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Avatar for keithp2012
Apr 6, 2015 5:59 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Small tidbit of info to share for those that have trouble getting their cacti to flower. This works for most (but not all cacti). Succulents vary so this is just for cacti.

Cactus need to go dormant to flower. So here's my growing schedule.

April/May I water them good to bring them out of dormancy, then repot if they outgrew the pot, or dump out old soil and put in new for ones that haven't grown much. When threat of frost is gone I put them outside except when we get multiple days of heavy rain in a row. A week or two later I fertilize them. Soon after I get flowers blooming as they are supposed to bloom in the spring and if pollinated by fall seed pods are ripe.

Come fall in October or November when frost is near I bring them in and put on my windowsill with the light on 8 hours per day. I water them once more and stop the rest of the winter. Mine are large, small cacti might need to be watered every 2 months if they are getting flat and wrinkled but usually they don't need it. It's important to turn your pots a little each day so they grow straight and not one side.

It's during the winter months and no water they go dormant but I keep the light on 8 hours a day they need light. Come March or April I notice flower buds forming and by mid spring when it's time to water they break out of dormancy and into bloom. Hurray!
Last edited by keithp2012 Apr 6, 2015 6:03 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 14, 2015 6:13 PM CST
Name: aud/odd
Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
Thank you Keith. I have not been able to get my tender cactus to bloom. I do not water them in the winter I will see if a repot will help. I have had a mixed pot for 4 yrs and only one in the pot has flowered.
What kind of fert do you use?
Avatar for keithp2012
Apr 14, 2015 8:20 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Cinta said:Thank you Keith. I have not been able to get my tender cactus to bloom. I do not water them in the winter I will see if a repot will help. I have had a mixed pot for 4 yrs and only one in the pot has flowered.
What kind of fert do you use?


I use miracle gro cactus soil and add lots of perlite to it and small pebbles sold for fish gravel, it's a fast draining mix. I use miracle gro liquid cactus fertilizer, I use once or twice a year. I have all my cacti potted in clay pots.
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Apr 15, 2015 3:42 PM CST
Name: aud/odd
Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
I have them in a clay pot and they are dry all winter they just never flower.

I admit I probably should have done a repot by now. It was a present and I pretty much just let it in the pot.

Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/eaf459

This is what it looks like now 5 yrs later.
Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/0d0fe1


Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/858b0b
Avatar for keithp2012
Apr 15, 2015 3:54 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Cinta said:I have them in a clay pot and they are dry all winter they just never flower.

I admit I probably should have done a repot by now. It was a present and I pretty much just let it in the pot.

Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/eaf459

This is what it looks like now 5 yrs later.
Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/0d0fe1


Thumb of 2015-04-15/Cinta/858b0b



One is flowering for you Thumbs up
Do you have them under gro lights inside?
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Apr 15, 2015 7:05 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
In my area they need full sun, preferably 6 to 8 hours, but they only manage 4 at the most since we get shaded by the city trees, but as long as it gets very warm at least 75F and higher, and watering resumes with proper drainage, then buds will eventually form and bloom.
To be honest, I do not even give them fertilizers, and they still bloom well.
Last edited by tarev Apr 15, 2015 7:06 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 15, 2015 10:16 PM CST
Name: aud/odd
Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Garden Ideas: Level 1
Sun does not show her face in my city in the winter.

They do get full sun in the summer.
Last edited by Cinta Apr 15, 2015 10:18 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 16, 2015 1:24 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
That is okay for winter..they are usually at rest anyways, should be dormant. But during the warmer days, and summer, need full sun, they like it!
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