How to Get Your Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus to Bloom for the Holidays!

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This video includes changes in light, water, and fertilizer for your Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus to bloom on time for the holidays, including how to "force" it to bloom.
Thanks again for watching and be blessed!
Amy :)

[@OfftoShambala]

I have bought these with buds and moved them all over the place and they kept their blooms… I guess once you acquire or your cactus drops blooms due to moving, then you know it’s time to keep them in one place. May Gods shine His Grace upon you as well! Hallelujah!

[@Pariss42r]

Thanks for the information I just purchased my very first Christmas Cactus. So glad I found your channel. Thanks for letting me know that the flowers will fall off because of the new home. Glad I won't think I did something wrong, Blessings to you

[@OrchidWhisperer]

So glad this was helpful! :)

[@ellietobe]

I don’t put a box over my Thanksgiving cactus but I put it in an unused bedroom where it gets natural light and darkness as the season changes to fall. Since we start having less light about the end of August it seem to work. It has bloomed every year. This year it was a bit neglected because of my having so many other plants and day to day chores to attend to. I hope it will not hold that against us.

[@DJTHRILLER]

Mine sits in a window sill and blooms three times a year.

[@jimp4037]

Great video thanks! I live in western Pennsylvania. I just today brought my Thanksgiving Cactus inside because the nights are going down to 40°F. I've had it almost a year now. It bloomed white last year. Anyhow, I put it in the cooler dark basement this evening and I already see very little white circles forming on the tips -- naturally -- just from the cooler temps and less natural light outside. My basement is unheated right now and unlit. I have it in the only window which is south facing. No watering in October. Thanks again for all the information. God bless.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Glad the video was helpful! They set buds quickly after they're brought inside from the cooler temps. I'm sure it will bloom profusely since it's already setting buds. Happy growing! :)

[@oliviaromero650]

thank you for all your tips .

[@kimhumiston2686]

Your holiday cactus are so full and healthy looking! Beautiful!

[@orchidsandhoyaschannel5952]

Great video, I keep mine on the patio and turn the lights off with a huge black umbrella

[@9kirkwood]

Each year I review your instructions. Thank you. During Spring,Summer I attempt to propagate with poor success. I will hold hope for good flowering this year.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

I root mine first in water before I plant them in soil. It seems to give them a good start. I hope yours blooms beautifully this year! 😇🌺

[@shirleyholt898]

Hi Amy . Thanks for the great tips your Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus always look beautiful. Take care and may the Lord keep you in His tender care. Shalom❤️🙏🏻✝️😇

[@OrchidWhisperer]

I always appreciate your blessings, Shirley! 😇💞 Have a beautiful day, my friend!

[@virginiaalcantar5443]

Thank you for sharing your plant care system🙏

[@roslynclifford5983]

On a previous video you advised to water using orchid fertiliser. I have used this intermittently to great results. My plants look better and had a bumper flowering season. Thanks for your tips Amy. 🇦🇺

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much for sharing that, Roslyn! I'm glad you've had success with it! 😇💖⚘Amy

[@cathloveslife]

Thank you so much for suggesting a BOX LOL I saw a you tube video where he covered his cactus with a black plastic bag which had an elastic my mind could not think of anything else so when you mentioned a box I hit my head and said yeah 😂😂😂hahaha most help. And I will not water in October

[@OrchidWhisperer]

I'm so glad this was helpful! Yes, a box works! 😊 Btw, I discovered they do better when I water them in October...but they don't require as much usually. Happy growing! 😇🌷⚘️

[@ingridfoessl1075]

Thank you for sharing, The Lords Blessing on you also!!!

[@playininmyyard]

Started today hoping for Blooms for my Birthday 🌵 🌸 Thanks for sharing.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Happy birthday!🎉🎂

[@najohnson6973]

Thank you for tilling, many of us love the flowers but don’t know how to care for it.

[@suelpolite9892]

This was the best explanation I heard for caring for my Thanksgiving cactus 🌵. Thank you for the blessing at the end. God bless you 🙏

[@OrchidWhisperer]

You are so welcome! Happy growing!

