Why Is My Christmas Cactus Wilted & Not Blooming?

Light

• Place the plant in a location where it will receive indirect sunlight during spring, summer and early fall. When flower buds appear on the tips of the leaves, the plant will need bright winter light. Avoid moving the plant after buds appear, or the buds can drop. The best way to achieve the right lighting conditions year-round is to use a curtain sheer for indirect light and open the sheer for direct bright light. Plants need at least 12 hours of dark starting in October and shorter hours of darkness as spring approaches.

Temperatures

• Temperatures to grow a Christmas cactus must be warm during the day and cooler at night. Ideal temperatures during the day are 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 to 65 F at night. After buds appear, keep the temperatures between 60 and 70 F, away from heating and cooling ducts.

Water

• Unlike other cacti that are drought tolerant, the Christmas cactus soil needs a thorough watering when the soil is dry. You need to check the soil and add water as soon as the soil is dry and not days later. Usually, the plant needs water once a week. If the soil is too dry, the leaves will wilt, but if the soil is soggy all the time, the leaves will again wilt. After the plant is done flowering, and no buds are left on the leave tips, don't water again for six weeks.

Fertilizer

• Feed the Christmas cactus with a well-balanced fertilizer once a month between April and October. Fertilize the cacti with 10-10-10 NPK water soluble fertilizer diluted in half.

Roots

• Christmas cacti can be repotted between February and April, but if the plant is root bound, the chances of it flowering is higher. If you must repot the plant, use a pot the same size or 1 to 2 inches in diameter larger.