Question
QUESTION: Hi ! I have two christmas cacti and i want them to bloom at christmas time. I know that they need dark nights and cool days to bloom. I have them in my basement where it is about 50F and they get maybe only a few hours of indirect sun. Is this okay for them to bloom in chirstmas time. Or is this too dark for them to bloom? Also, when the buds start forming can i bring the plant back in my living area?

ANSWER: Victor,

Have your Christmas Cactus been outside at all this summer? And what climate do you live in? My Christmas Cactus are outside hanging in my redbud tree all summer and do not go in until just before frost. They almost immediately start budding.

Indirect sun is not enough. They will not bloom and they will start dropping segments soon. You can put them under a 2 tube florescent light fixture no more than 12 inches from the light and plug the light into a timer and have it on for 11 hours a day so the nights are longer than the days.

If you are in a climate that is still warm you can also set them outside and bring them in only if the temperatures are going to be below 40 degrees.  It will only take a few weeks for them to start setting buds. Yes, as soon as you start seeing buds you can bring them into your home.

They will have more blooms if you have fertilized them regularly in the last year. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi! Umm no they were not outdoors during the summer. They are usually in a west window inside my house. I live in Massachusetts. So if the window in my basement is not okay then what shood i do to get them to flowers. there's not many cool 50F places in my house.

Answer
Victor,

As I said above you can keep them in the cool basement but put a 2 tube florescent light fixture over them no more than 12 inches from the light. Plug the light into a timer and have it on for 11 hours a day so the nights are longer than the days.

If that is not possible take them outside now. Just pay attention to the weather forecast and take them back in for the night if the weatherman says it is going to be below 40 degrees at night. It will only take a few weeks of cool temperatures for them to set buds. Good luck.

Darlene