Nothing is more annoying than a Thanksgiving cactus that looks perfectly healthy… and then gives you absolutely nothing when it’s time to bloom. All those green segments, all that waiting, and not a single flower. Rude!
The good news? A Thanksgiving cactus can bloom more than once, which means we get a few more chances to make this work! We just need to figure out what it’s missing.
How To Convince Your Thanksgiving Cactus It’s Time To Bloom
If yours is sitting there looking perfectly healthy but flower-free, these are the conditions that usually make the biggest difference.
1: Lights Out, Your Cactus Needs Its Beauty Sleep!
Thanksgiving cactus is a short-day plant, which is basically plant-speak for “I’m not making buds until these nights get longer.“
Aim for 12-14 hours of uninterrupted darkness every night for about 5-6 weeks. And yes, the uninterrupted part matters. A spare bedroom where nobody turns the lights on at night works much better than a busy living room. But don’t leave it in the dark all day. It still needs bright, indirect light during its daytime hours!
Quick note: You don’t have to panic if you accidentally flip on a light for a minute, but regularly interrupting those dark hours can interfere with bud formation.
And if you’re wondering where to keep it during the rest of the day, we wrote a guide on the best place to put a Christmas cactus for more blooms, and the same placement advice applies to Thanksgiving cactus too.
2: Turn Down The Heat If You Want More Buds
Thanksgiving cactus doesn’t just care about how dark the nights are; it also likes them a little cooler. Unfortunately for me… I’m the kind of person who needs the house so warm it practically feels like a sauna.
For bud formation, aim for nighttime temperatures around 55-65°F, with daytime temperatures around 65-70°F. That drop at night helps signal that it’s time to start setting buds.
Quick tip: Try to keep it above 50°F and away from cold drafts. Sudden chills can make it shiver like me and cause developing buds to drop or become damaged.
3: Keep The Soil Happy, Not Soggy
This is where Thanksgiving cactus likes to be annoyingly specific: it doesn’t want to dry out completely, but it definitely doesn’t want wet feet either.
While it’s setting buds, check the soil regularly and water when the top inch feels dry. Give it a thorough drink, let the excess drain away, and don’t leave the pot sitting in water
Consistent moisture matters here because letting the soil swing from soaking wet to bone-dry can stress the plant and contribute to bud drop.
You’re starting to see a pattern here, right? This plant has the tolerance of someone on a bad first date. One red flag and it’s ready to bail!
If watering these plants still feels like a guessing game, we explain exactly how to water a Christmas cactus without causing root rot in this guide, including what changes when you’re growing a Thanksgiving cactus.
4: Feed It, But Don’t Try To Bribe It Into Blooming
Fertilizer can help keep your Thanksgiving cactus healthy, but it won’t magically force flowers to appear. Trust me, if plants could be bribed that easily, mine would be blooming year-round.
Feed it with a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength during active growth, usually in spring and summer, rather than while buds are forming.
Quick note: Too much (especially too much nitrogen) can push lots of green growth while doing absolutely nothing for the flowers you’re actually waiting for.
If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding altogether, we put together a month-by-month fertilizer guide for Christmas cactus that also explains how to adjust the routine for Thanksgiving cactus.
5: Buds Formed? Hands Off!
Once those buds finally appear, treat your Thanksgiving cactus like Medusa, admire it from a safe distance and don’t even look at it funny.
Okay, maybe that’s dramatic, but avoid moving, repotting, or suddenly changing its light or temperature. One bad move and boom… you guessed it, those precious buds can end up on the floor.
At this point, your best job is basically to leave it alone and keep everything consistent.
And if those long, messy stems are making you reach for the scissors, wait until flowering is finished. We wrote a guide on the signs it’s actually time to prune a Christmas cactus, and the same pruning rules apply to Thanksgiving cactus.
So It Bloomed Once… Can We Make It Do That Again?
Good news: the first round of flowers doesn’t have to be the end of the show. A healthy Thanksgiving cactus can bloom again, so all that fussing over darkness and temperature may actually pay off twice.
Once the flowers fade, let the plant catch its breath for a little while. Water a bit less often, skip the fertilizer, and keep it somewhere bright but out of harsh direct sun. We’re in recovery mode, not round two immediately.
Then, when you’re ready to try again, recreate the same signals that triggered the first bloom: 12-14 hours of darkness each night and cool nighttime temperatures around 55-65°F. Keep that routine consistent for about 5-6 weeks and watch for tiny buds forming along the ends of the segments.
