Christmas Cactus Flowers - Ask Extension
This year I am again having problems with the flowers on my Christmas Cactus. The plant gets an abundance of flower buds, but most of the ones that f...
Knowledgebase
Christmas Cactus Flowers #922848
Asked December 13, 2025, 2:18 PM EST
This year I am again having problems with the flowers on my Christmas Cactus. The plant gets an abundance of flower buds, but most of the ones that flower, do not flower completely. Many partially flower, but then start drooping before fully blooming and opening. Also, many of the buds fall off before blooming. I am cafeful to not overwater, and the plant is in a window facing the east.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
It's hard to tell from the photo what is causing the symptoms, but possibilities include low ambient humidity (these cacti are native to jungle environments, where they grow as epiphytes on the trees like orchids do), temperature fluctuations, under-watering, and possibly exposure to ethylene gas, which can come from a group of ripe fruit and leaks in gas appliances.
When watering, make sure the potting mix is thoroughly rehydrated and excess water freely drips out of the bottom drain holes. To boost humidity, consider using a humidifier (misting foliage will not be effective).
An east-facing window doesn't give the plant much light (especially this time of year and if the plant isn't directly in front of the pane), so if you have an option to grow it in a west- or south-facing window, that may help with growth and vigor overall, even if it may not change much with regards to flower bud dropping. In fact, that may need to wait until after the flowering period, as Iowa State notes that "to avoid flower bud drop, do not move the plant during flower bud development," though it can be moved once flowers are opening. Michigan State mentions a couple other causes, such as exposing the plant to light that interrupts its required 13 hours of darkness (a seasonal trigger for flowering) and exposing the plant to temperature swings (drafts), particularly below about 50 degrees. The linked page has more detail about the darkness period.
Miri
When watering, make sure the potting mix is thoroughly rehydrated and excess water freely drips out of the bottom drain holes. To boost humidity, consider using a humidifier (misting foliage will not be effective).
An east-facing window doesn't give the plant much light (especially this time of year and if the plant isn't directly in front of the pane), so if you have an option to grow it in a west- or south-facing window, that may help with growth and vigor overall, even if it may not change much with regards to flower bud dropping. In fact, that may need to wait until after the flowering period, as Iowa State notes that "to avoid flower bud drop, do not move the plant during flower bud development," though it can be moved once flowers are opening. Michigan State mentions a couple other causes, such as exposing the plant to light that interrupts its required 13 hours of darkness (a seasonal trigger for flowering) and exposing the plant to temperature swings (drafts), particularly below about 50 degrees. The linked page has more detail about the darkness period.
Miri
