Why is my plant dropping buds?

Sudden changes in temperature or moving the plant while in bud often causes drop.

How do I get it to bloom?

Provide 12 to 14 hours of total darkness each night for 6 weeks in autumn.

Plant guide

Christmas cactus.

Schlumbergera Lem.

Pronounced shlum-BER-ger-uh

Also known as Christmas cacti, Christmas cactuses

Schlumbergera truncata — Photo by Luis Romero (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The Christmas cactus is a beautiful tropical epiphyte that produces stunning, tubular flowers during the winter months. It thrives in homes with bright, indirect light and consistent moisture. These plants are quite long lived and can be passed down through generations if cared for properly.

Another photo of Christmas cactus — Photo by Victor Farjalla Pontes (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Epiphytic succulent
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 30 to 60 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late autumn to early winter

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy, as these plants dislike sitting in standing water. Watch for shriveled stems which indicate dehydration, or yellowing leaves which often point to overwatering. Providing a cooler spot in autumn helps encourage a heavy bloom display.

Watering: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Prune back stems after flowering to encourage a bushier shape.
Repotting: Repot every few years when the plant becomes root bound.
Soil: Well draining, peat based potting mix.
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Temperature: 10 to 25°C
Humidity: 50 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for 20 to 30 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot.
Stunted growth over several months.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but sap may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: Keep out of reach of small children to prevent accidental ingestion of plant parts.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause mild skin irritation for some people.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: While not considered highly toxic, ingestion can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in pets and humans.

How to identify it

Segmented, flattened, leaf like stems
Small teeth along stem edges
Tubular, multi layered winter flowers
Epiphytic growth habit

Height: 0.15 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: red, pink, white, orange, purple, 3 to 8cm
Fruit: pink, red, Spring

Problems to watch for

Bud DropCommon
MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
Leaf DropUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep indoors away from cold drafts and heaters. Reduce watering slightly during the winter rest period.
In containers: They thrive in containers and prefer being slightly root bound in a well-draining potting mix.

Stem Cuttings

1. Twist off a healthy Y-shaped stem segment.
2. Let the cut end callous for 24 hours.
3. Insert the calloused end into moist, well-draining soil.
4. Keep in bright, indirect light until roots form.

Group plants with similar humidity needs to create a small, self-regulating microclimate.

Grows well with

Peace Lily — They share similar requirements for indirect light and consistent moisture.
Ferns — Ferns help create a humid microclimate beneficial for epiphytic cacti.

Similar species

Easter Cactus — It has similar growth habits but blooms in spring.

Science

Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Schlumbergera
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil.
Conservation: Some species are threatened in their native habitats due to deforestation.

These plants grow in the humid, shaded canopy of tropical forests, clinging to tree branches.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: hummingbirds
Uses: houseplant, hanging basket specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why is my plant dropping buds?: Sudden changes in temperature or moving the plant while in bud often causes drop.
How do I get it to bloom?: Provide 12 to 14 hours of total darkness each night for 6 weeks in autumn.

Where the name comes from

Named after Frederic Schlumberger, a French cactus collector, the genus name honors his contribution to botany.

Good to know

They are native to the coastal mountains of Brazil.
They require short days and cool nights to trigger blooming.
The segments are actually modified stems called cladodes.
They can live for decades with proper care.

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This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.