Christmas cactus plants-help!

I really appreciate all this advice particularly from those of you who have had them for years.
Calistemon- they were inside by the trolleys when I bought them, not outside as such.
Spring Chicken- I will follow your advice - thank you x

And tanith

Whitewavemark2

Sudden change of temperature. They are very sensitive. But, if you keep faith with it and care for it it should give you a magnificent display next year.

Yes

Were yours outside at Lidl, Forsythia?
Perhaps they are too warm indoors and need to be acclimatised slowly.

Sudden change of temperature. They are very sensitive. But, if you keep faith with it and care for it it should give you a magnificent display next year.

This is a photo of my cactus last year!

Last year my Christmas cactus plant was covered in flowers as early as November and kept on flowering for weeks. This year it has had three flowers which fell off very quickly. I’ve noticed a few new buds so I’m hoping for a few more flowers.

I keep mine quite dry and give it an occasional spray of warm water.

I have had the same happen. It seems a shame when the stores are full of them just starting to bloom; everyone will be disappointed when they bring them home or give them as gifts and all the buds drop.

There is some good advice here, and hopefully yours will settle in and try to bloom again. Ours tends to bloom at Christmas (it's just got buds now), and then again around Easter. I repotted it about 2 years ago and it didn't bloom at all last year. It is still quite an attractive plant even when not in bloom.

Once buds have formed, Christmas cacti can be moved but the orientation to the light must not change, otherwise the buds try to change direction and drop off. Therefore, buds on plants bought at this time of year are more or less doomed to fail.

Save the plant you have bought this year - it's still an attractive plant without the flowers. Next September, place it where you wish it to flower. This will be just before the buds begin showing. After this point, never turn the pot , keep the same side facing the light.

Feed the plant occasionally throughout the year, monthly is plenty, but stop when you see buds, then just water until flowering is over. I have grown them on sunny windowsills ( but expect some leaf scorch). They thrive in north, east and west facing windowsills.

Moderate watering needed, mine are given a slurp when the surface feels dry. Don't let them stand in water.

Over time, the base stems become woody and ugly. So pull off some younger leaves and push three or four into a pot of fresh compost so that the top half is showing. Usually all the cuttings will take.

A neighbour gave me a Christmas cactus when I was a child, seven years old. Sixty years later, I still have it's descendant growing happily.

You can't move them once they have flower buds they dont like moving or change in temperature unfortunately.

I've just bought a and found this - not an easy plant.

www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_secret_to_getting_a_christmas_cactus_to_bloom_temperature_and_light

Repotting them is not a good idea as they prefer a small pot.

Drench a cacti once a week, when it’s drained off, then as long as it’s out of cold droughts it will thrive.

Thank you all. I appreciate all the tips. Most grateful x

I have always understood that christmas cacti don't like to be moved once they are in bud, even moving them from one room to another can cause the buds to fall. Change in humidity, temperature or light may be the cause. I have several and try not to move them once they have buds on

Mine thrive in a cool room away from direct sunlight. When in bud they need very little water,.

No I don’t mean they’re stood in water. I do what Coastpath said in her post, just allow them a little drink. I will try some of these suggestions and report back.

They also don’t like extreme changes of temperature. Good luck.

Just read Oldbat1's post and think that if your plant was outside Lidl OP it has probably been very cold which won't have done them any good. They are definitely indoor plants.

All cactus grow in dry climates so they don’t need much water at all it shouldn’t be stood in water at all

When you say you have them sitting in a bowl of water do you mean actually standing in the water? If so I think they are probably suffering from too much water. When mine are almost dry I stand thm in water just to allow them to have a drink (20 minutes or so) and then I let them drain out thoroughly before putting them back on their tray. I also keep them drier at this time of year than in the spring and summer.

They like humid air, so perhaps if you have your heating on it is too warm and dry for them. A good way to keep humidity up is to stand the plant pot on a small tray of pebbles and pour water into the tray. The water increases humidity but the pebbles stop the plant sitting in it.

I hope that helps. I love these plants.

I let them dry out and that didn’t work so popped them into the washing up bowl to soak up water. They’re in the kitchen so it’s fairly warm not cold as they could be susceptible to cool temperatures. Might try repotting them as a last resort.

Lidl had loads of them outside today. I nearly bought myself one. I’ll see what other folk advice is regarding the buds.

Too much water

Is it too wet /damp
I don’t have much luck with them either