How To Get Christmas Cactus To Bloom?

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The Christmas cactus brings color to winter with its flowers. But how can you make christmas cactus to bloom successfully?

In the first year you buy the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) with numerous flower buds. However, the cactus plant ( Cactaceae ) does not bloom permanently and loses its blooming power as the days get longer. However, this does not mean that the Christmas cactus has to give way. It can be brought through the summer easily and without great effort and bloom again in the winter. First of all, of course, the right care up to winter is the alpha and omega. Ultimately, however, the interplay between the right temperature and suitable lighting conditions is also the decisive factor in making the Christmas cactus bloom successfully.

Christmas cactus: proper care in summer

After flowering is before flowering – this is also the case with the perennial Christmas cactus. After flowering, the Christmas cactus allows itself a little rest. The watering needs to be reduced and fertilization is continued during the entire flowering period. If the Christmas cactus is to be given a larger pot, now is the right time to repot. After all, the Christmas cactus will usher in the new growth season with the new shoot. Watering must be increased and fertilization (about every four weeks with a complete nutrient fertilizer) must be resumed.

Induced by cool temperatures and short days, many flower buds form in winter

If there is no more threat of frost, the winter cactus can also spend the summer outdoors. It feels most comfortable in a partially shaded location, as it does not tolerate direct sunlight so well. The Christmas cactus spends the summer happily outdoors. However, it is not worth planting out, because at temperatures below 10 ° C it will have to move back into the house anyway.

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In general, the following applies to the optimal care of the Christmas cactus in summer:

After flowering, it is dormant, a good time to repot
With new shoots, increase irrigation as required and restart fertilization (every 4 weeks with full nutrient fertilizer)
As soon as the temperatures allow it, the Christmas cactus can move outside for the summer (preferably no colder than 10 ° C)
Partially shaded location – the Christmas cactus cannot tolerate full sun
Do not plant out the Christmas cactus
As soon as the temperatures drop, he has to move back into the house

The Schlumbergera likes to spend the summer outdoors in partial shade

Christmas cactus: factors that affect flowering

As soon as the Christmas cactus moves into the house due to the falling temperatures, the crucial phase in preparation for flowering begins slowly. The factors and day length play a decisive role here. Watering should be reduced significantly from October. Slightly cooler temperatures around 15 ° C favor the development of the desired flowers.

In addition, the Christmas cactus is a so-called short-day plant. It is best if the plant experiences a maximum day length of 9 hours for at least four weeks. So you have the choice whether you place the cactus in a room where there is no interfering light for too long days or whether you always darken it. This works, for example, by putting a cardboard box over the plant on the windowsill and guaranteed that no light shines through.

The unique, monosymmetrical flowers of the Christmas cactus appear in winter

If the temperature is too cool (around 10 ° C), the length of the day no longer plays a role in the formation of flowers, but then the formation of the buds is generally more difficult. Temperatures above 22 ° C completely prevent flower formation. When the flower buds begin to develop, the Christmas cactus can also move to a lighter and warmer location. This accelerates the further development of the flowers. In general, the flowering of the Christmas cactus can be specifically influenced by the following factors:

Interaction between temperature and length of day determines the formation of flowers
From October resting phase with lower temperatures, significantly reduced watering and shortened day length in order to promote flower formation

If the Christmas cactus has grown very large, it should be given a larger pot

Temperatures around 10 ° C: difficult flower formation regardless of the length of the day
Temperatures above 22 ° C: flower formation usually prevented
OPTIMAL: Temperatures around 15 ° C and short days (maximum day length of 9 hours)
Darken, for example, with cardboard on the windowsill or make sure that no light sources provide more than 9 hours of light

When the Christmas cactus is finally in full bloom, the care has been worth it

As soon as the flower buds develop: a lighter location and optimal temperatures of around 20 ° C promote further development
Adjust watering to requirements