Why are my Christmas cacti not blooming?

Colleen Baugus
by Colleen Baugus
I am having problems with my cacti - any help? Thanks!
  10 answers
  • Haysha S. Haysha S. on Jan 01, 2017

    Hi Colleen. I didn't water mine very much, and I think they do well without a lot of water. Mine are in full bloom now.

  • Colleen Baugus Colleen Baugus on Jan 01, 2017

    THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 01, 2017

    Christmas cacti need indirect sunlight and not much water.How old is the plant?It may need repotting in fresh cactus and succulent soil in the next size pot.

    • Christina Yates Christina Yates on Jan 03, 2017

      I agree about indirect sunlight, in fact, having moved house in August I found the only space I had for mine was on a hall table just out the light and I noticed today that despite it being a pathetic little plant it had begun to flower. It used to be quite a large specimen but unfortunately I left it to it's own devices and almost lost it.

  • Cheryl Fontaine Cheryl Fontaine on Jan 01, 2017

    Possibly in too big a pot? My secret believe is that blooming plants need to be a tiny bit uncomfortable before they'll bloom. Mine just finished heavy bloom (in time for actual Christmas!) and is now budding for another.

  • Judith Monti Judith Monti on Jan 01, 2017

    It could be one that blooms at Easter. I get mine to bloom by leaving outside in the fall in the cool to cold evening temps. I think there are recommendations too to place your plant in darkness for several weeks. Google how to bloom

  • Deb Martin Knaff Deb Martin Knaff on Jan 01, 2017

    I confess that I neglect myou cactus and it repays me with many, many flowers each December. Mine comes from a very old plant, I water and fertilize the same as my other flowering plants. In Sept or Oct, I put mine in a darker, colder spare bedroom, slow down the watering and then bring it out to the livingroom in mid Nov. It usually has already started to flower and then really takes off. Hope this helps as here in the dark, snowing, blowing blizzards of Montana, nothing is sweeter than a blooming cactus.

    • Colleen Baugus Colleen Baugus on Jan 01, 2017

      THANKS / MINE IS REAL OLD TOO. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO. IT BLOOMED OK FOR A FEW YEARS THEN I MOVED AND IT QUIT. I THINK MAYBE IT MISSES THAT DARK OLD PLACE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

  • Colleen Baugus Colleen Baugus on Jan 02, 2017

    thanks ya all for the help

  • Janet Uselton Janet Uselton on Jan 16, 2017

    For bacon

  • Judy Judy on Jan 22, 2017

    I put mine on the porch outside all summer...then when I bring it in....it always stars to bud....I have 4

  • Linda Linda on Jan 22, 2017

    I usually put my Christmas Cactus out side for the summer in a shaded area. I hardly ever water it when outside. Then in the fall I bring it in before a frost. In order for it to bloom, it needs a good 12 hrs of darkness daily for 2 weeks and you should see buds on it. It ends up blooming at Thanksgiving and at New Years. Keep it out of direct sunlight