How do I get a Christmas cactus to bloom?
+1
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
Put it in a dark room until it starts getting tiny bulbs on it.keep it in low light.
The main thing is to be sure the plant receives 12 hours of darkness per day. Artificial light/long day length can interfere with the plant's bloom cycle. Normally you'd want to start the longer night cycle in late Sept/early Oct. If your plant has been getting light for much more than 12 hrs per day for the last month & you start the long nights now, it may bloom a bit later than Christmas. Once you see buds forming, longer days are ok. Also keep the plant fairly potbound, cooler night but well above freezing temps (say 55-65F) are good, and don't over water. Good luck! They are gorgeous plants especially when blooming.
If you could move your plant to a cooler or drafty area (near an outside door) will also cause the plant to set buds. Mine stays by the patio door and gets a good blast of cooler/cold air when I let the dog out to the back yard.
I was always told to keep them on the windowsill behind a curtain so they get a proper night-time with enough darkness if you want them to bloom. :)