Cacti can be very interesting plants to take care of. Some people like caring for them because they don’t need as much water as many other types of plants.
In certain ways, caring for a cactus will be easier than caring for a common houseplant. These plants can still be quite beautiful, too.
If you’re still new to caring for these plants, you probably don’t know a lot about them yet. You might have heard that they’ll bloom at some point, and you’ll want to know when you can expect to see yours produce a flower.
When does a cactus bloom? Is there anything you can do to aid the process?
Read on to learn more about what to expect.
They Usually Bloom During the Spring
Typically, a cactus is likely going to bloom at some point during the spring.
Of course, there are many different types of cacti that you could be caring for. Many different plants are sold at nurseries and garden centers in North America.
This means that specific information about your cactus might differ a bit. It’s likely that your cactus is going to bloom during the spring months, but this information could differ slightly depending on the species of the plant.
In all likelihood, your cactus will bloom around this time of the year. It’ll just be good to look up specifics about your cactus so that you know exactly what to expect.
How Often Does a Cactus Bloom?
A cactus is generally only going to bloom once each year. This means that an average cactus will bloom one time and it’ll happen during the spring.
There are some caveats that need to be considered, though. In some regions, cacti will bloom twice or more when they’re exposed to a lot of rainfall.
When you’re taking care of a cactus indoors, does this mean that watering it a bit more frequently will help the plant to bloom more? You’ll be able to explore more about this topic later to learn exactly what you need to do to encourage a cactus to bloom again.
You can expect a cactus to start blooming in April. Some won’t bloom until sometime in May, and there are other species that will bloom in the middle of June.
There Are Cacti That Bloom Only at Night
It’s also interesting to note that there are cacti that only bloom at night. There are several types known as night blooming cereus that follow this pattern.
They bloom during the night to conserve energy, and they usually only bloom for a single night. This means that you’ll have to be quite observant just to see the bloom in all of its glory.
If you have one of these plants, you likely know about this already. Most stores will tout the fact that they’re selling a special cactus that blooms at night.
As mentioned above, there are quite a few different cacti that fit this description. There isn’t really much you can do to get these types of cacti to bloom more often.
How to Get a Cactus to Bloom Again
Getting a cactus to bloom again when it usually only blooms once per year can be tricky. It involves providing the right temperatures and also treating it properly.
In fact, it’s possible that a cactus won’t bloom at all unless it’s getting the right treatment. Even a mature cactus will fail to bloom if it isn’t in the proper environment.
To get one to bloom more than once, it’s crucial that you keep it in a good environment. You want daytime temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 degrees Fahrenheit for most cacti.
Night temperatures can dip as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit and everything should be fine. You’re going to need to ensure that it gets plenty of light, though.
If you’re keeping the cactus indoors, you’ll want to position it near a south-facing window where it can get as much light as possible. If you’re caring for an outdoor cactus, you’ll just need to find a good position in your yard where it can thrive.
Some cacti enthusiasts will use grow lights to get their plants enough light during the winter months. This isn’t completely necessary to get a plant to flower, but it could help if you’re trying to encourage multiple blooming periods in one year.
You want to water it well without giving it too much. Going overboard when watering could easily cause root rot to set in.
Always check the condition of the soil before watering. If the soil is dry, you’re supposed to water the plant as normal, but you need to wait if the soil is a bit damp.
Fertilizing is also known to encourage blooming. Just ensure that you choose a fertilizer that has low nitrogen content and high phosphorus content.
The best times to use the fertilizer will be during the growing season. This means fertilizing once during the spring and then one more time during the summer.
How Long Will the Blooms Last?
Cacti blooms usually don’t last too long. It’s already been noted that some bloom at night and the blooms are only around for a single day.
A standard cactus will likely bloom for longer than this. You can likely expect one to have a bloom that will last between one and two weeks.
There isn’t a lot that you can do to extend the life of the bloom. You do need to keep caring for the plant as usual.
If you take care of the plant and provide it with what it needs, it might be more likely that the bloom will last closer to two weeks. Otherwise, the bloom might die faster if you’re neglecting the needs of the plant.
Now that you know more about this situation, it’ll be easier to plan ahead. Enjoy caring for your cactus and do your best to give it an environment where it can bloom and thrive.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.