Many gardeners love to keep Christmas cactus in their home garden because it is one of the most popular holiday succulents. The plant looks better because of the bright flower blooms that come from the tendrils that drape and creep over it. The Christmas cactus is the best plant for people who want to keep a beautiful plant all year. While you can see this attractive plant thriving all year, the real magic happens when they bloom.
The colorful flowers bring joy and add color to the winters. There are times when these beautiful succulents won’t bloom, though, and you’ll need to figure out how to make them do so. Moreover, figuring out how to make it bloom can be quite challenging for you. But making sure your cute succulent gets enough water, the right temperature, and the right amount of light will help you learn how to make it bloom. This article will tell you what to do if your Christmas cactus hasn’t bloomed yet.
Seeing your Christmas cactus burst into bloom in the spring can be puzzling. After all, it’s called a “Christmas” cactus! Shouldn’t it bloom in December for the holidays? I was equally confused when my Christmas cactus started blooming in March this year. Through some research, I discovered there are a few reasons this surprising spring blooming may happen.
It May Actually Be an Easter Cactus
This is one of the most common reasons for a Christmas cactus to bloom in March. What you think is a Christmas cactus may actually be an Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri, formerly known as Schlumbergera gaertneri). While they look nearly identical, Easter cacti bloom in the spring, while Christmas cacti bloom in late fall to early winter.
The best way to tell them apart is by examining the leaves. Christmas cactus leaves have smooth, rounded tips. Easter cactus leaves have pointed tips with tiny barbs or claws on the ends. So if your cactus is blooming in March, take a close look at those leaf tips! Chances are, it’s an Easter cactus that was mislabeled.
Exposure to Light
Christmas cacti are sensitive to light levels. Like many cacti, they are short-day plants. They need long uninterrupted dark periods (about 12 hours per night) to set flower buds. If they receive too much light, especially during nighttime, it can disrupt their blooming cycle.
So if your Christmas cactus is blooming too early, it may be getting too much light at night. Try moving it to a spot where it gets total darkness from about 8pm to 8am. After a few weeks of long nights, you should see buds start to form in late fall for holiday blooms.
Fluctuating Temperatures
Cooler nighttime temperatures are another key for Christmas cacti to set buds. They need about a 10-15 degree drop in temps at night during their flower-inducing period. Maintaining a consistent cool temperature in the low 60s F both day and night can prevent blooming.
If your cactus blooms sporadically or at odd times, fluctuating seasonal temps could be the cause. Try moving it to a location with cooler nights in fall and winter for more predictable winter blooming. A bright windowsill that gets chilly at night is often perfect.
Stress or Shock
Sudden changes in growing conditions can stress plants and shock them into blooming. Things like repotting moving location or temperature swings can sometimes force Christmas cacti to bloom at odd times. If your cactus blooms profusely right after you move, repot, or otherwise disturb it, stress may be the trigger.
Thankfully, this stress-blooming is temporary. You can get it back on a normal schedule by keeping conditions consistent and avoiding disruption while buds are forming in fall and winter. Give it 12+ hours of darkness per night during bud set for winter blooms.
Old Age or Rootbound
As Christmas cacti mature and become very rootbound in small pots, their blooming habits can change. Very old or severely rootbound plants sometimes flower at odd times or continuously bloom throughout the year.
If your cactus blooms randomly despite optimal growing conditions, its age could be a factor. Try rejuvenating an old plant by repotting it in fresh soil in a slightly larger pot. This provides new growing space for the roots and nutrients for future growth.
What to Do if Your Christmas Cactus Blooms in March
If your Christmas cactus is blooming in March, enjoy the show! Early blooms don’t harm the plant. But you can take steps to get it back on a normal schedule:
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Give it 12+ hours of uninterrupted darkness each night for 6-8 weeks in fall. This will initiate flower buds.
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Move to a cooler location with nighttime temps around 60-65°F during bud set,
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Avoid repotting, moving, or otherwise disturbing it during the bud-forming period.
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Make sure it gets bright, indirect light during the daytime.
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Water sparingly while buds are forming.
With some simple tweaks, you can get your Christmas cactus back to blooming right on time for the holidays again. But if it blooms early, relax and appreciate the gorgeous flowers when they appear. With proper care, you’ll be rewarded with more blooms later in the year too.
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Cactus Blooming in March
Why is my Christmas cactus blooming so early?
Early blooming is often due to too much light at night, inconsistent temperatures, or stress from repotting/moving. Ensuring the plant gets long uninterrupted dark periods and cooler fall/winter nights will typically fix early blooming.
How can I get my Christmas cactus to bloom in December?
Expose it to at least 12 hours of complete darkness each night for 6-8 weeks in fall. Keep it around 60-65°F during those long nights. Avoid disturbing the plant while buds are forming.
Is it bad if my Christmas cactus blooms early?
No, early blooming will not harm the plant. Enjoy the unexpected flowers! But you can get it back on a winter blooming schedule with proper day length, temp, light, and care.
What do I do if my cactus blooms continuously all year?
Continuous blooming often indicates the plant is very old and rootbound. Try repotting in fresh soil and a slightly larger pot to rejuvenate it. Maintain proper seasonal day length and temps to encourage winter blooming.
Why does my cactus have flowers and buds at the same time?
If buds form too close to existing flowers, they may bloom together. It’s normal for some overlap in bud sets. Rotate the pot regularly so all sides get equal light to prevent lopsided blooming.
No matter when your Christmas cactus blooms, enjoy this low-maintenance houseplant’s colorful show. With a little extra care encouraging winter dormancy and bud set, you can get it back on track to brighten up your indoor garden for the holidays again soon.
Provide 12 hours of darkness and cooler temperature
Since Christmas Cactus is a short-day plant, it needs 12 to 24 hours of darkness every day and should be kept in a cool room to flower.
Move your Christmas cactus to a spot where it will receive at least 12 hours of darkness. You can also cover it with a piece of clothing around 6 PM and take it off in the morning. Continue this for approximately 6 weeks to promote the production of the flower buds.
Christmas Cactus with Orange Flowers
Remember that bright light that comes from the side is fine during the day, but it needs 12 hours of total darkness at night. No matter where you keep your Christmas Cactus, don’t turn on the lights at night, not even for a short time. It will break the dark cycle required and interrupt the blooming process.
For Christmas cactus to bloom, the temperature should be between 50 and 55F. You may need to turn down the heater or look for a cooler spot in the room.
Does Christmas Cactus Bloom More Than Once A Year? 
Christmas Cactus Blooming Season
Yes. Unlike many other succulents, Christmas cactus can bloom again in spring if given the short days condition. Putting a Christmas cactus in an east-facing window that gets a lot of sunlight during the day and 12 hours of darkness at night can help the plant flower again.
For at least six to eight weeks, or until the buds appear, make sure your succulent stays in a dark, cool place. If the buds on your Christmas Cactus fall off, it could be because of drafts, too much water, too much sunlight, or too much heat.
Once the buds have appeared, it takes up to twelve weeks for flowers to fully grow. When the plant blooms, make sure to relocate it to a draft-free sunny spot. However, do not place it in an area that receives direct sunlight. When it receives indirect bright sunlight, you will see more blooming. Increase watering while your Christmas Cactus bloom; the amount will depend on temperature, lighting conditions, and humidity levels.