[@tammyinnalabama]

Hi Amy. I love the timing of your Thanksgiving cacti videos through the year. They've been very helpful. I'm going to move my largest TC to my coffee table in our great room, and find a box large enough to cover it for 12 hours daily. I've never done this before, so it will be fun to see the results. I fertilized mine for the last time last week. 😊👍 September and October are my favorite months here in North Alabama. I'll be playing with some new plants and dirt in my gardens today. I hope you have a blessed day. 🙋‍♀️💐🐛🦋🌻🌸🌼

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Tammy! I can't wait to see if yours blooms on time this year. The shift in the light here right now is really dramatic, so I know mine is getting the message. I love this time of the year in East TN too. We have a beautiful Fall here. Have a great time with your new plants and your butterflies...many blessings my friend! :)

[@tammyinnalabama]

@@OrchidWhisperer I just found a solid Rubbermaid tote bin big enough to place over my large Thanksgiving cactus. Let the darkness begin. 😀🌚

[@abiel2019]

God blessed amen Thank you for your wonderful tips

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks for watching! 😇

[@sharonholmes4444]

💚 I'm looking forward to my two "red/white" combos to bloom this year. They've propogated well and are very bushy and green in 6" pots. They're gonna get their 12 hrs of darkness and hopefully bloom sooner 🤞 Will keep you updated. I, so love these plants and your explanation is impeccable. Blessings 😇

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Sharon! Please keep me posted...it will be fun to see if they bloom on time for you there in the desert! 🌵 Red and white combos...those will be beautiful! 😇💖⚘🌺

[@ellenhaben1217]

Hi Amy 💚! I moved my giant thanksgiving/ and Christmas cactus into the back bedroom on September 2nd. It is cooler and darker there at night and after12/14 hrs of darkness,i open the blinds. It's a northwest window area. I can water lightly there andam hoping it produces more flowers this way. We've had 100 plus degree weather her for close to 2 months and its always sunny where i usually keep these beauties. If i want,can i move them back in October before the blooms come so i can prevent loosing buds,or wait until the end of October?. I will mist only in October. I love looking at these plants and its hard not seeing them all day!💚👎🥰. Thank you; you're the best!!!

[@guysolis5843]

I know there are different strains of Christmas cactus and the one I have is from my grandmother who had it in the 70's. It has never bloomed since I've owned it. My wife has one that blooms every year and both plants are in the south window. Mine has smooth edges while my wife's plant has jagged edges so I wonder if mine is a blooming variety..I guess I'll try the box method..

[@drphilgardner]

Thanks so much for the useful advice. I have followed your suggestions and my Thanksgiving Cactus has started to bloom, a week before Thanksgiving. Perfect timing! I am wondering -- When do I resume watering?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thanks so much for watching! I water mine year round now. Our autumns have been unusually warm the past few years, so I had to water. I've learned they need less water in the autumn...but they still need water. The change in temps and daylight hours is what triggers them to bloom. Happy growing!

[@debbiegiralmo5193]

Great information

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mj-zj6gm]

Gee I hope my Christmas Cactus blooms don't drop. My husband brought one home last night with the groceries. It's absolutely beautiful! I was joking with him about getting me a cactus instead because I'm horrible at keeping plants alive. I can care for birds and keep them alive for years and year, but plants, I have no luck with at all. I want to keep this one around for years to come.

[@Mj-zj6gm]

Ya so the Christmas Cactus my husband brought home already had a lot of blooms on it. They aren't open yet but there's several beautiful pink blooms on it. I just hope they don't fall because of the ride home and such a big move for them. Anyway Thank You for the tips.. God Bless You & Yours this Holiday Season and Always! 💗🌵🌺🌵💖🌵🌷

[@OrchidWhisperer]

I'm wishing you lots of success with your cactus! Thanks so much for your comment...I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season! Amy

[@haylinmilsam]

Thanks for the reminder, Amy! 🧡 Mary Ann

[@OrchidWhisperer]

You are so welcome! :)

[@suethompson6497]

Hi Amy🤗🌸How are you? Well🙄I have nearly killed mine with the over watering stunt this summer. I repotted her but she is not a happy girl. I have had to repot the shoots that fell off so I don’t expect any blooms this winter but who knows, they are resilient plants. Hope you are still enjoying warm sunny weather. Stay well 😇🌼🌸💕🌻

