How to get Christmas cacti to bloom
Q. How can I care for my Christmas cactus?
A. As a gardener, there is nothing more enjoyable then having flowers bloom during the winter months even if they are indoors. Your Christmas cactus can do just that!
With some care, Christmas cactuses are designed to bloom every year around the holidays. To ensure that yours blooms, keep these helpful hints in mind.
• Watch your light exposure. These cactus are considered “short day” plants, which means that they bloom best when given no more than eight to 11 hours of light each day. Be sure that at night, your cactus is not subject to a lot of indoor light and/or streetlight exposure.
• Water weekly. While these beautiful plants come from the cactuses family, they do not like extremely dry soil. As the top inch of soil dries out, it's time to water.
• Control their environment. They also flower best when exposed to cool temperatures between 60 and 68 degrees.
• Feed them. Consider fertilizing in April and October with houseplant fertilizer.
It's also important to note that once the buds have formed and your plant prepares to bloom, handle it with care.
Once buds begin to swell, cut back a bit on your watering. Let your cactus dry out between watering. Allowing your plant to dry out during the bud formation should result in more vibrant blooms.
Also, while buds are forming, do not move your plant. Once buds form, do be on the lookout for any buds dropping from the plant. This is usually a sign that you are overwatering or that your plant is getting insufficient light during the day. If you notice buds dropping, you may want to fertilize, lessen your watering and/or move your cactus to a sunnier location.
As your flowers fade, continue to care for your plant, watering it weekly as the top layer of soil dries. You should prune your cactus about a month after it blooms. This will encourage growth and hopefully more blooms next year.
As winter fades and spring arrives be sure to fertilize your cactus. Once summer evening temperatures are above 50 degrees, set your cactus outside in a shady spot. Your cactus will benefit from some fresh air and natural sunlight. As fall approaches, bring in your cactus and prepare once again for abundant blooms to bring cheer during the holiday season.
— Wendy Reiner
• Provided by Master Gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.