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Name: Keith West Babylon, NY (Zone 7a)              keithp2012 Apr 6, 2015 5:59 PM CST |
| 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.  |
Name: aud/odd Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)   Cinta Apr 14, 2015 6:13 PM CST |
| 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? |
Name: Keith West Babylon, NY (Zone 7a) keithp2012 Apr 14, 2015 8:20 PM CST |
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. 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. |
Name: aud/odd Pennsylvania (Zone 6b) Cinta Apr 15, 2015 3:42 PM CST |
| 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.  This is what it looks like now 5 yrs later.   |
Name: Keith West Babylon, NY (Zone 7a) keithp2012 Apr 15, 2015 3:54 PM CST |
Cinta said:I have them in a clay pot and they are dry all winter they just never flower. One is flowering for you  Do you have them under gro lights inside? |
Name: tarev San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b) Always count your blessings in life              tarev Apr 15, 2015 7:05 PM CST |
| 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. |
Name: aud/odd Pennsylvania (Zone 6b) Cinta Apr 15, 2015 10:16 PM CST |
| Sun does not show her face in my city in the winter. They do get full sun in the summer. |
Name: tarev San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b) Always count your blessings in life tarev Apr 16, 2015 1:24 PM CST |
| 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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