Hi & Welcome,

Why have you cut back on watering?

I wouldn't remove the new growth, can't imagine it'd stop bud development.

I'm not sure about all this moving this around. I leave mine in place to bloom.

I would leave the new growths alone and not pinch it off...you still have plenty of time for the leaves to mature and get buds...I live in FL and I probably won't see buds for at least another few weeks. You have all winter and part of spring to get buds since you live in Canada...so I would let the plant do its own thing, if it were mine I would water my plant when its dry since you have new growths...but its up to you, I'm not an expert ,lol...

I think its the shorter days along with cooler temps that triggers these to bloom? not like the Poinsettia that needs at least 12-14 hours of total darkness...

Here is a link that might be useful: How to re-bloom TC, CC

I'm no expert either but know that withholding water for these is done AFTER bloom (for about 1 month) & not before. They'll need water to grow their segments & buds.

Thanks for all the replies everyone! From my Google searches I kept seeing that I should withhold water starting in October, so I assumed that I needed to let it dry out. Also a buddy of mine had let his dry right up and it is budding like crazy right now. Should I hold off on fertilizer as well? I normally give my houseplants a general 10-15-10 every time I water (haven't given any to the cactus in almost a month).

Since you have new growths...I would fertilize them but "weakly" maybe half or less than the recommended dosage on the package.

PG, you've been growing these a lot longer than I have so I would say you're more of an expert than I am :o)...I've used many great tips on growing these from you, thanks!!

Hey, Nancy and Karen.

Indeed, for the longest lasting flowers, Jetta, you ought to water straight through the bloom, and only lighten the watering after the bloom during the recuperation period of lower activity. Continue to fertilize weakly (1/4 strength should be just fine).

No dark treatment. Completely unnecessary.

Josh

Awesome - thank you!! I was getting sick of hauling it downstairs and back up in the morning. Thanks again everyone :)

Jetta,
You might want to consider putting your plant outside, in the shade, next summer. I brought mine in a couple of weeks ago. The TC was already budding and the CC has been treated properly so that it should start budding in a month or so.

There's no new segments on the TC, just the buds. The CC has some, but it's slowing down considerably. The cool weather and shorter day length set things in motion "naturally" ;-).

Gail

Hello again,

Thanks for the kind words Pug, nice of you to say. Thank YOU for the link you provided, I hadn't seen that one before, helpful.