Christmas cactus requires at least 12 hours of darkness at night in order to fully bloom, and bright, indirect light during the day is fine.
Table of Contents
What to do with Christmas cactus after it blooms?
Keep plants cool (around 50 degrees) following their blooming period. Water them to keep the soil just barely moist, and don’t let them dry out too much. Plants should be kept in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and direct heat.
How long does a cactus flower last?
You have to be patient because a cactus blooms a long time from when it is fully grown. The flowers can stay for up to six months. Cacti bloom when the soil is moist and the temperature is warm enough to allow the roots of the plant to grow. When the plants are ready to bloom, they will start to open their petioles. This means that the petals will open and release their fragrance.
Once the flowers open, you can watch them for a few days to see if the fragrance is strong enough for you to smell it. If it is, then you will know that you are in the right place. You can also watch the flower for about a week and then it will be ready for harvest.
Do Christmas cactus bloom more than once a year?
Christmas cactus bloom more than once a year? Yes, it does. If you followed my beginner’s plant care guide for Christmas cactus, you probably had a lot of colorful flowers in November and December, but are wondering if you have to wait another year before they bloom again. The answer is yes, but not for the reasons you might think.
The reason cacti don’t bloom as often as they used to is because of the way they are grown in the United States. In the early 20th century, most of these plants were grown as ornamental plants, which meant that they didn’t need to be pruned to keep them looking their best. As a result, they were able to grow in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, making them a great choice for a Christmas tree.
However, as the popularity of Christmas trees grew, so did the need for pruning. Pruning is the process of cutting back on the number of leaves on a plant to make it look more like its natural habitat. This can be done in many different ways, such as cutting off the top or bottom leaves, removing the stems, or even cutting the entire plant down to a single stem.
Should I water my Christmas cactus when it’s blooming?
If buds appear on the plant during this time, you can move the plant to its usual location and resume normal lighting conditions. Extreme changes in temperature or lighting are not recommended at this time. When the plant is in bloom, continue to water it and add some cactus fertilization to the soil.
After the bloom has finished, it is time to remove the buds from the stem. This can be done in a few different ways, but the most common method is to cut the bud off with a pair of scissors or a sharp knife. Be careful not to damage the flower buds, as this can cause them to fall off.
You can also cut off the entire stem, which will leave you with just the flowers. If you do this, be sure to leave the stems in place for a couple of days to allow the cacti to regrow.
Should you deadhead Christmas cactus?
Keep your cacti looking its best during and after the Christmas season by deadheading all the spent blooms. Christmas is over you can enjoy your cacti until they die back to the ground.