Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Orssich's Holiday Cactus bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Orssich's Christmas Cactus, Giant Christmas Cactus, Large-Flowered Schlumbergera (Schlumbergera orssichiana).
More about orssich's holiday cactus
About Orssich's Holiday Cactus
Schlumbergera orssichiana · also called Orssich's Christmas Cactus, Giant Christmas Cactus · flowering
Schlumbergera orssichiana is a large-flowered species of the Christmas cactus group, native to the Serra dos Orgaos mountains of Brazil. Its flattened, segmented stems carry impressive flowers with wider petals than other Schlumbergera species, in shades of white, pink, red, or magenta. A rewarding indoor flowering cactus when given a cool autumn rest. Generally pet-safe as a true cactus.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Bud drop: The most frustrating problem; caused by moving the plant, drafts, dry air, inconsistent watering, or sudden temperature changes after buds form. Keep conditions stable from bud set to flowering.
The reasons orssich's holiday cactus isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming orssich's holiday cactus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding orssich's holiday cactus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get orssich's holiday cactus to flower
- Maximise sun. Give orssich's holiday cactus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for orssich's holiday cactus and get the feeding right with the orssich's holiday cactus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Orssich's Holiday Cactus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full orssich's holiday cactus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Orssich's Holiday Cactus blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my orssich's holiday cactus flower?
Orssich's Holiday Cactus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make orssich's holiday cactus bloom?
Give orssich's holiday cactus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does orssich's holiday cactus normally bloom?
Orssich's Holiday Cactus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with orssich's holiday cactus after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping orssich's holiday cactus flowering?
Feeding orssich's holiday cactus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Orssich's Holiday Cactus care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Orssich's Holiday Cactus light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Orssich's Holiday Cactus fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4831 bloom guides in the Growli library