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Forcing your Christmas cactus to bloom for Christmas is easy. Early November is the time to start this simple process. They need either (or both) of two environmental changes: temperatures dropped down to 50-55 degrees fahrenheit, or 12 hours of darkness per day, for about six to eight weeks.

Beginning in early to mid-November, water the plant less frequently than usual, letting the top of the soil get dry to about one half inch deep between waterings (if it starts to wilt, that's too dry). Stop fertilizing during this phase. It is the combination of environmental stresses that signals to the plant to send out buds and flowers.

Move the plant to a location that gets cooler than your main living areas, if you can. The plant still needs light during the day. A cool garage or basement with a window works well. At least find the coolest spot in the house. If this is a closet, put the plant in there at night, bringing it out for some sun during the day. If you don't have a particularly cool spot, you can use the light deprivation method.

Twelve hours per day of darkness will also force the blooms. Either move the plant to a closet each evening, or a put it in a seldom used room where you can pull the shades. Another method is to place three to four sticks in the pot, extending about twelve inches upward, and drape a dark cloth over the plant for the twelve hours. Many people prefer this method, as it doesn't require moving the plant.

After about three to four weeks, you should start to see buds forming. Once the buds get big, and as the cactus flowers, you can maintain them longer by keeping the plant in a spot with cooler temperatures, and misting the plant to keep the humidity up. Don't place the plant near heating vents. Once it begins to flower, water more frequently, keeping the soil slightly damp. If your buds are falling off, it is probably too dry.

Learn more about this author, Gilson Penny.
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