What Your Christmas Cactus Actually Needs in January for a Second Round of Blooms

Once the holiday season is over, it can be tempting to set your Christmas cactus aside – or even think it’s done for the year. But don’t toss it away too soon. With a little care in January, your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) can bounce back and bloom again.

Once the festive display has faded, your Christmas cactus still needs the right balance of light, water, and temperature to recover and reset for its next flowering cycle. But if you want to enjoy another round of blooms, they need a little thoughtful care long after the holidays are over.

With consistent care in the new year, you can make a Christmas cactus bloom to reward you with vibrant flowers again, keeping a touch of festive cheer long after the decorations come down.

Post-Holiday Care for Your Christmas cactus

All those vibrant holiday flowers take a lot of energy to produce, so once the last bloom fades, it’s time to give your Christmas cactus a well-earned rest. A four- to six-week break mimics the plant’s natural dormancy in its native Brazilian rainforest, allowing it to recharge and build energy for next season’s display.

Keeping an eye on light, water, and temperature during this period can even encourage a second bloom in late winter or early spring. With the right after-holiday care, your Christmas cactus will continue to thrive, rewarding you with healthy growth and a spectacular floral show year after year.

1. Prune It for More Blooms

While faded flowers often drop on their own, regular deadheading helps direct energy toward developing new buds. Remove any remaining spent flowers, then prune stems to create a uniform, fuller shape. Pruning encourages branching, improves air circulation, and reserves energy for fresh growth.

Aim to prune within a month of the last bloom, using sterile snippers. Propagating a Christmas cactus is easy, making it a popular gift for plant lovers or a way to grow new plants for your own home. In fact, a well-cared-for Christmas cactus can live 100 years or more, making it a true family heirloom.

The Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Shears on Amazon are a top-rated option. I've also just purchased this Succulent Tool Kit to keep my indoor plants thriving throughout the year.

2. Repot for a Healthier Plant

After pruning, check your cactus’s soil and roots. While slightly potbound plants bloom best, it’s wise to refresh the soil every three to four years. Signs your plant needs more space include roots growing through drainage holes, stunted growth, fewer blooms, or droopy foliage. The best time to repot is right after flowering and before new growth begins.

3. Give It the Right Light

During the rest period, provide 12–14 hours of darkness overnight and four to six hours of bright, indirect sunlight during the day.

When new growth appears in spring, move your cactus to a spot with six to eight hours of bright, indirect light. East- or north-facing windows with gentle morning sun are ideal, or use a grow light if natural light is limited. You won’t need to increase darkness again until it’s time to set buds for next season.

4. Water Wisely

Water sparingly during the rest period. Check the soil with your finger every couple of weeks, and water only when the top 2–3 inches are dry. When new growth begins in spring, resume a regular watering schedule – weekly or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Never let your cactus sit in water, which can lead to root rot. These Humidity Trays on Amazon will help your plant dry out faster.

5. Fertilize for Future Blooms

Hold off on feeding until spring growth appears, indicated by small light-green or slightly pink leaf segments at the tips of stems. Once growth starts, apply a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer once a month until late August, then stop to encourage bud formation for the following year. Fertilizing isn’t needed again until the next active growth cycle after flowering and rest.

With a little attention after the holidays, your Christmas cactus can continue to thrive for decades – bringing bursts of color to your home every year. By giving it a rest, pruning thoughtfully, repotting when needed, and providing the right light, water, and fertilizer, you’ll encourage strong growth and spectacular blooms.

Easy to propagate and built to last, a well-cared-for Christmas cactus can become a treasured family heirloom, or a thoughtful gift for friends who love plants. Follow these simple steps, and your Schlumbergera will reward you with vibrant flowers season after season, keeping a touch of festive cheer alive long after the decorations are packed away.