And when they finally appear? We’ve been through this already: do absolutely nothing dramatic. No repotting, no sudden relocation, no exciting new care routine you saw on TikTok at 2 a.m.
Still No Flowers? Your Cactus Is Trying To Tell You Something
If you’ve done everything above and your Thanksgiving cactus is still sitting there looking green and completely unbothered by your efforts, something is probably getting in the way.
Check for these usual suspects:
If nothing here screams “Yep, that’s me,” go back to the two biggest things first: long, uninterrupted nights and cooler nighttime temperatures. Those are usually where the mystery starts.
And if keeping track of darkness, watering, feeding, and all the seasonal changes is starting to feel like a full-time job, we made a month-by-month Christmas cactus care calendar that also walks you through the Thanksgiving cactus routine.
Thank you for the info. I have a Thanksgiving Cactus I had for 2 yrs. It has now about 20 buds on it. I put it outside in the day for indirect light. Now I’m waiting . Maybe by Thanksgiving It will b blooming.Inside in my garage for darkness.
Hi Vanessa!
You’re so welcome! It sounds like you’re giving your Thanksgiving cactus just the right care. With those 20 buds, it’s gearing up to put on a beautiful show—just in time for Thanksgiving! Keeping it outside for indirect light and then moving it to the garage for darkness is a perfect routine. Fingers crossed for a stunning bloom! 😊
I put mine on the north side of my garage in the shade in July in Ne Nebr. Started getting in the lower 40s went to bring them in and they were full of buds and opened in 1 to 2 weeks
Hi Mary! 😊 That’s perfect timing, the cool temps and shade were just what they needed to set buds! Sounds like you’ve got their blooming routine down perfectly.
When it starts to bloom do you move from a less dark cool place or leave it where it is? Thank you!
Hi Vanessa! 😊 Once you see buds forming, move it to a brighter, warmer spot, but keep the light indirect. That helps the buds open fully without falling off.
Thanks for all that great information.
Hi Gloria! 😊 You’re so welcom. Glad it was helpful!
I live in southern Arizona. It’s October. And it’s still in the low to middle 90° every day and mid 60 and 70s at night. My cactus are inside in an enclosed air-conditioned patio room. At night they’re in complete darkness for a minimum of 10 to 12 hours. I fertilize once a month with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. I don’t get very many blooms, if any. The cactus looks very healthy and I trimmed them at the beginning of summer. I keep them indoors all year long because the summer temperatures reach 110° or more.. I need new suggestions how to get them to bloom. Also, what time of year should I repot them?
Hi Vicky! 😊 They sound really well cared for! To encourage blooms, try giving them a cooler rest period, around 55 to 60°F for a few weeks in fall helps trigger buds. I’d also ease up on fertilizer after summer. You can repot in late spring, right after flowering or when new growth starts.
Thank you for your response. The temperatures are not going to get cooler until late November and December. Then even cooler in January and February. So putting them in a cooler situation is almost impossible unless I were to put them in a refrigerator, which doesn’t make sense to me.
You’re absolutely right, no fridge needed! Since your nights will naturally cool down soon, just focus on giving them 12 to 14 hours of darkness for a few weeks. That alone usually triggers blooms, even without a big temperature drop. 😊
I have a Thanksgiving Cactus in full bloom & it sits in my livingroom in front of a north facing window. It’s also close to a heat vent. It had Miracle Grow a month ago. It’s blooming fine.
Hi Karen! 😊 That’s great it’s blooming well for you! North-facing windows work perfectly for these. Just keep an eye on that heat vent placement, if the blooms start dropping or the soil dries out super fast, you might want to move it a bit further away. But if it’s happy and blooming, sounds like you’ve found the perfect spot!
Mine go outside mid spring…..zone 7….. and stay until the plants are covered in buds, usually early October. They stay on a porch, away from direct sun, get watered just like the other plants do, talking garden hose here, and fertilized with Miracle Grow balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during that time. After the plant is covered with buds, I’ll bring it inside (this year they came inside in mid September), water them well, set them in a bright window that gives them indirect light. No fertilizer, just water, lightly at first, but increase frequency as the blooms open, then cut back as they cease. I do use a humidifier when I turn the heat on. The house I moved from last year had a bright window in the bathroom and the largest plant would bloom at Thanksgiving, again around New Years, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. I’ve had Thanksgiving and Easter cactus blooming at the same time.
