A holiday cactus displays a beautiful Christmas cactus flower in December, just in time for the holidays. These types of cacti need proper care to bud and flower each year. A Christmas cactus flower may wilt if it gets too much or too little water or light, and both these problems can also cause the Christmas cactus buds to fall off.
Christmas cactus plants (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) are attractive succulent houseplants and both are commonly referred to as Christmas cacti with the same care requirements, but you are more likely to find Schlumbergera truncata for sale in stores, notes North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 12.
Video of the Day
Video of the Day
Christmas cacti are considered tropical plants that require extra care, unlike their desert relatives, which don't need as much plant care to grow and flower. Make sure your Christmas cactus has good growing conditions to keep it blooming throughout the holiday season.
Christmas cactus flower light requirements
During winter and fall, keep the Christmas cactus in a window with direct sunlight, but during the spring and summer, the plant needs indirect light or filtered sun. Plants need at least 13 hours of darkness daily starting in mid-September and continuing through mid-November or the cactus buds will not form—or they will form and drop.
Tip
If you keep the cactus in a room where the temperatures are 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it doesn't need a full 13 hours of darkness, notes the University of Minnesota Extension.
Turning on lights in a room or car lights that shine in the window where the Christmas cactus is kept will interrupt the number of hours of darkness the plant needs during its dark period. This problem will cause buds to drop. If the plant is in a room where these conditions exist, move the plant to a new spot in September, perhaps a dark closet, and leave it there for eight weeks before returning it to its original location.
Christmas cactus water needs
If your Christmas cactus is wilting, it is likely that the plant isn't receiving enough water. Dry soil conditions will also cause the buds to drop. The soil needs to be moist during summer and winter, but dry to the touch in fall and spring before adding water.
Too much water is also a common problem. Overwatering can harm the plant and lead to root rot. Make sure the container has sufficient drainage holes and remove any excess water from the tray under the pot.
Tip
When watering the cactus, avoid getting water on the leaves. Use water that is room temperature to avoid shocking the plant roots, which can prevent the plant from producing buds and flowers.
Ideal Christmas cactus growing temperatures
House temperatures between April and September should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, advises Clemson Cooperative Extension. When buds set during fall, temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the buds to drop. Night temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees F are needed for good leaf growth and bud formation.
Tip
Plants should be kept away from drafts, cooling vents, heating vents and fireplaces; the extreme temperature changes will cause bud drop.
Cactus fertilizer requirements
Fertilizing requirements vary depending on the time of year. Apply a water-soluble cactus fertilizer once a month from March to May during the active growing season. Stop fertilizing the Christmas cactus in June and July, but fertilize again in August and September. Do not fertilize the plant in December and February. Use cactus fertilizer at one-quarter the strength recommended on the package.
Having your Christmas cactus bloom in time for the holiday adds a joyful splash of color during the holiday season. However, these plants need proper Christmas cactus care throughout the year. If the plant is wilting or dropping flower buds, make sure the plant is getting the correct amount of light, water and fertilizer and that the temperatures are not too hot or cold.