This article was co-authored by Andi Xoch. Andi Xoch is a Plant Specialist and the Owner of Latinx with Plants, a plant shop and resource based in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in the plant and garden industry, she specializes in plant maintenance, growth, and education. Andi has grown her business from a pop-up shop at home to two brick-and-mortar plant shops. She aims to share how to use plants as a healing tool.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Named after the time of year that they bloom in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas cactus plants are beautiful and easy to maintain in the right conditions. The simple process of pruning can help grow a fuller, bushier plant, or decrease the size of your existing plant. With the proper preparation and pruning technique, you’ll be able to unlock the full potential of your Christmas cactus plant.
Steps
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Take 1-2 segments from the plant if you want it to grow more fully. If you are pruning your plant to allow further growth, you don’t need to take much off the ends. In fact, you can remove up to ⅓ of your Christmas cactus if you want to reduce its size.[1]
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Take longer cuttings if you want to propagate. To grow another plant from your cutting, take Y-shaped cuttings from the mother plant.[2] Make sure the cuttings are around 3-4 segments long. These cuttings can be planted in different pots to grow as many new plants as you want.Advertisement
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Wait until your cactus has bloomed before pruning. After blooming, your Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and putting out new leaves. This is the best time to prune as it allows the cactus to branch out and grow more stems.[3]
- If you are unable to prune it right away, you can continue to prune until late Spring.
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Twist the plant at the gap between segments. Each segment is a rectangular shape with a joint at the end. The stem should easily break at this point as it is the weakest part of the plant. Make sure you twist quickly to avoid damaging the plant.
- If it doesn’t easily break, try using your thumbnail to separate the stem at the juncture.
- If twisting seems too harsh on the plant, you can trim it using garden clippers in the same place instead.
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Collect the longer pieces of trimmed stems. Cuttings larger than two sections can be used to grow new cactus plants, a process known as propagating.[4] Discard any cuttings that are too short.
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Prepare smaller pots using soil mix with good drainage. A mixture of moist peat and sand soil will provide enough nutrients for your growing plant. It will also allow proper soil drainage which is very important for cactus growth.[7] You can also layer pumice on the bottom of your pot for additional drainage.
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Transplant your cuttings into a larger pot. After 2-3 weeks, your cutting will show growth at its tips. These are usually red in colour and a sign you can now transplant it into a bigger pot[12] Fill this with a loose mixture of potting soil. Alternatively, you can use the same soil as the mother plant.[13]
- Don’t worry if your plant wilts at the beginning. This is normal and will subside once the plant gets used to its new home.[14]
- At this point, your plant can be exposed to more indirect sunlight.
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Water your Christmas cactus frequently. Once your cutting has developed roots and new growth, it can retain water just as well as an adult plant. Ensure that the soil remains moist and care for your plant in the same way you would a mature cactus.[15]
- Test the soil to see if it needs watering. Once the top layer of the soil feels dry to the touch, it is time to water again.
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Repot your cactus every 3-4 years. Christmas cactus plants like to live in tight pots so don’t need to be repotted very often.[16] Repotting should be done after blooming in late winter or early spring.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat should be done with a very old (over 16 years) Christmas cactus? Can it be pruned back to 1/3 its size?Community AnswerAfter the cactus blooms, you can prune back the branches. You should not prune it that much, as the cactus will lose too much water.
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QuestionCan I save a Christmas (Thanksgiving) cactus with some split brown stems - apparently root rot?Woopygamer23Community AnswerIf one part of the plant is healthy, you can use a leaf to propagate a new plant.
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Tips
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Christmas cacti grow well between 65 °F (18 °C) - 75 °F (24 °C), and require about 50-60% humidity in the air, so it’s best to ensure your home meets these requirements.[17]Thanks
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These cuttings can make great gifts for your friends to grow their own Christmas cacti.Thanks
Warnings
- When handling sharp garden tools, wear gloves and be careful not to cut yourself.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_care_for_and_reflower_your_christmas_cactus
- ↑ https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-propagate-christmas-cactus
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=39401#:~:text=To%20prune%20a%20holiday%20cactus%2C%20simply%20twist%20the%20stem%20at,of%20the%20plant%20every%20year.
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=39401#:~:text=To%20prune%20a%20holiday%20cactus%2C%20simply%20twist%20the%20stem%20at,of%20the%20plant%20every%20year.
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/hort-home-landscape/2015-06-04-propagating-succulents-and-cacti
- ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2002/012602.html
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2002/012602.html
- ↑ https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/white/news/horticulture/20181126-Care-of-Christmas-Cactus.aspx
- ↑ https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2020/02/how-often-should-i-water-christmas-cactus
- ↑ https://dbg.org/care-and-maintenance-of-holiday-cactus/
- ↑ https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/christmas_cactus
- ↑ Andi Xoch. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.
- ↑ https://help.gardeningexpress.co.uk/knowledge-base/a-beginning-guide-to-christmas-cactus-care/
- ↑ https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/christmas_cactus
- ↑ https://help.gardeningexpress.co.uk/knowledge-base/a-beginning-guide-to-christmas-cactus-care/
About This Article
Pruning a Christmas cactus can help it grow fuller and bushier. The best time to prune your cactus is about a month after it blooms. Just remove 1-2 segments from the end of each branch by twisting them off at the gap. You can remove up to ⅓ of your Christmas cactus’ growth each season. If you want to propagate your cactus, remove longer cuttings with 3-4 segments. Leave them out to dry for 2 days, then bury the ends in small pots filled with potting soil so the first segment of each cutting is covered. Place the pots in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight and water the cuttings sparingly. Once there’s new growth at the tips, transplant the cuttings into bigger pots and care for them just like you would a mature cactus. For more tips, including how to root your Christmas cactus, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"I tried the tips here and now my Christmas cactus is huge and blooms every year. Plus my one huge Christmas cactus now has turned into 5 big plants. Do as they say here and your plants will thrive."..." more