I remember back in 2020 when my Christmas cactus first bloomed, I felt so happy and overwhelmed with joy; truly one of my top five life moments! However, as some time passed, the plant began dropping buds rapidly and took on a completely lifeless appearance; it broke my heart.
If you’re facing a similar situation with your Christmas cactus at present, you’ve come to the right place for answers.
This article will walk you through a few common reasons why Christmas cactuses might start dropping buds and what you can do to fix underlying issues.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Why Are My Christmas Cactus Dropping Buds?
1 – Sudden Change In Environment?
Now you might be thinking in your head, “Yeah, I moved my plant from near the window sill to outdoors in the lawn. Why would it matter?”
Well…let me tell you something…it does matter!
Plants, and particularly Christmas cactuses, don’t really handle sudden changes in environment well. In most cases, they’re sensitive and brought up in controlled environments where they were used to the sunlight and temperatures they were placed in.
Suddenly moving your plant indoors or outdoors places unnecessary stress on them because they simply don’t know how to deal with the novelty of the new location.
Solution
If you believe sudden change in environment to be the cause behind your Christmas cactus shedding buds, either move them back to their original location where they were thriving or at least acclimate them to the new environment slowly.
2 – Inconsistent Watering
As I mentioned, Christmas cactuses are not the biggest fans of inconsistency, especially around the time they’re about to bloom.
If you made a recent change to your watering routine or happen to be watering less or more frequently than what’s necessary, negative side effects like shedding buds shouldn’t be a surprise.
Solution
If your Christmas cactus has been dealing with less-than-ideal watering conditions, it’s time to set up a proper routine that ensures consistent water is provided in just the right amounts to encourage bud growth and, eventually, flowering.
The idea is to set your plant free from the stress of dehydration or root rot (from too much water), which could be the underlying reason behind it shedding buds.
Are your Christmas cactus leaves turning purple? Read this article!
3 – Lack Of Light
Yes, inadequate light exposure can take a toll on your Christmas cactus and cause it to shed buds at a rapid rate. If you keep your plant in a spot where it’s pitch black or light doesn’t reach properly, there’s a high chance the buds will be negatively impacted.
Now, you might think, “Alright, so…I guess I’ll just put my Christmas cactus outdoors under direct sunlight”.
Well… That’s the unfortunate part – buds will continue to fall out even then, but it’ll be because of too much light this time.
Solution
The key here is moderation – avoiding both too much and too little light as extremes will negatively impact bud health and integrity.
If you keep your Christmas cactus outdoors and it appears to be dropping buds at an abnormal rate, try bringing it indoors and introducing it to some moderate, indirect lighting conditions. If lack of light is a concern, you can always use grow lights.
4 – Temperature Fluctuation
No, I am not referring to changes in the plant’s environment again. Temperature fluctuations can come as a result of keeping your Christmas cactus too close to the AC or heater. In one way or the other, it can eventually hurt plant buds and cause them to drop.
Solution
The solution for this is actually pretty simple – keep your plant out of rooms or areas where the temperature is either too cold or warm. Air conditioners and heaters you might have running at home shouldn’t be blasting your plant with cool air or heat all the time.
If you have your Christmas cactus planted outdoors in the garden, consider using mulch around the base of the plant to help with temperature regulation.
Before you leave, check here some “tricks” to make your Christmas cactus flowering.
Final Words
So, there you go – common reasons your Christmas cactus might begin to drop buds out of nowhere. Pretty interesting, isn’t it? How even the smallest differences and inconsistencies can have a major effect on our plants.
A wise gardener once said, “Learn to speak your plant’s language and there will be nothing easier than gardening”.
P.S. Yeah…no wise gardener said that. I made it up…but, hey, it’s true.
