Christmas cactus is on schedule!

[marlingardener]

I've had Christmas cacti before, and each one bloomed on any holiday but Christmas. This year my cactus hit it right. For the life of me, I can't figure out what I did correctly!

 

[Chuck]

I've had Christmas cacti before, and each one bloomed on any holiday but Christmas. This year my cactus hit it right. For the life of me, I can't figure out what I did correctly!View attachment 3952

Did you by any chance move the plant to where it gets less sunlight a month or two ago? and possibly forget to water it?

 

[Pat]

The Christmas cacti I have is not growing, it is not dying just staying the same. Do I need to move it to a place where it will get less sunlight and not water it as often to get it to start to grow? I have had the plant a year and it looks about the same size as it did when I got it.

 

[marlingardener]

Chuck, I think that watering it less may have helped. It is in the same place as always, but I did let it dry out more. I tend to "fuss" over plants, and probably was keeping it too moist.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, I think that watering it less may have helped. It is in the same place as always, but I did let it dry out more. I tend to "fuss" over plants, and probably was keeping it too moist.

My mother grew these things and from what I remember she would move them from direct sunlight into a shaded place and not water them or at least reduce the water so as to stress them and make them bloom. I just don't know the timeline as to when she did this but she grew these plants to sell and they always started blooming when the holidays started. I never paid much attention to her flower business as I worked with dad and grand dad exclusively on the vegetable side of things

 

[Chuck]

The Christmas cacti I have is not growing, it is not dying just staying the same. Do I need to move it to a place where it will get less sunlight and not water it as often to get it to start to grow? I have had the plant a year and it looks about the same size as it did when I got it.

What type of medium and container is it planted in?

 

[claudine]

Maybe your plant needed some time to figure out when Christmas is, haha It looks really lovely, I like this shade of red

 

[Mockingbird]

I just bought a new Christmas cactus this year, I had one for years that my son got for me that just seemed to die back, it was about 15 years old. I had taken quite a few cuttings over the years.

Mine was flowering when I got it right around Thanksgiving, I got a few flowers still. Do you have an opinion on whether these cactus need a cool period? i always kept mine in full light but moved it nearer the window where it was cooler for a few months a year. My flowers were also very red this year.

 

[Chuck]

I just bought a new Christmas cactus this year, I had one for years that my son got for me that just seemed to die back, it was about 15 years old. I had taken quite a few cuttings over the years.

Mine was flowering when I got it right around Thanksgiving, I got a few flowers still. Do you have an opinion on whether these cactus need a cool period? i always kept mine in full light but moved it nearer the window where it was cooler for a few months a year. My flowers were also very red this year.

I don't think temp has much to do with blooming. Light intensity and length of light has the most to do with it I think, plus a restriction of water

 

[LouisFerdinand]

How to care for Christmas Cactus

 

[LouisFerdinand]

Yesterday I went into Rite Aid. There were Christmas cactus plants for sale.
Some had pink flowers. Others had white flowers. I did not know that Christmas cactus come in white.

 

[zigs]

Yesterday I went into Rite Aid. There were Christmas cactus plants for sale.
Some had pink flowers. Others had white flowers. I did not know that Christmas cactus come in white.

I've got one just about to flower Louis, think they're going to be pink though.