Why Won't My Christmas Cactus Bloom? (and What to Do About It)

The ground is covered with snow and winter is (unofficially) here. But wait! A glimmer of hope and sunshine will surely appear amongst your houseplants. It’s almost time for your Christmas cactus to bloom!

But what happens when it doesn’t? How do you get a Christmas cactus to bloom? And how do you care for your Christmas cactus afterwards? Here are 5 common solutions you can try before you give up on your poor Christmas cactus.

If you prefer watching rather than reading, check out the video below:

FIVE REASONS YOUR CHRISTMAS CACTUS ISN’T BLOOMING

1. It’s Too Warm

Christmas cactuses need to experience a drop in temperature to tell the plant that it’s time to start blooming. If your plant is placed in a south-facing window in the warmest spot in your house, try moving it to a north-facing window or near a door. The cool air from the door being open and shut should send it the signals that winter is coming.

I’ve noticed that friends who place their Christmas cactus in a place where it receives no drafts, like in a bathroom or on top of the fridge, have a hard time getting their cactus to bloom.

2. You Gave it Too Much Love Over the Summer (aka Stop Overwatering!)

I never understood how much people love overwatering their plants until I started a gardening blog. While your Christmas cactus would like a drink every week or two, over the summer, it can survive on neglect. It sounds counter-intuitive, but the plant needs a period of almost drought to signal it to bloom in the winter.

Lazy waterers, rejoice! Finally, a plant that won’t die if you forget about it for a month.

However, you can’t forget about it completely. Once the fall hits, begin watering your cactus again regularly. After the blooms are done, you can ease back on watering again.

3. It Didn’t Need to be Re-Potted

Christmas cactuses actually like to be root-bound. Who knew?

Wait until the plant is 3-4 years old, or the roots start to grow through the drainage hole before you re-pot it and select a pot that is only slightly bigger than your current pot. Finally, ensure you use good-quality potting soil made for succulents.

Never re-pot a Christmas cactus that is still blooming. It is best to wait until it is finished blooming or until early spring.

Does your Christmas Cactus refuse to bloom? Succulent houseplants are supposed to be easy!! Stop seething with jealousy and try these 5 Christmas cactus care solutions to get your flower blooming again. You'll never guess the tips about watering and repotting!! #christmascactus #thanksgivingcactus #houseplants #succulents

Related: How to Propagate a Christmas Cactus

4. It’s Getting Too Much Light

Starting in October, the plant needs at least 12 hours of darkness to bloom. This might not be a problem if you live in a more northern latitude, but it may be a bit trickier the further south you are. Unfortunately, artificial lights can mess with the 12 hours of darkness that are needed. The easiest way to solve this problem is to move your plant to a room in your home that is not often used during the evening.

Also, please don’t take this number as a rule to live and die by! When I first edited this blog post, it was October 19th in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and there were approximately 10 1/2 hours of sunlight daily. (I checked on a sunrise-to-sunset calculator.)

Your particular variety might bloom a little sooner or a little later. Just be patient!

5. It’s not actually a Christmas Cactus

Did you know that there are actually three different types of cacti that look like a Christmas cactus? There is a Thanksgiving cactus, a Christmas cactus, and an Easter cactus. If you’ve tried everything in this post and still have no blooms, you might have a different cactus than you originally thought.

Small potted Christmas Cactus with fuchsia blooms, blooming in November.

Why is my Christmas Cactus Blooming in October? (Or February or April!?)

Did you know that some Christmas cacti bloom continually from Thanksgiving to Easter? My Christmas cactus (the one pictured) had blooms shortly after I bought it the first year (2018), then four seemingly random blooms around Easter in April. In 2019, it had a main bloom around Canadian Thanksgiving in mid-October and a second full bloom in early December. I suspect that it will continue to bloom all the way until Easter again.

2020 update: If I hadn’t changed its location, it would have also had a spring bloom.

I don’t know if every variety of Christmas cactus will do this, but I take it as a sign that my houseplant likes its location. At the time of writing this post, it was sitting on a window sill that’s west-facing and is blocked by a house, so it didn’t get a ton of light. It’s near the back door of the house, so it gets the occasional draft. Finally, as a rule of thumb, we tend to keep our house on the cooler side. Never more than 20 degrees Celsius.

In the past, I’ve also kept it on a window sill on a north-facing window near the front door, and it is equally as happy there.

A Word on PATIENCE

I know many of you want to immediately make your Christmas cactus bloom and get results right now. Plants just aren’t like that. Your plant needs time to adjust to its new location. So, give your plant the best conditions possible for success: low light and a colder location. If you’ve read this list and are doing all the right things, you likely don’t have anything to worry about. Just be patient.

