when to put christmas cactus in dark

Christmas cactus should be placed in the dark for about 14 hours per day from September through November in order to promote bud formation. This is because the plant needs to be exposed to a period of darkness in order to produce the buds that will eventually turn into flowers. Once the buds begin to form, you should reduce the amount of time the plant is exposed to darkness in order to prevent the buds from dying off. During this period, keep the plant at a constant temperature of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit and provide plenty of indirect sunlight.