A consistent environment without moving the plant or turning it around.Additional fertilizer can stimulate foliage growth rather then the formation of buds. Do not apply any fertilizer from late Summer when the flower buds are forming.Mist the plant once or twice per week and keep it out of any significant air currents. Watering around once per week so that the surface of the soil is dry to the touch between bouts of watering is the optimal balance of moisture, for Christmas cactus during bud formation.Too much shade can contribute to flower buds falling off. Bright indirect light during the day gives the Christmas cactus then energy required for bud formation.This temperature change emulates the cooler seasonal temperatures at this time of year in its native Brazilian environment. The optimal temperature for bud formation is around 60РІВРЏ (15РІВРЉ) during the 12 or more hours of darkness. Cooler temperatures during bud formation then usual.This is due to adaptations to detect seasonal change in its environment which stimulates flowering. Christmas cactus are short day plants that require more hours of darkness then light during bud formation.

12 or more hours of uninterrupted darkness from September onward every evening for at least 6 weeks.

The following conditions are required to ensure your flower buds develop properly: The flower buds of Christmas cactus form most often in September. The Optimal Conditions for Christmas Cactus Flower bud Formation This is because the cause of bud drop is usually due to a sudden change in conditions or a significant deviation from the optimal growing environment. In order to establish why the buds fall from Christmas cacti it is important to know the optimal conditions for bud formation. Christmas cactus drop flower buds because of drought stress, fluctuating temperatures or due to artificial light interrupting the 12 hours of darkness required for the development of flower buds.Р”В¬hristmas cactus are РІР‚В short dayРІР‚в„ў plants which means they require more consecutive hours of darkness then light to form flower buds.

Flower that blooms in darkness