Houseplants: Need help with my holiday cactus.

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Skyla_Smith Exeter United Kingdom June 8, 2009 12:22 AM	Ive got this holiday cactus which i have had for about 3years now. Its looking good, healthy and green but its only ever flowered once, Its really really pretty with pretty pink/purple flowers, how can i look after this plant so it flowers again, i really want it to flower again but it hasnt in such a long time. Please please help. This message was edited Jun 7, 2009 8:50 PM
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) June 8, 2009 01:29 AM	In order to bloom they need cool temperatures as well as a certain amount of darkness at night. Here's an article that talks about it http://www.humeseeds.com/xmasccts.htm Given that we're heading into summer now, your best bet is probably wait until the fall when the days are getting shorter again, if you try to force it to bloom now it's going to be a lot more work because the temperatures and day length are both working against you.
Skyla_Smith Exeter United Kingdom June 8, 2009 11:13 AM	Wow that website was brilliant, it told me everthing i wondered about with my little plant. :) thanks so much for your help. Im pretty sure that in no time atall my plant will be flowering again :) Thanks. This message was edited Jun 9, 2009 1:43 PM
X_Butterflies_X Devon United Kingdom June 13, 2009 10:24 PM	Hope your cactus flowers, its really really pretty,ive got a holiday cactus and when i want it to flower i put it somewheer dark (a cupboard) at 6pm and then take it out the following day at 8am, do that for like 6 weeks and it should flower. It doesnt matter if you sometimes forget to take it out/put it in cupboard just try not too :) x
Flutterbies Devon United Kingdom June 17, 2009 12:11 PM	Good tip butterflies, i have a holiday cactus and when i want it to flower thats exactly what i do, i put it somewhere dark for a longer period of time wo it has less artificial light :)
tommyr2006 Poughkeepsie, NY June 19, 2009 03:05 PM	All that it needs to set flower buds is cool fall temperatures. Leave it out until it gets close to freezing out in the fall. It'll bud up! Mine never fail.
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom June 23, 2009 08:52 AM	We just leave ours in the same spot all year; it's on a North(ish) facing windowsil and it sits there all year and it buds every winter.
X_Butterflies_X Devon United Kingdom June 23, 2009 09:11 AM	Mine is near a window that is east facing and i had it for 2 years without it flowering and i was told by a friend that if i decreased the artificial light it would flower, and as mine is in the living room where at least the tv is on untill about 11pm every night there is alot of artificial light so as i said above i just put it somewhere dark for 13/14 hours when i want it to flower it. It works like a charm, i do it for about 6 weeks and it flowers!
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 5, 2009 11:08 PM	are they also known as christmass cactus? I have had one for 3 years and I dont think it has ever flowered
tommyr2006 Poughkeepsie, NY July 6, 2009 02:03 AM	Iluv, Feed it according to label directions and leave outside until temps get almost to freezing. It will bud up. You either have a xmas cactus, a thanksgiving cactus or Easter cactus. More then likely you have a thanksgiving cactus.
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 6, 2009 01:26 PM	It was my grandmas so there is no tag. We have always called it a christmas cactus tho.
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) July 10, 2009 04:33 AM	I call mine Christmas cactus too. I checked on mine today when i watered and it has buds on it!!! That has never happened before. I have it outside in shade. We have had weird weather this year. Cool and wet instead of hot and dry. That almost has to be it. S-t-r-a-n-g-e!!!! I take mine inside in Sept and it blooms around Christmas. I'm probably going to bring it in tomorrow. Has this ever happened to anyone else?
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 10, 2009 01:43 PM	mine stays inside all the time. It got to big to stay at the nursing home with my grandma
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom July 21, 2009 07:41 AM	Iluvcatz Holiday cactus' are the same as christmas cactus and easter cactus etc. We call ours a Christmas cactus as well; they just get the christmas/easter/other title from the time when they have flowers.
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 21, 2009 08:44 PM	I just noticed flowers on mine this weekend!!
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) July 22, 2009 06:56 AM	Glad to hear others cacti are blooming too. Makes me feel better to think mine wont bloom and die now.
jmp24 Medford, NJ July 23, 2009 04:27 PM	Here in the northeast US I put mine outside in a shady spot after the last frost, usually april or may, then bring it back indoors before the first frost (usually october) This long period of gradually diminishing daytime hours and cooler shorter nights towards the end of the summer is what sets the buds. Usually my plants have buds before I even bring them back indoors. Not sure how this would work with the weather in England.
dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom July 24, 2009 10:00 AM	we have buds on ours too but I'm sure it always gets them this time of year and drops them straight away.

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