Question
I've had my christmas cactus now for over a year. When I bought it it had flowers on it, but when they died it never bloomed again. I've repotted it with cactus potting mix, but this soil doesn't drain very well (ever time I water, the water stays on top and takes quite a while to seep into the soil). Also, it doesn't seem to be getting bigger. Any help? Charlene  

Answer
Charlene,

How much light is it getting? They normally bloom around Christmas and sometimes again at Easter. Cool temperatures or short days trigger blooming.  I live in northeast IN and mine go outdoors for the summer in a semi shady location so they do not get sunburned. Then in early September when I take other plants indoors I leave the Christmas Cacti outdoors for awhile longer as long as the low does not drop blow 40 degrees. Both the shorter days and the cooler night temperatures trigger them to set blooms. When I notice they are covered with blooms I take them indoors for the winter and enjoy all the blooms. If frost is predicted I even take them in for the night and put them back out the next morning until they have set buds.

Until fall you need to water them reguarly and fertilize on a regular monthly basis.

If you cannot keep it outdoors for the summer it needs to be in front of an east or west window with no window coverings all day. Then in September you need to put it in a totally dark room from 8 pm to 8 am. Absolutley no light, not even for a few seconds. If that is not possible cover it with a double layer of black trash bags from 8 pm to 8 am every night.

As for the water not soaking in try using a fork to break up the surface of the soil just before watering and see if that helps. It sounds like a surface tension thing. You could also try putting a drop of dish detergent in the water before you water. It will also break the surface tension.  Try the fork thing first. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene