How to Get Zygocactus to Bloom

Place the zygocactus in a cool room at temperatures near 50 degrees Fahrenheit during September, October and November. Ensure your zygocactus is not subject to freezing temperatures during this time. The cool temperatures are part of the conditions needed to induce flowering.

Situate the Christmas cactus in a spot that receives bright, indirect light during the day. The plant also requires total darkness during nighttime to bloom. This is easy to do by placing an overturned cardboard box over the plant at night and removing it each morning. If the room is sufficiently dark without the light of streetlights or adjoining rooms, the box is not necessary.

Water only when the soil is completely dry 1 to 1 1/2 inches below the surface. When encouraging your zygocactus to bloom, give it less water than you do during the rest of the year. It normally requires watering when the top inch of soil is dried out; allowing the soil to dry out a little bit more will help it produce flower buds.

Fertilize zygocactus in late October or early November with liquid 0-10-10 fertilizer mixed following the label directions. Water the plant with the solution the day after a thorough watering, as plants are better able to absorb nutrients if their soil is moist.