I'm not so sure this shouldn't be under Cactus and Succulents but most of the old posts about this plant are in this forum so here is mine.
I have 3 'Easter Cactus' two purchsed last spring in flower and the 3rd given to me last fall, several years old, said never to have flowered.
They have spent the winter mixed in with my Schlumbergias in south and east and soutwest facing windows. Have not been feeding them until after Xmas although I prob should have been feeding all along. No sign of any flower buds yet. I am wondering if they need the same conditions as the schlumbergias- said to be long dark nights or if they are quite different - in terms of setting bud. Mind you I dont do anything special with my 'Xmas' cactus either and they do very nicely.
Rhipsalidopsis info please.
I wish I could help you. Hopefully by bumping it up someone will see this thread.
:) Donna
They are more similar to the epi's than to christmas cactus as far as culture goes. They need that Dec-Mar cooler drier rest to form buds. It's a little late for their normal cycle this year, but if they're healthy you still might be able to cheat & force some late blooms if you can get them down to 11 or 12 deg C for a couple months (at least at night) & don't water them very much at all, just enough to keep them from drooping & shriveling. Then bring them indoors, 16 to 22 deg C & resume normal watering.
In the future, just putting them close to a window allows them to get a better taste of the outdoor temperature cycle (if the room is not excessively heated) & will usually give you some blooms around easter (if you don't water too much in late winter).
Thanks grrnthumb!
Somebody here directed me to the epiforum which has a big section on Schlums and Rhips and that has also given me lots of info. In particular Ive found out that the reason one of them has been dropping segments is because I am probably watering too much.
I wont try to force anything this year just keep them healthy and then look for a cool spot for next winter - they might have to go in a basement window!
Dont think I want to try putting them outdoors at the moment- nighttime temps are down near to freezing .
Yep, they have a little bit of a reputation for liking to be slightly rootbound, I think because they like the extra drainage they get then. IME, they can grow good rootbound, but don't flower as well. Next time you repot them, try adding some extra drainage material like perlite to your potting soil, and don't ever let the pot sit directly in water. They need good drainage but also really don't like to get bone-dry like you can with most real cactus.
Thanks!