How to make a Christmas cactus bloom – and enjoy its vibrant flowers year after year

Christmas cactuses are loved for their colorful blooms, so if they fail to flower, it feels disappointing. The good news is, there are a few tips and tricks you can try to increase your chances of a festive display.

Usually, these houseplants bloom from November to January, but it does require a certain amount of Christmas cactus care. It’s not unheard of for them to flower again in early spring, too, if conditions are just right.

To help your plant perform at its best and find out exactly how to make a Christmas cactus bloom, we turned to houseplant experts. Below, they share their top tips for these tropical plants, including advice on watering and lighting.

3 ways to encourage a Christmas cactus to flower

‘The best way to encourage blooming is to maintain a happy plant,’ says Kiersten Rankel, an expert from plant-care app Greg.

To guide your Christmas cactus care routine, Justin Hancock, a horticulturist of Costa Farms, thinks it's helpful to consider the environment the plant comes from. ‘Native to tropical rainforests in South America, it grows on trees, so it’s used to bright shade, warm temperatures, and relatively humid conditions.’

Kiersten Rankel

Kiersten Rankel is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast. She earned her master's degree from Tulane University in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology after her undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology, also from Tulane. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and tending to her 150+ houseplants and vegetable garden.

Justin Hancock

Justin Hancock is a Costa Farms horticulturist with over 25 years in the industry. A plant enthusiast and educator, he has a degree in horticultural science and has worked in garden centers and botanical gardens, as a garden designer, and in garden publishing (including at Better Homes and Gardens). He has experience gardening across the country, from Minnesota to Miami to Oregon. Justin is also co-host of the Costa Farms podcast Plant Rx.

1. Avoid watering mistakes

Under- or overwatering are common Christmas cactus mistakes and should be avoided if you want to enjoy plenty of blooms. ‘Water when the top one to two inches of soil are bone dry to maintain even moisture,’ recommends Kiersten.

Justin adds, 'Take care not to overwater; it would rather be slightly dry than too soggy.'

Using a moisture meter, such as this one available from The Sill, can help you gauge how often to water your Christmas cactus.

2. Get the light levels right

‘Keeping your holiday cactus in a bright spot ensures it has the energy it needs to produce lots of flower buds when it’s time to bloom,’ says Justin.

However, Christmas cactuses also like periods of darkness. According to Justin, they want about eight to 10 weeks of long nights to bud up.

During this period, providing bright light for 11 hours or less during the day and then darkness at night for at least 13 hours is key, he notes. 'If you have a guest room or another space where you don’t turn lights on after the sun goes down, that’s a perfect place to make reblooming easy.

‘Giving it cool night temperatures also helps to induce blooms,’ Justin adds. ‘It can go as low as about 55°F at night (but it still wants to be warm during the day).’

3. Apply fertilizer correctly

‘Periodic fertilization can also help give it a boost by ensuring it has all the nutrients it needs and isn’t hungry,’ says Justin.

Knowing when to fertilize a Christmas cactus is important, though: do so in its growing season, from spring to fall, and always follow packet instructions to avoid damaging your plant.

FAQs

How many times a year will a Christmas cactus bloom?

The Christmas cactus will typically bloom once a year. However, Justin Hancock, a horticulturist of Costa Farms, notes how a well-looked-after plant can bloom a couple of times per year if provided with long, dark and cool nighttime conditions.

How long will it take a Christmas cactus to bloom again?

It will take six to eight weeks for buds to appear, and a further eight to 12 to come into full bloom. Each flower should last from five to seven days, whereas the flowering period of the plant itself can last for three to six weeks.

Why are my Christmas cactus's blooms falling off?

Christmas cactus's blooms fall off because the plant is either under- or overwatered or because the room is too hot or too dry. Remember to always protect your plant from central heating to help prevent the latter.

Looking for more Christmas plants with beautiful blooms? Try planting amaryllis bulbs indoors or perhaps forcing paperwhites in a jar as part of your festive decor.