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Sue! Your branches might surprise you and bloom...I'm hoping so! I'd be glad to meet you half way across the pond and give you plenty of cuttings! 😇 It's so easy to overwater these. With the humidity we've had this year, I didn't water much. The weather now is sunny and about 70F, which is perfect. I enjoy this time of the year. Many blessings to you, dear friend! 😊💞⚘💖🌺😇

[@suethompson6497]

@@OrchidWhisperer Why only half way? You are most welcome to come all the way from over the pond any time you fancy!😀. Thank you for the offer, if I could I would take those cuttings from Big Red in a second, imagine how I would be able to boast to my friends of their lineage and heritage😂🤣🌺❤️

[@OrchidWhisperer]

@@suethompson6497 oh my...Big Red has a lineage and heritage! He'll find out and want his own channel! 🤣😇

[@ellenhaben1217]

I'm trying to use these tips! I'll let you know how it goes!💚

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Keep me posted! 😇

[@MrDillbud]

God Bless you too Orchid Whisperer ! I just got the exact guidance from you ... as I needed now , end of October . Mine is filled with buds ...starting to bloom . Thanks for Thanksgiving tips ❤ and Have a Merry Christmas ... Happy Halloween, meanwhile !! 🌽

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks for the awesome feedback, Bakula! Enjoy your beautiful Cactus blooms! 🌺😇💞

[@DJTHRILLER]

They’ll bloom sitting on a window sill on the east coast

[@priscillahendricks9816]

Thank you for the fantastic info.God Bless you..🙏❤️

[@barbaraschuld8206]

I love mine. I'm ashamed to say I don't follow any rules. However, I have one I've never seen with it's color. It's peach? It blooms when it feels like! 😉

[@beckytorres8609]

Thanks for you advice love it !

[@CaptainUnusual]

Guess I got lucky. Received a Thanksgiving cactus over the holidays loaded with flowers and buds. Here it's late January and still plenty of buds on it.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

That's awesome! You're the first person I've heard from that said you didn't lost all the buds and blooms the first year! Happy growing.

[@angelawade1445]

Loved this video.

[@glovanajnbaptiste2272]

Thank you 👏

[@fairlymajaw2564]

Thank you so much for the video and your gentle voice is so soothing to the ears. I want to know how many times in a year do they bloom. I had wonderful blooms in November 2022 and now I can see that they are starting to give buds.I propagated them after the end of blooms and they are doing well. ♥️from India

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi! Mine bloom for me twice a year...in November and in the spring, just like yours is doing. Thanks so much for your kind comment...have a great day! :)

[@hillbillyorchids]

I am hoping this year blooms will be better. I am about to bring them inside. They have been outside all summer.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Paula! They usually bloom really well when they're been outside all summer. It will trigger them to bloom quickly. One year I brought mine in and it bloomed in a few weeks!!

[@hillbillyorchids]

@@OrchidWhisperer Ah nice to know. I wish I could have given them more sunshine. My neighbors cut down huge pine trees that blocked direct light to my porch which now opened it to direct sun! I bought shade cloth but it was late summer anyway. Hopefully it will be enough. 😁

[@melscore2865]

Thank you very much for this video. It answers all my questions. I have a Thanksgiving cactus that's been sitting on our covered porch all year. It is covered with buds about to open. Last year it hardly bloomed at all for the reasons you mentioned. Would it hurt to bring it inside the house so we can enjoy it's beauty while fully bloomed or is it best to leave it on the porch? The weather in eastern NC is about to get cold. Thanks!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thanks for watching! You'll need to move it in before it gets cold, but keep in mind that most of the buds will probably fall off when it's moved. They dont like to be moved once they are budding.

[@melscore2865]

@@OrchidWhisperer Thanks for your reply. It's about to bloom now and fortunately the weather has been warm. I'm hoping it will bloom prior to me having to move it indoors.

