It was a gray October evening. I had forgotten to open the blinds in the living room. For two weeks, the cactus was almost entirely in the dark because I was hardly ever home. When I finally had time one morning and let the light in, I couldn’t believe my eyes: tiny pink buds everywhere! It was as if the plant had decided to teach me a lesson: patience, darkness, cold – that was its secret.
My Journey to the Flowering Secret:
First, I had to understand that the Christmas cactus isn’t a « normal » cactus. I always thought it preferred dry air, sun, and little water—like its spiky desert relatives. But no, this guy is an exotic from Brazil! A tropical native! It loves humidity, shade, and mild temperatures. In its natural habitat, it doesn’t grow in sand, but on trees, where moss and soil collect in the forks of the branches.
So I turned everything upside down: Instead of the sunny windowsill, I moved it to a bright but shady spot – no direct sunlight, but indirect, like in a tropical forest. And lo and behold, after just a few weeks, its leaves looked lusher, greener, more vibrant.
Light, temperature & the magic of darkness