A fushia Christmas cactus bloom upclose.

If you liked this blog post, follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

Want to Make Beautiful, Boutique Worthy Natural Christmas Decor at a Fraction of the Cost?

The Natural Christmas Crafts Masterclass is your frugal solution to making high-end-looking wreaths, garlands, and more. No talent or crazy amounts of money are required. Learn how to make bespoke Christmas decor using natural greens, berries and more, for a fraction of the retail cost!

Join the conversation Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

Monique

Is Castor Oil good for Christmas Cactus? and how often can I use it on my plant please?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hi Monique, Castor Oil won't hurt your plant, but it won't help it necessarily. You can use it as a nitrogen fertilizer once a year in the Spring or Summer. However, castor oil won't help your plant re-bloom. For that, you'll need darkness and cold temperatures.
  
  Reply
Gwen Martin

I had 2 Thanksgiving Cactus that needed repotting. One had been in the same pot for 7 years and had stopped blooming. I repotted them in the summer around July and began fertilizing them regularly. In October, I always move them to the guest room so they get the required darkness and it usually works. This year they didn't even have any buds. I don't over water. In the summer I put them on my back porch where the morning sun shines. I don't put them in the direct sunlight. However, the temperature can reach 95 or higher. What did I do wrong?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  It could be one of two things--the heat, as you suggest, or the plant becoming accustomed to being in the new pot. Where I live the temperature would never reach that high in the winter and most of us have the best success putting them near a door or window where they occasionally get blasted with cold air. However, I've read from my readers who live in much warmer places than I do that the heat doesn't seem to matter for them. Just out of curiosity, is the new pot a lot bigger than the old one? Thanksgiving Cactus usually don't like being repotted, even when they need it. All that to say, if there is a cooler place in your home, try moving it there. If not, it might just need a year to get over the shock of being in a new pot. All the best and let me know how it goes!!
  
  Reply
Rebecca

Have lovely cactus that was blooming when given to me last summer, I mistakenly reported it, went into total shock! My friend has a real nice one in her home? said bring it inside, so I did. No blooms but came back to life?. So by reading from your readers in moving it to the north side deck area, it's colder there, will see, maybe I'll see some blooms in the next month's. Thanks gals for the tips?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I hope it works out for you! Let us know.
  
  Reply
Jennifer

My friend has a Resurrection cactus that blooms during summer months. Have you heard of this? She gave me some cuttings and seem to be doing well so far

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hmm, is that maybe another name for an Easter cactus?
  
  Reply
Janet

I am thankful that you are helping people identify what type of cactus they have. If I see another thanksgiving cactus called a Christmas cactus, I’ll freak. Nice article

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
- Judy
  
  In the scheme of things, does it really matter if a person calls it a Christmas cactus. The tag that accompanied mine said Christmas, but visually I knew it was a thanksgiving cactus. Still call it a Christmas.
  
  Reply
Harveen Delello

Thank you for writing what reasons stop blooming. I will move it to a cool room not used and dark. The plant couldnt be any healthier. Every one are in great shape but just wont bloom. Will let all know the outcome. Thank you

Reply
BJ

I just run across your blog and love it. You are so good at answering the many questions that are asked of you. I’m hoping you can help me. Out of all the posts I have read regarding Christmas Cactus, not one mentions anything about watering the plant while preparing it for blooming. This is my 2nd year for my plant, so am crossing my fingers. When I brought it home last year, it had quite a few white buds, unfortunately they ALL dropped off within a week or so. I move the plant each evening to my closet for 12-14 hrs of darkness, then return it to it’s home during the day, by moving it so much will it prevent the blooms. Thanks for all your help.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  The moving it shouldn't have made the buds drop. How often did you water it? I water mine at least once a week when its time for it to bloom, but once every second week is fine in the summer.
  
  Reply
  - Rita
    
    Thank you for this tip. I don’t do well with watering this cactus, my friend asked my to winter sit her large Christmas cactus, I’m so concerned I’ll over water. It’s is budding, but only parts, I’m rotating the plant, and it’s in the northern window. I’m in Central Michigan so there is lots of darkness.
    
    Reply
Sheila A Holyk

My daughter has 3 Christmas/Thanksgiving cacti that have never bloomed. I moved them this summer into a room with more light differentiation but still no buds this year. She keeps her house relatively cool, so I'm wondering if that's interfering with their 'cycle'. My cacti are heavy with buds and already starting to bloom and I usually get 3-4 blooms periods between Thanksgiving and Easter (yes, Easter). I even have one she had given up on two years ago that has actually got buds on it this year. I've done everything I know to do - any suggestions?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  With the one that blooms until Easter, I wonder if there's a certain variety that does that? I've heard of other people's blooming from Thanksgiving to Easter, and last year mine got a second set of buds. As for your daughter's cactus, the cool temperature should be good for them, we keep our house pretty cool. Maybe as a last ditch effort you could try a fertilizer?
  
