Question: How can I get my Christmas cactus to bloom again next year? It was so pretty when I bought it this season.

Answer: Christmas cacti are from rainy tropical forests, where they grow suspended high in tree tops. They need really loose potting soils and cool conditions to come back into flower in early winter. The biggest factor, however, is lighting. They need almost full sunlight all fall, but they also must have 14 hours of total darkness at night, just like poinsettias, if you expect them to produce their flower buds.