I had 3 clades drop off an Easter cactus, popped them into a “Oui” yogurt jar, set them in the kitchen window and they rooted and lived there for 3 years, just in water and bloomed over and over after the first year year…. No fertilizer, just change water occasionally.
Hi Marsha! 😊 Wow, that’s such a great setup, you’ve really got the routine down perfectly! I love how you root them in water too, that’s such a simple and reliable way to keep them going.
What kind of fertilizer should I use for my plant.? The Thanksgiving cactus?
Hi Teresa! 😊 For Thanksgiving cactus, I use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Something like 10-10-10 or a cactus/succulent formula works great. Feed it monthly during spring and summer when it’s actively growing, then stop in fall when you want it to set buds. Don’t fertilize while it’s blooming!
I place my cactuses in the storage room of my basement with no heat from the first of October until 2nd week of November. Then bring them in my north facing window and begin to water with fertilizer. Beautiful blooms by Christmas.
Hi Joan! 😊 That’s the perfect routine, that cool, dark rest really helps trigger buds. Sounds like you’ve got the blooming schedule down perfectly!
Mine stay year round near my kitchen window. Blooms occasionally. But stays healthy and growing. 2years
Hi Bobbie! 😊 Sounds like you’ve got a great spot for it, staying healthy is half the battle! A little extra darkness in fall can help boost those blooms even more.
Does the Thanksgiving n Christmas Cactus hv to be in cactus dirt??
Hi Sandra! 😊 Not necessarily, regular potting soil mixed with some perlite or orchid bark works great. They like a light, airy mix that drains well but still holds a bit of moisture.
What’s the best kind of dirt to transplant in,
Hi Patti! 😊 A loose, well-draining mix works best, I use regular potting soil mixed with a bit of cactus mix or perlite. That keeps the roots airy and helps prevent rot.
I have several Christmas cactus and I’m on a mission to do everything I read to make them all bloom and healthy. I didn’t know until recently that they need 12-14 hours of darkness per day. I was using big garbage bags to cover them, then I read not to use plastic, so I wrapped a fabric tablecloth around them but I was afraid that might be too heavy, today I thought of paper bags if I can get enough. What do you recommend to cover them for dark??? I have a ton of unused fabric, but it might be too heavy too. Thank you for any help.
Hi Julie! 😊 Paper bags are a great idea, they’re light and breathable, so the plant still gets some air. You can also use a thin cotton sheet or pillowcase. Just avoid plastic since it traps moisture and can cause rot.
My Christmas cactus wasn’t blooming. It had lots of new growth but no buds. I found out about the darkness rule. I had a square cardboard box that fit perfectly over it. It’s now loaded with buds & blooms!!!! I’m so excited.
Hi Kathy 😊 That darkness trick works so well. The main thing is keeping it truly uninterrupted for weeks, even a little lamp light can mess with bud set, and pairing it with cooler temps helps a lot too.
Is it true to add sugar to this plant? Or salt?
Hi Sherry! 😊 Nope, skip the sugar and salt, they can actually harm the roots. A balanced houseplant fertilizer or a little compost works much better for healthy blooms.
I HAD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CACTUS. HAD IT FOR YEARS. IT BLOOMED 3 COLORS. RED, PINK & WHITE. THE LAST TIME WE MOVED 13 YEARS AGO IT WAS ON IT’S TO BE THE YEAR EVER.
THERE WAS JUST ONE THINGTHING STOPPING IT. My HUSBAND.
Hi Lynn! 😊 Oh no, that sounds like quite a story, what a special plant to have had! Three colors on one cactus is such a rare beauty; I hope you get to grow another one just like it someday.
What are the
names of a couple of the prettiest orange thanksgiving cactus? Thanks fo4 your help
Hi Linda! 😊 Two really pretty orange ones are ‘Christmas Flame’ and ‘Madame Butterfly’, both have those bright, glowing orange blooms that look amazing in fall.
My Christmas cactus often drop their buds before opening. It’s so frustrating. What would cause this?
Hi Susan! 😊 That usually happens from a quick change in light, temperature, or watering. I try to keep mine in one spot once buds form and water gently so they don’t get stressed.
Can you plant 3 different Thanksgiving cactus in one big pot . I’ve been curious about that for along time . If I can I’m gonna catch some at the farm up the road and try I don’t want to mess with my ones my granny gave me .
Hi Brenda! 😊 Yes, you can plant different Thanksgiving cacti together in one big pot, they get along really well. Just make sure the soil drains well and the pot isn’t too big. It’s a fun way to get mixed colors without risking your granny’s plant.
