How to make the Christmas cactus bloom to have flowers all year round

The Christmas cactus, sometimes also called Easter cactus or, scientifically, Schlumbergera, is a famous houseplant appreciated because of its pink or lilac flowers.

Unlike other types of cacti, the Christmas cactus and its closest relatives do not live in hot and arid environments such as deserts, but are native to the tropical forests of Brazil. They grow on trees and suck up all the moisture.

How to plant Christmas cactus

• When choosing a pot to plant Christmas cactus make sure to get one that has a drainage hole – this will help prevent the potting soil from becoming too wet.
• Christmas cacti are suitable for all types of soil for succulents.
• Place the plant in a corner where it can get plenty of indirect light, even in the bathroom. Direct sun could damage and cause the leaves to turn yellow.
• Christmas cacti prefer humid environments, which is why it is suggested to put them in the kitchen or bathroom.

How to care for Christmas cacti

• Water every 2-3 weeks, but only when the surface of the soil becomes too dry to the touch. For example, if the plant is in 15 cm of potting soil, water only when the top 3-4 cm of potting soil is dry (use your fingers to check).
• When the potting soil is dry, water until the water begins to come out of the drainage hole in the pot. After about 15 minutes, remove the excess water that accumulates in the saucer.
• It is very important to water during the flowering of the plant.
• Prune the plant in late spring to stimulate branching and flowering.

How to make Christmas cacti bloom

The flowering of Christmas cacti is triggered by colder temperatures and longer fall nights. There are various types of this plant, and they can bloom from November until mid-spring.

If your Christmas cactus isn’t blooming, it’s probably getting too much light or in an environment that’s too hot. Here are some ways to encourage Christmas cacti to bloom.

• To trigger flowering, nights must last at least 14 hours, and days between 8 and 10 hours, for at least 6 weeks. If you have a habit of leaving a lot of lights on at home during the night, you will probably have to cover the cactus or move it to a less lit area.
• Flower buds develop best in a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. You can stimulate flowering by exposing the plant to a temperature of around 7°C for several nights in a row.
• If the cactus loses buds one year, do not throw away the plant, it should bloom the following year.

Most common Christmas cactus diseases

Flowers falling. If the plant is exposed to any kind of stress, it will lose its flowers. Too much light, an abrupt change in temperature or too much water can cause this problem.

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Important: This website does not give medical advice, nor does it suggest the use of techniques as a form of treatment for physical problems, for which medical advice is required. If you decide to apply the information contained in this site, you do not assume responsibility for it. The intention of the site is to be illustrative, not exhortative or didactic.