Mine never need to get cold or cool to bloom... All I have to do is feed them during growing season and leave them put, in the greenhouse or a room in which gets dark naturally with daylight and they all bloom.. In fact, I try not to expose most of mine to cold since I want the true bright colors I bought them for..If left to get cold, like below the 60's, all of mine will not bloom to true color.. Mike

Hiya Cyirra and all, Congrats on the blooms! They're really, really lovely! I don't have any of the yellow/gold types so it's really fun to see yours. What conditions are you growing yours in? I still have the one in these older pics ('Dark Marie')--it's in my den right now and is budding up nicely (and making a couple of early blooms each week too). Here's a pic of one of the early blooms from this week, it will make its larger flush in a month or three. I've gone a bit overboard with Christmas cacti over the last couple of years, but they're so durable, and they love it here (indoors) and they bloom regularly for me (although often not until mid to late winter) so why not, right?? Here's a pic of a small rescue plant I got two years ago as an utterly wilted MESS with only five segments. Some bright light and occasional water have helped it revive. Happy gardening indoors and out everyone, and tomato, please post pics of yours when they bloom! Grant

I have a related question. I bought a Christmas Cactus that's in full bloom around Christmas for my mom. she over watered it and all flowers fell right away, but the plant is okay. I asked my mom to keep it in a bright place but away from direct sun light and keep it dry. We are in chicago and it's still very cold. I wonder when can we expect it to bloom again. Will it bloom twice a year, and how long does the bloom usually last? Am I doing the right thing to promote the next round of blooming?

NEVER repot unless one wishes the plant to be encouraged to grow. Since the Christmas Cactus is coming into a dormant stage, it would prove unwise to encourage the plant to grow ...when it is unable to. The sun values are fast disappearing...C.C.'s respond to lower light values--that's why they bloom at this time of season. I disagree with the shutting out of sand in any mix of soil. Builder's sand....not beach or children's play sand...but builder's sand is a good part of any mix for C.C.'s...including vermiculite, perlite and peat moss. Jungle cacti....desert cacti.... As I see any difference, the suggestion that Christmas Cactus live happily in the rain-forest only suggests they be given a higher humidity environment. All plants that come in from the great outdoors can be expected to go through a change of environment. How we meet those changes can mean the difference to the health of the plant. A woodstove is a very dry heat...and for that reason alone, the plant should be given some way to give it moisture. One of the easiest ways is to spritz it...mist the plant every day. A pebble tray can be rigged...the plant sits on pebbles that has the water not quite over the tops of them. Each day, the water is replaced to keep it at such level. A saucer of water can be placed near the plant. A bowl....like one used for a dog's waterbowl...can be placed near the plant. Moving a plant to a less sunny room does nothing for the plant. At this time of season, it is hardly enough sun to give to plants when given a south or west exposure. Giving a plant less than that is not doing well by the plant. I think it is much better to address the humidity problem where the plant is rather than changing its room. Plants will often limp....wilt....when subjected to overwatering----which then is allowed to go extra dry to try to overcompensate, then given extra water again when it dries down. Plants can live through a few wilts....but sooner or later, if not corrected, will surely signal the death-knell. Bill, you mentioned the use of topsoil...that could be the reason why you are having the problems you have. The sand....if it is the proper sand...builder's sand...you can buy it at building supply stores...is a coarse sand that allows plants to drain properly. Peat moss gives the soil good consistency, holds moisture. Vermiculite, like sand, allows for good drainage. Potting soil is not expressly the best soil for Christmas Cactus. If you must change the soil, pay a visit to your local garden center and buy some "cactus" soil or "African Violet" soil. If you re-pot, do go up one size only. But I'd wait until the sun's values return in March before re-potting. This then will allow your plant to be encouraged to grow.