The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a low-maintenance houseplant and popular holiday gift, known for its gorgeous blossoms. Christmas cactus normally blossom after the rainy season in their native habitat, but we can deceive our indoor plants into blooming by changing their growth environment.
You may encourage your Christmas cactus to bloom by regulating its temperature and restricting its exposure to light. Once you understand how to make a Christmas cactus bloom, you may convince it to bloom at other times of the year.
The Christmas cactus is a unique plant that looks nothing like its namesake—the cactus—but really comes from the Brazilian rainforest rather than the desert. However, Christmas cactus is a real cactus that belongs to the Cactaceae family.
It develops naturally as an epiphyte, or airborne plant, snuggled in the bends of tree limbs. The Christmas cactus, like other cacti, lacks leaves. The jointed stems are flattened and resemble leaves. Flower buds form at the developing tips of these stems.
Because we do not have a rainy season in the United States, we must depend on alternative means to initiate blossoming. Christmas cactus are sensitive to variations in light and temperature. By adjusting these conditions, you may get plants to blossom just in time for the holidays.
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Get The Light Right
“Day length is the biggest driver for flowering,” horticulture professor at Oklahoma State University. “Cool temperatures (less than 70°F), water stress, and lots of indirect light will enhance flowering, but plants need to be under short day conditions [to bloom].”
The ideal conditions for flower bud formation include bright daylight followed by 13 hours or more of continuous darkness. This last factor is important. If the continuous darkness is disrupted, even for a short time, plants may not bloom.
“It is common among the industry to control flowering using light control with blackout technology,” according to Dr. Dunn. In the house, light management is considerably more straightforward. To create the required darkness, cover plants with a black cloth or box at night.
Another alternative is to put plants in an underused room, basement, closet, or warm garage with controllable illumination, such as under grow lights. Provide gloomy night conditions for six weeks, after which flower buds begin to form.
Plants may be returned inside for display after flower buds appear. “Keep plants out of direct sunlight, as it can scald leaves,” Dr. Dunn adds. The best display settings are “4-8 hours of indirect light.”
Keep The Heat Low
Christmas cactus bloom best in chilly weather. Maintain air temperatures between 60°F to 68°F throughout bud growth, and strive to replicate these conditions in the display site. These plants are sensitive to disturbances and may shed buds in reaction to abrupt temperature fluctuations.
“It is best to keep any houseplants, including Christmas cacti, away from drafts (heat/cold). Move plants to their display area as soon as buds form to reduce bud drop.
Feed During Its Growing Season
While fertilizer should be limited during bud development and flowering, feeding plants on a regular basis throughout the growing season promotes healthier growth and better blooming in the autumn.
Fertilize plants after active growth restarts in the spring, using a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer at half intensity. Feed plants every month until August.
As fall approaches, you want to direct the plant’s energy into blooming rather than vegetative development. To do so, limit nitrogen. Some gardeners like to use a nitrogen-free, bloom-enhancing fertilizer (for example, 0-15-10) to stimulate buds, but you may just avoid fertilizer.
Don’t Overwater
Despite their rainforest habitat, Christmas cactus do not need overly damp soil. In fact, Christmas cactus are susceptible to root rot, so avoid overwatering them. During the growth season, water plants when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Reduce water in early fall as you prepare to force plants into bloom. Remember, in their native habitat, Christmas cacti bloom after the rainy season. Creating mild water stress through reduced irrigation can help initiate bud formation.
During the development of blossoms and blooms, plants become more susceptible to fluctuations in water. Nevertheless, plants may lose blossoms if they receive an excessive amount of water, as they necessitate consistent moisture to support the development of these blooms.
One method of optimizing soil hydration after blooms have emerged is to distribute the same amount of water over two distinct waterings each week.
Timing Matters
During the development of blossoms and blooms, plants become more susceptible to fluctuations in water. Nevertheless, plants may lose blossoms if they receive an excessive amount of water, as they necessitate consistent moisture to support the development of these blooms.
One method of optimizing soil hydration after blooms have emerged is to distribute the same amount of water over two distinct waterings each week.
Although Christmas cacti are most frequently in blossom during the holiday season, they can be induced to bloom at any time of the year. “Flowering can occur even during the long days of the summer if a blackout (complete light exclusion) is implemented from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.” asserts Dr. Dunn.
Even plants can be induced to blossom more than once annually. “Return [plants] to short day conditions to promote repeat blooming.”
Pinching And Pruning
Lastly, pruning during the summer months can promote the production of additional blossoms in the winter. In early June, prune plants by cutting back the ends of the stems. Plants will respond by exhibiting an increase in branching, which leads to an increase in the number of stem ends that contain flower blooms. Subsequently, the cuttings may be propagated to initiate new plants.
The dazzling display of Christmas cacti is well worth the effort, despite the fact that forcing them to flower necessitates a bit more planning than with other flowering houseplants. You will discover that the process is quite straightforward once you have determined the optimal blossoming conditions for your residence.
Dunn emphasizes that “the most critical [factor] is the length of the day.” “Specifically, conditions that are characterized by short days and long nights.” Upon achieving this, you will be rewarded with an abundance of blossoms.