  Reply
Deborah Bowden

Well you helped me know I have a Thanksgiving cactus. I have had it for 2 years. It was blooming when I got it. Has not bloomed since. I reported it in early fall with special cactus soil. It is thriving and has doubled in size. No blooms. I am disabled and cannot move it. It gets some sun in the morning. What kind of fertilizer does it need. It is dark in the living room where it lives at night. What do I need to do to get it to bloom. This was a plant sent when my mama died 2 years ago and I am holding on to keep it going. Thank you for your time.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Is it possible to keep your house cooler? Or to open a window for a bit of time so it could get a bit of cool air? It really needs a hit of cold that naturally happens in the winter months with doors opening and closing (at least in places that get snow!) to signal it to start making blooms. It sounds like you're doing everything else right.
  
  Reply
Gloria Rose

if my Christmas cactus did not bloom (it bloomed last year in December and April) do I need to prune it? I think that this year I fertilized at the wrong time, and it really increased in size. I also repotted.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I would leave it for another year. I don't think pruning encourages blooms like it does with other flowers.
  
  Reply
Pat

I have to tell you what happen to my nieces 30 year plus Christmas cactus! She lives up north in Wisconsin, and moved to a new house, every year summer time she puts her cactus out on her porch, since she moved to a new place this was the first time she put it out. Went to water it and it was down to stubs! Apparently the wildlife loves the plant ,deer munched it down! Now hoping she can bring it back!

Reply
Debbie

I have had a cactus Christmas Thanksgiving Easter? I don’t know. It has grown but has never flowered. What do you suggest and how do I know which it is. I live in an apartment so windows all on one side. It is between south and west.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Try moving it to the other side of the room, or farther away from the window. I find if it doesn't bloom, it's not the right spot for the plant.
  
  Reply
Linda Spencer

I have two large plants that live outside always. They have never bloomed. I live in Hawaii so any suggestions on how to make it bloom.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I'm sorry, my climate is sooo different than yours (I'm on the Canadian Prairies). Hopefully a reader can chime in and help!
  
  Reply
Manolina

I live in Jamaica, where it is always hot and sunny. I have a problem with my Christmas cactuses. They don't bloom. Also they are brown looking spots usually at the joint connection along the leaves. As soon as they the spots developed the leaves are breaking at that area Please, advise me what I need to do. I also heard that the spraying is good.

Reply
Dawn

I've heard about giving it coffee once a week whats your thoughts on that

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I think it would be fine. Lots of people I know do that with their houseplants
  
  Reply
  - Kristi
    
    Ok like old coffee grounds or pouring a cup of cold coffee into the plant. Mine is very very large and has bloomed constantly for 8 yrs straight. But I go away for the winter and my friend who babysat it overwatered it badly. I replanted its and it took a season to recover but now just wondering if coffee will help with its blooming this Christmas.?
    
    Reply
    - Kristen Raney
      
      Maybe, but I think access to cold and northern light is more important.
      
      Reply
Suzanne

My Christmas cactus has been in same pot close to 20 years,,, it is quite a big plant ,,,how to you freshen the dirt it is in... we are moving soon and it is having a hard time adjusting since I have had to move it,,,,it has not bloom last year and I am not giving up ,,,,it is a great plant,,,thnks for advice in advance,,,hope to get answer,,,I live in Hawkesbury ontario

Reply
Pat

I have 2 "Christmas" cactuses, one of which my 2 year old granddaughter gave a "crewcut". She's now 5 and it's finally showing a few new segments. I have a tendency to over water and read somewhere that succulents should not be watered until they start to wrinkle. I waited until I saw some wrinkling and then watered until I saw water coming out of the drain holes. I'm continuing to do that weekly and they look a little better but not the shiny plump segments in your picture. They bloom throughout the winter and occasionally in the early summer. Any suggestions of how to get them looking firm and shiny? Thanks for your help.

