How to Get a Christmas Cactus to Bloom During the Holidays: 5 Must-Know Tips

Find out how to get your Christmas cactus to bloom in time to enhance your holiday decor.

Despite its name, a Christmas cactus is just as likely to bloom in late January as it is to be in full flower when you’re hanging your stockings by the chimney with care. How to get your Christmas cactus to bloom during your holiday festivities depends on both light and temperature. By controlling these two factors in specific ways, you’ll encourage this long-lived tropical plant to develop flower buds. Set your plant on course to be loaded with blossoms for weeks beginning in December with this easy-to-follow plan.

When Does Christmas Cactus Bloom?

Christmas cactus plants form flower buds when they receive 12 hours or so of darkness daily. Long nights in winter are just what Christmas cactus and other winter-blooming plants, like poinsettia, need to form flower buds. In contrast, most garden plants produce flowers when the nights are short, blooming during the long summer days when the sun shines for 14 or more hours a day.

If you limit the time a Christmas cactus is exposed to light to 10 to 12 hours daily, the plant will begin to make flower buds. A brief interruption of the darkness—flipping on a household lamp for a few minutes, for example—will not affect the bud formation.

Related: How to Tell Thanksgiving Cactus from Christmas Cactus

Tips to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom

Encourage your Christmas cactus to flower at Christmastime or at some point in the winter with these tips.

1. Look at the Calendar

Christmas cactus needs about eight weeks to form flower buds. If you want your plant to begin blooming around the middle of December, aim to limit light exposure beginning around the middle of October.

Consider the flowering period duration when choosing a date. A healthy Christmas cactus reliably blooms for four to six weeks. If you begin limiting light in the middle of October, your plant will bloom right before Christmas and continue adding cheer well into January.

2. Move the Plant to an Infrequently Used Room

The easiest way to ensure at least 12 hours of darkness is to move your plant to an infrequently used room where lamps and overhead lights are rarely turned on during night hours. A guest room, office, or seldom-used basement with a sunny window are all great options. Keep in mind that the plant still needs ample light to photosynthesize, so placing it in a continuously dark location is not an option.

Tips

If your home doesn’t have a space that stays dark for at least 12 hours at a stretch, cover your Christmas cactus with a thick blanket daily to extend the dark period as needed to spur flower formation.

3. Monitor the Temperature

Christmas cactus plants form flowers best when daytime temperatures are 65°F to 70°F and nighttime temperatures are 55°F to 65°F. Christmas cactuses are forgiving when it comes to temperature, but keep your plant in a cool space when possible.

4. Water When the Soil Surface Is Dry

Check the soil moisture every few days. If the surface is dry to the touch, water the plant deeply. Be sure to allow excess water to drain away. While flower buds are forming, you’ll want to water more regularly than you might otherwise.

Related: How Often to Water a Christmas Cactus to Keep Your Houseplant Thriving

5. Keep an Eye on the Flower Buds

 Watch for flower buds to form at the tip of each stem and note the date buds appear. About eight weeks after the buds form, when they are plump and showing some color, move the plant to a spot where you can enjoy the flowers. Avoid areas where the temperature fluctuates, such as near a frequently used door to the exterior or near a radiator. Big temperature swings can cause Christmas cactus to drop its buds.

Preparing for Next Year

After your Christmas cactus finishes flowering, keep it in a bright room and water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Expect the plant to grow very slowly after flowering as it rests. It will begin developing new leaves and growing vigorously in spring when the daylight increases.

When you notice new growth in spring, give the plant a dose of liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength every four weeks beginning in May and ending in August. Strong growth in summer prepares the plant for the next holiday flower show.

Related: The 10 Best Fertilizers for Indoor Plants of 2024 to Help Your Greenery Thrive

Frequently asked Questions

I can’t get my Christmas cactus to form buds. What might be wrong?

Did your plant receive 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness for eight weeks? Is the plant receiving bright light during the daytime? Was the temperature maintained at a steady 60°F to 70°F? Christmas cactus can be finicky, and consistency is key. Maintain consistent light and temperature conditions for best results. If your plant is several years old, the potting soil might be depleted. Repot the plant and expect flower buds next year.

The buds are falling off my Christmas cactus. What’s going on?

The plant likely encountered some sort of stress. Buds fall off when exposed to blasts of cold air or heat. Dry soil or overly wet soil can also cause buds to drop. Maintain moist but not wet soil and protect your plant from temperature swings.

Can I move my holiday cactus outside during the summer?

Yes, holiday cactus thrives outside during summer in temperate conditions. Be sure to place it where it is protected from harsh afternoon sunlight, which can burn its foliage. When temperatures fall into the 50s at night in autumn, move the plant inside.