[@kennethzagula926]

So my Christmas cactus in now blooming beautifully. I move it every night into a pitch dark room for at least 12 hours of complete darkness. Then next morning she goes back out to the living room for good indirect light. No buds have dropped at all. It looks healthy as an ox. Should I stop moving it every night? You have me scared now I'm going to lose my blooms!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

If it's budding and blooming, there's no need to move it at this point. CONGRATULATIONS on those blooms!

[@franisaac5664]

I don’t have to move mine or put in the dark to get mine to bloom they just do. Have a peaceful day

[@MaLadyW]

Hi Amy! Thank you so much for your wonderful tips. Do you have any suggestions on what I can use to cover my cacti to give them more darkness without breaking the leaves, they are growing so beautifully I really dont have a dark area for them for 12 hours. Thank you so much! ❤❤

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Wanda! The best thing I can think of is to cover them a cardboard box. Have a wonderful day! 😇🌺⚘💖

[@MaLadyW]

@@OrchidWhisperer Thank you! Enjoy your day as well ❤

[@patriciapurdue7335]

putting my catus in closet of night then low light in bedroom no buds yet, most of Sept and October nothing

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Patricia! Try a brighter location during the day, not low light. I turned the grow light back on Big Red and it budded. Hope yours buds soon! 😇🌺

[@gabs147]

My Thanksgiving & Christmas Cacti bloom no problem but for some reason the flowers are always white. Is it too much exposure to light?? How do you get different color variations? Thank you & God Bless 🙏🌞

[@marymegrant1130]

So no one has answered, I will. You need to buy a different plant with blooms of the desired color. There may be a bit of variation in color depending on your growing conditions, age of the flower, etc. but mainly the color is inherited, just like a person's eye color.

[@dianefontaine8918]

They look 👀 great. Question 🙋‍♀️? What abou the summer time? Are they outdoor? Heat? Sun? Etc. I’m In Canada 🇨🇦 and just bought a small one and don’t know how much light to give ? I also have air conditioning which I don’t know if it can affect ? Please let me know when you have time

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi 👋 Diane! You can grow them outside...a covered porch or shady area in your yard would be great. I grow mine inside because I have so much wildlife here in the woods. I have a playlist about my cacti...how I grow them from month to month...that will help you. Happy growing and thanks so much for watching! 😇🌺

[@dianefontaine8918]

Outside in the shade with the heat of the summer is good? It gets cooler at night which I believe is great . Thank you so much for your time and quick response. I’ll take a look at your other videos 👍👏🤗🇨🇦❤️

[@nanci357]

Hi Amy, how is. Your halo light working on your Christmas. Cactus?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Nancy! The halo light worked great! I unplugged it yesterday so it will be sure to get the message that's it's darker now. Have a great day! 😇🌺💖⚘

[@ellenhaben1217]

I mentioned a while ago that I ordered an orange holiday cactus and it was a failure. First plant and second one sent rootless and dead. I tried water propagation and the sections rotted. Are the holiday cactus not available this year? Can't find it anywhere locally, Celina Texas? How about your area?;I know that I won't be getting any thru mail!!👎

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Ellen, try looking at garden centers closer to Thanksgiving. It might be a little early to find them right now. 😇

[@cathyspooner7093]

So when watering remove the move then cover

[@cathyspooner7093]

So remove box water then recover

[@Moonchild693]

Can't get mine to bloom

[@beavsup4660]

Amy will not water the entire month of October. Already getting buds. When do I water it again?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

You can resume watering. Hope it blooms beautifully for you!

[@danaadams4607]

When the cactus is blooming do you water at all? Is October the last time you water til Spring?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Yes, I water mine all year long...I even water mine now in October. Happy growing!

[@Mimi-63]

Hi Amy 🌸, thank you for the great tips! Your videos are so informative. Hoping for a season of beautiful blooms 🤞🏻. I have mine in clay pots and they seem to dry out quicker, as if the pot pulls the water out of them. I’m looking forward to repotting them in the spring with the new pots from the Orchid Supply. God bless you and your family. Chrissy 🤠

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Chrissy! They do grow well in clay pots...they get a lot of air circulation. Hope you get lots of blooms this holiday season! Many blessings to you! Amy 😇💖⚘🌺