Reply
Michelle Broderick

I have a very old Thanksgiving cactus that belonged to my mother. When she was sick the plant was badly neglected and since we were never allowed to touch her plans I wasn't sure how to care for it. I have since been on a mission to bring it back to life. It was droopy and will do it and the bottom segments were drying up. I change the soil but left it in the same pot, change my watering schedule and started watering from the bottom as well as misting in dryer months. I also added in a mild succulent fertilizer each time I watered. The plant came back to life and put out tons of new growth over Spring and summer. As my mother always did I moved it in to a basement family Room in the fall to allow it to get 13 Hours of darkness and cooler temperatures. I've been checking every few days and haven't watered it in about 6 weeks. It looked healthy but wasn't blooming so I just left it alone. To my surprise I went in the other day and found several segments on the ground and still no blooms. It was very dry even though the heat is not on in that Room. I gave it a good misting and a very light watering from the bottom. How do I get it to Bloom? It's very important to me to keep this plants alive and healthy as it was my mom's and she is no longer with us.

Reply
Christine Leavitt

I enjoyed reading your article on Cactus and found it very informative. I think the cactus I bought was two different cactus plants in one pot from the nursery. It has bloomed at Thanksgiving only 1/2 and then at Christmas another 1/2. I thought something was wrong with the plant, but after reading your article, I think I have two different plants. I have also had it sometimes bud and bloom and at the same time, then some buds fall off. I will try not having artificial light on it so it gets 12 hours of darkness, and be careful on watering it, perhaps too much. This plant has grown about 6 x's the size since I purchased it about 6 years ago. I have transplanted it only one time, and that's when I started having some of the buds drop off. I will try transplanting it next spring with better soil (cactus soil and earthworm castings)and separate the roots in the crowed pot a little, hopefully this will revive the plants.

Reply
Sheila

I repotted my Christmas cactus this fall and moved it to a cool south facing bedroom . It started budding just after I moved it . But immediately quit . It has about 5 tiny buds that won’t get bigger . It gets at least 12 hours of darkness and the room Is quite cool . I water once per week , not a lot and mist daily .. Help?

Reply
Michele Perez

I have an ENORMOUS easily 60 lbs Thanksgiving cactus that literally never blooms. When it was small it bloomed all the time now that it's old and huge it does not bloom my question is will it eventually bloom again? I never did anything special before (It's 20 years old) I can't move it around easily so it stays in the same place a few years ago I did repot it. Does age affect how much it blooms?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  In your case, I might actually try dividing the plant this summer, and seeing if that helps.
  
  Reply
  - Øystein Larssen
    
    Never heard about north or south faced windows. Grandmothers cacti where south faced all time. It is now over 70 years. Outside summer time. Under some bush. We have two more around 40 years old once repotted and outside from early june til late august, blooming november- april. Southern Norway this is. We vil try to give them the 12h day to see if we can have even more flowers. Inspiring reading.
    
    Reply
- Sina
  
  I have several zygocactus that range from 20-30 years old. When I lived in an apt in CA, they were near a west facing window. They bloomed at random times over the years, but I think they set buds because they were stressed & thought they were about to die. They were never full of blooms like when they were first purchased. We moved cross country to PA and this year, I started paying attention to their care. In spring, I divided plants AND took cuttings to clean them up and encourage more growth. I water propagated the cuttings and once rooted, they were potted in a cactus mix. Every plant went outside for the summer on a covered, SW facing porch. I brought them inside if the temps were going to be higher than 85 F or lower than 50 F. They were fertilized LIGHTLY about twice a month. When I brought them indoors in the fall, I didn’t know where to put them. I couldn’t imagine moving each of them daily to get the recommended amount of light and darkness. I set up artificial lighting (plant bulbs) around a plant shelf and bought an inexpensive humidifier. EVERY zygocactus (except the newly potted cuttings) is budding out and blooming!! These plants are such troopers. Whether you decide to divide them in spring or take cuttings and make several new plants, you can’t go wrong. They WILL bloom again!
  
  Reply
Maria

Thanks for all the hints. I have had my plant for quite a few years and it has always bloomed beautifully. This year, I repotted it and although it has grown tremendously, no flowers. I live in Florida and it is in an enclosed but windowed room where it has always been. Since I cant give it any cold air, except Air condition, should I move it to a room that is darker?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  If possible, yes, I'd try that.
  
  Reply
Bik

Very useful tips. I keep mine in colder places during summer and its blooming in november or december. Thanks

Reply
Luann

What’s the best fertilizer for a Christmas Cactus?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I don't actually know because I've never fertilized mine! When I do, I'm just going to grab a general houseplant fertilizer at my local garden centre.
  
  Reply
Judy

What a Wonderful site! My Christmas/Thanksgiving cactuses have developed buds, but more than half fall off. My questions were answered by reading all of the scenarios. For this coming fall, I will have made a couple of removable plant frames , to regulate light. I will also go back to my theory on watering: Less is more.