Love these just would like to know how to get them to bloom!!
Help. I have tried to grow Thanksgiving cacti but the leaves shrivel up and droop. I have a plant app on my phone that tells me I overwatered them. So I stopped watering them, let the soil dry out and nothing changed. What can I do?
Hi Carol! 😊 When the leaves shrivel even after you stop watering, the roots were probably damaged from staying wet too long. I’d gently take it out of the pot and check the roots, trim anything mushy or black, and repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Water lightly and let it dry between waterings. They usually perk back up once the roots recover! 😊
My cactus has pink tips
Not sure what to do.
Hi Michelle! 😊 Pink tips on a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus usually means it’s getting a bit too much direct sun. Try moving it to a spot with bright but indirect light, they prefer gentler light. The pink should fade once it’s in a better location!
My Thanksgiving cactus remains in my living room all year long, receiving indirect light. I fertilize it as soon as I see buds developing, which is at least four times a year.
Hi Carmy! 😊 That’s awesome that it blooms four times a year! Sounds like you’ve got the perfect setup and routine going. Indoor year-round with consistent care clearly works great for your plant. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Well…I have taken the plunge!! I have purchased my 1st 3 Christmas cactus. I read everything you’ve written about them and I knew it would be a committment. I purchased a red which was done blooming…but now has some tiny buds appearing…yay! A pretty white one also. Then today at a nursery I saw a small pot with orange flowers. Here’s my dilemma as far as light. Right now they are in a back bedroom with a south facing, and an east facing window. I keep the blinds pulled up to get the south light, and the blinds open on the east. Heater vent is closed. I would love to have them in my,living room, but it’s only light is a west facing sliding glass doors.
I read that they really don’t like to be moved around, but then I read people set them outside when the weather gets nice. I’d love to do that as I have a large covered porch that faces east. I’ve always had flower gardens but now I’m not able to work in them because of RA, and other age related issues.(I’m going on 80) So I’ve been doing inside succulents, and now these. I really don’t want to kill them.
Hi Vicki! 😊 Welcome to Christmas cactus collecting, it’s addictive! 😅
Your setup sounds good, that south and east light combination should work fine for them. Honestly, the west-facing living room would work too, they’re pretty adaptable with light as long as it’s bright and indirect.
They don’t love being moved around during blooming (buds can drop), but moving them between rooms when they’re not budding is totally fine. Your covered east-facing porch would be perfect for them in spring through early fall. I put mine outside in warmer months and they love it. Just bring them in before temps drop below 50°F at night. You’re doing great, and at 80 with RA, these are perfect low-maintenance plants for you!
Can you use rice water for fertilizer or just rice?
Hi Teresa! 😊 Rice water works great as a mild fertilizer! Just save the starchy water after rinsing rice and let it sit for a day or two, then use it to water your plants. It’s got some nutrients that plants love. I’ve used it on my houseplants before, works well as a gentle boost!
My cactus, I just received from an unknown neighbor, is in a corner in the sunroom, not in direct sunlight from E, S and W facing windows. It’s full of dark pink buds. It’s in a small pot. Should I repot it soon?
Hi Ann 😊 If it’s full of buds right now, I wouldn’t repot yet. Repotting during budding often makes them drop buds, so I’d wait until after it finishes blooming unless it’s clearly struggling.
How often should you water them?
Hi Cindy 😊 I water when the top inch or so feels dry. In winter indoors that often ends up being about every 10 to 14 days, but I always go by the soil, not the calendar.
My kids bought me a Thanksgiving cactus back in 2022 right after they got married. It only bloomed that one time. From then to now, it has always been a nice dark healthy green. Just never really grew a lot until this year. This year I repotted it with cactus mix and put pebbles in the bottom of the pot. I have been giving it indoor plant fertilizer every 1-2months. The middle of December I started finally getting buds. I have 5. I woke Christmas morning to one in full bloom!! I’m so excited!! Is there anything else you would recommend going forward?! I want to keep it blooming each year now!!
Hi Kim 😊 Congrats, that’s the best feeling. Going forward, the biggest “rebloom” keys are 12 to 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness every night for about 5 to 7 weeks, plus cooler temps around 50 to 59°F during that time. Once buds show, try not to move it, keep watering light but steady, and pause fertilizer until it’s done blooming.
My small snip of cacti was planted. Looking fine. But very slow growth.
Hi Isabel 😊 For a small cactus snip, slow growth is totally normal at first. If it stays firm and green, it’s usually just building roots before it starts pushing new growth.