plant has not been transplanted for many years (or not watered often enough), if it stands somewhere in a dark corner where natural light does not fall at all, then one cannot count on flowering. Other reasons may be a lack of any nutrients or pests. Proper cultivation, periodic watering, root and foliar feeding with complex fertilizers, preventive treatment with fungicides guarantee the normal growth and flowering of the Decembrist. Another condition conducive to flowering is a short dormant period at the end of summer (August-September) with a reduction in watering. The watering level is resumed when conical buds become visible at the ends of the segments. nine0003

Schlumbergera care and propagation at home from cuttings

The growing conditions of these plants are the exact opposite of the cultivation of "real" cacti, they are the same as the growing conditions of most ordinary houseplants.

When caring for Schlumbergera at home, the flower needs loose nutrient soil, spacious shallow dishes, abundant watering, regular top dressing (root and stem), spraying and washing, moderate (room) temperature almost all year round, moderate sunlight (direct the sun is undesirable). Since it is very simple to provide such conditions in the house, the Decembrists have become so widespread. nine0003

Propagation of Schlumbergera is done by cuttings (preferably from 2-3 segments), which root easily at any time of the year in any moist substrate. To do this, the segments are separated at the very base (the cut remains very narrow; it heals easily), cutting off with a sharp instrument, breaking off or rotating around the longitudinal axis, but without tearing it off with a market! After a short drying, the cutting is placed without deepening, not a substrate, and placed in a humid atmosphere (for example, under a jar). nine0003

Decembrist cuttings can take root even in water. Rooted cuttings are planted in a loose nutrient substrate. The Decembrists of these species grow rapidly and often bloom in very small bushes from several segments. Such juvenile plants are especially decorative because of the contrast between the small stem and the relatively large flower.

With age, even with good care and proper propagation, Schlumberger plants at home can lose their external attractiveness due to corking of the trunk and main branches, combined with weak branching. Schlumbergera truncata is more photophilous, and therefore, in conditions of one-sided lighting, its bushes often lean to one side. The latter is easy to avoid by occasionally (but not the budding period!) Turning the pot with the other side of the plant towards the light. When caring for a Schlumberger cactus, the density and decorativeness of the crown must be adjusted by forming plants. nine0003

It is recommended to constantly shorten non-branching shoots. In general, frequent pruning of Schlumberger bushes contributes to the formation of young shoots and more abundant flowering (since buds usually appear on young segments).

During the flowering period, the Decembrists are very smart, but this beauty lasts only about a month. If you pollinate the flowers of two Schlumberger, fruits will be tied that will decorate the bushes for more than a year.

Decembrist with bright pink fruits is somewhat reminiscent of a decorated Christmas tree. These plants look unusual in bloom at the same time as the fruits of the previous flowering.

Here you can see photos of Schlumbergera care at home:

How to make a Decembrist bloom?

A plant with the unusual name of Schlumberger, known to many as “Christmas”, “Decembrist” or “Varvarina Spit”, lives up to 100 years and does not like to be touched during the flowering period. nine0003

Anna Zalesskaya

Schlumbergera belongs to the Cactus family. The plant comes from the shady humid forests of Brazil, where the peak of flowering occurs in the summer corresponding to our calendar winter. Flowering in December-February is natural for the plant. With proper care, it can live for several decades, the main thing is to know some features.

Decembrist flowers can be not only bright pink. There are dark red, purple, pale pink and white varieties. nine0003

How to plant and propagate Decembrists?

The first time the Schlumberger should not be transplanted, it is better to leave it in the same planter. If you still decide to transplant, then the pot should be chosen a little larger than the previous one (for example, 2 cm larger in diameter). If you transplant a flower immediately into a large pot, it will grow roots for a long time and there will be no flowers. Transplantation is best done no more than once every two years. Like any plant, the Decembrist needs good drainage, so make sure the pot has drainage holes. The flower is good because it can be propagated by cuttings, so it is enough to ask a friend for a couple of branches. This should be done in early spring. At this time, the flowers are cut to form a lush and symmetrical crown. nine0003

When the branches become too long and begin to sag because the plant cannot support its own weight, they can be plucked at the junction of two branches, dried, and then planted in moist soil. In a few weeks, the plant will take root, but you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out, and that the pot with the plant is in the bright sun. Some owners of the Decembrists believe that it is impossible to cut plant segments with a knife, they need to be broken off or unscrewed.

How to care for a Christmas cactus?

In winter, the Decembrist cannot be illuminated, the guarantee of lush flowering is a short daylight hours. The Decembrist loves light, but direct sunlight should not fall on him. At the time of flowering, he needs to provide diffused lighting (the window can be curtained with a curtain). Also, the plant loves moisture very much, so every two or three days the Schlumberger needs to be sprayed with a spray gun or keep a pan with water next to the plant.

Basal watering should not be heavy, but foliar spraying is important. It is better to use settled water, because. from frequent spraying, white stains may appear on the Decembrist. Another option: put the Decembrist on a tray with pebbles and moisten as needed or rinse the plant under a warm shower (but not during the flowering period). nine0003

Decembrist or poinsettia, which is more beautiful?

What should I do to make the Decembrist bloom?

Short daylight hours are the main condition for Decembrist flowering. In order for the buds to start, 5-6 weeks before flowering, the Christmas cactus needs to be in the dark for 12-14 hours, so it is better not to highlight it with artificial light.

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