Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the plant is exposed to artificial light at night.
- Monitor the nighttime temperature in the room.
- Ensure the plant is getting bright, indirect light during the day.
Likely causes
Lack of cool nights
Most likelyHow to tell: The plant looks healthy and green but shows no signs of bud formation as autumn approaches. It has likely been kept in a room that stays warm all night.
What to do: Place your plant in a room where temperatures drop to 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night for about 6 weeks. This temperature drop is the primary trigger for bud development.
Too much light at night
Most likelyHow to tell: The plant is kept in a room that stays lit by lamps or overhead lights well into the evening. These plants need total darkness at night to trigger blooming.
What to do: Move the plant to a dark room or cover it with a box from dusk until dawn for 6 weeks. Ensure it receives bright, indirect light during the day.
Find out what's wrong with your thanksgiving cactus
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for the plant to only bloom once a year during the late fall or early winter. If it does not bloom after providing the correct conditions, it may need more time to mature.
Stopping it coming back
Start your cool, dark treatment in early October to ensure a nice display of flowers by Thanksgiving. Keep the plant in a stable location once buds appear to prevent them from dropping.
Thanksgiving cactus: not flowering? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your thanksgiving cactus and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Do I need to fertilize to get flowers?
- Using a balanced fertilizer during the growing season helps, but the light and temperature cues are much more important for blooming. Stop fertilizing once you see buds forming.
- Why did my buds fall off before opening?
- Bud drop is often caused by sudden changes in temperature or moving the plant while it is budding. Try to keep the plant in one spot once the buds appear.
More problems with Thanksgiving cactus
- Why are my Thanksgiving cactus stems turning mushy?
- What are these white cottony spots on my Thanksgiving cactus?
- Why is my Thanksgiving cactus dropping its leaves?
- Why are my Thanksgiving cactus leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Thanksgiving cactus drooping?
- Why are my Thanksgiving cactus leaf tips turning brown?
- Why are there spots on my Thanksgiving cactus?
- Why is my Thanksgiving cactus growing so leggy?
Back to the Thanksgiving cactus guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.