How does a Christmas cactus know when to bloom?

Is it a temperature change, or a timing factor??? What ???

How does a Christmas cactus know when to bloom?
Christmas cactus will bloom if given long uninterrupted dark periods, about 12 hours each night. Begin the dark treatments in about mid-October to have plants in full bloom by the holidays. You can place the plants in a dark closet from about 8 P.M. - 8 A.M. each night for 6-8 weeks or until you see buds forming. Christmas cacti will also bloom if they are subjected to cool temperatures of about 50 to 55 degrees F, eliminating the need for the dark treatments. Plants should be blooming for the holidays if cool treatments are started by early November.
Reply:generally you stop watering it for a week or 2, after you start watering again, it starts to develop blooms.
Reply:a timing thing. mine blooms every year at thanksgiving, just like spring flowers know to bloom in the spring.
Reply:Your answer is either temperature change or a timing factor. Either will be effective in getting Christmas cacti to bloom.





Short day lengths, i.e., 15 hours of darkness a night will trigger bud formation, as will prolonged temps of 50 - 55 degrees.





Don't move the plants a lot or they will likely drop their buds.





For more Christmas cactus information see the links below.
Reply:It doesn't always bloom at Christmas. My mom has one that blooms in February and my friend has one that blooms in November.