Reply
Gwendolyn Marsh

Both my Christmas Cactus have many tiny buds that developed before Christmas but did not grow nor open. I don't over water and I keep them in a cool location. Do you have any advice for me? Thanks.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  It sounds like you're doing everything right. Maybe try a place with more light?
  
  Reply
Laura

Hi, thanks for the the tips. I have a Christmas cactus that for like 5 years, always in the same place. Every year it blooms around January. This year it looks great but it's not blooming. All the little cactus I made from it had bloomed. Is there anything I could do diferently? Thanks

Reply
Shannan

My mother in law divided her Christmas Cactus and gave me a small planter from hers. The first Christmas I had it, there were blooms, but it’s never bloomed since and it’s been probably 10 years since she gave it to me. Hers is huge and always has a ridiculous amount of blooms, so I’m quite sad mine hasn’t followed suit. :( I don’t think I’ve ever really over watered it as I’m quite a forgetful person when it comes to that and it otherwise looks relatively healthy. Is it past the point of hope for future blooms?

Reply
Doreen

I have several of these plants. The two on the western facing window sill are doing well, with one of them having constant blooming from mid-November to present (March 4). The 4 in the kitchen area have never bloomed. Thanks for your tips...I may have been overwatering them, or they may be too warm. Will try your suggestions.

Reply
Rivet

bonjour ou puis-je acheter un cactus de noel

Reply
Steve Sutherland

Now I know that one of ours is a Thanksgiving cactus! But it hasn’t blossomed since I put it in a bigger pot….8 years ago! It has grown quite a bit, same treatment as our Christmas cactus right beside it on the mantle. Christmas cactus blooms regularly. What to do?

Reply
Cathy

My Christmas Cactus of 26 years is having issues with blooming. We moved to a different province two years ago, and it has had three different homes. Before moving to our new place, it would bloom twice a year, December and March. I have repotted it last year but it still seems unhappy. Now, it loses leaves but continues to produce new growth. It gets lots of light and not a lot of water. Hope you can help.

Reply
Jean Shaw

Hi, I have had my cactus for 3 years and it bloomed. I put it in a closet for 30 hrs and it’s huge but, it hasn’t bloomed. I took it to the garden shop where I got it and they replanted it for me and it’s fine but it won’t bloom. I spritz it and I give ii water every 3 weeks from the bottom. What am I doing wrong?

Reply
Christy

Hello. I am going to try these tips and I am really excited. I bought them 1-2 yrs ago. They had blossoms on them but haven't bloomed since and apparently I did nothing right. Hopefully following these steps I will se my babies come to life. How do I know if they are dead? I have one that stands straight up and one that hangs over

Reply
Nancy Glynn

I received a beautiful Christmas cactus a few weeks ago! It was full of buds and a few blooms! It sits near an outside door in cool temp. Right away it started dropping tiny buds! What do you think the problem is?

Reply
Brenda Stockwell

Where can you buy Christmas cactus at

Reply
Reiner Juranek

eef heb ma sunne Plaze nu gann ei des net liesen i necktre des awe wesen. wat des geschrebn steit.ihr gennt es doch ma ordentliig deichleie. seiste det wees i o nich.

Reply
Michelle A

My Christmas Cactus gets lots of buds but they die before they even get bigger than a kidney bean. What could be the issue?

Reply
Donna Kroll

My Christmas Cactus is only budding on one side? How do I get the other side to bud? I have started giving it at least 12 hrs of darkness everyday. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Reply
Kim

I may have over watered a little but I don’t think that’s the problem. I’d like to send a pic.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Sure, if you're on FB or IG, please send it to my DM's there.
  
  Reply
Linda

I have had my moms cactus for 10 years now snd has only bloomed once. What can I do to help it? Mom Has passed and I want to keep it alive.

Reply
Lorena

My Christmas cactus is 50 years old. Usually it bloomed at Christmas and Easter. Most of that time it was in a northwest picture window. Almost 5 years ago I moved and it has been in a west window. But it has not fully bloomed since. Except on 2 occasions there was 2 blooms. I do not have a northwest window. I can’t think of what to do next with it.

Reply
Rachael

Help I have 3 that will not bloom for last 2 years

Reply
Kris

I had small buds on Christmas cactus but it never bloomed. Plant looks healthy.

Reply
Mary

I love your blog! It is so helpful! I am trying desperately to keep my mom's Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus alive and blooming. Mom loved her catcti and it's a good way for me to feel in touch with her! Hoping to achieve blossoms this year! Should I take them with me to Florida or have a friend care for them while I am away this winter? Thank you!

Reply

Why Won’t My Christmas Cactus Bloom? (and What to Do About It)