Although this technique creates a humid environment that benefits many plants, Christmas cactus needs better air circulation to root successfully. These epiphytes (a plant that grows on top of another plant … We cover topics that help you make better decisions, be more interesting and improve your quality of life. Once you see the roots starting to form, it’s time to transplant your now-rooted cuttings into a pot, where your cactus can actually grow. Depending on the overall conditions in your home, the cuttings could be ready to root in 48 hours … There are several species of this plant, but the Christmas cactus gets its simple name because it tends to bloom around the holiday season. Watering should be done frequently and thoroughly, keeping the soil moist but not saturated. I repot them after about a month or so. Thank you! Repotting a Christmas cactus can be a challenging operation, as you can easily hurt the plant trying to remove it from its pot when it has become rootbound. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular, long-lived, winter-flowering houseplant often associated with the holidays because it usually blooms between mid … Let’s take a look at some of the tips that will help your Christmas Cactus flourish. Great content and Daily Deals delivered straight to your inbox. Your submission has been received! ChatterSource is a modern media platform that aims to provide high-quality digital content that informs, educates and entertains. In the fall when shoot growth slows down, allow the soil surface to dry between waterings to reduce the chances for root rot to occur. Many people grow Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgessii). Christmas cactus also enjoys average to high humidity with temperatures hovering between 60-70 F. (16-21 C.). We respect your privacy. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Propagating Christmas cactus is easy. They droop as they grow long, and they’re usually topped with pretty little flowers in various shades of white, red, and pink. These cacti like humid conditions. Each “leaf” is comprised of segmented sections. A Christmas cactus is an easy care, flowering plant that can live for 100 years, being passed on from generation to generation. You don’t want to miss a … Christmas cactus lives for about 20 to 30 years if proper maintenance is provided. It will not happen overnight! Once you’ve taken your cutting, place the segment in a moist peat and sand soil mix. Before you move to the next step, let your cuttings sit in a cool, dry place for at least three days. It flourishes when it’s a little root bound. As with all Christmas cacti, do not overwater. Our storage space is not air conditioned, and outdoor temperatures climb into the 90’s and low 100’s, so I’m sure inside the storage was even hotter. Daytime temperatures should average around 70°F. If you’ve ever tried to plant a garden or grow an indoor houseplant before you already know two things: it takes patience, and it takes practice.‍. The Christmas cactus’s scientific name is Schlumbergera. The best way to know when your Christmas Cactus needs to … However, stay away from direct sunlight, which may burn the leaves. The Christmas cactusis a relatively easy plant to propagate. This means that they do best in a semi-shade position, out of direct light. But getting it going is what we’re focusing on today. If possible, take Y-shaped cuttings with a minimum of three or four leaves/segments attached. A successful rooting will take about two to three weeks. The Christmas cactus is native to Brazil. You can use these instructions to take cuttings from Christmas (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata), and Easter (Rhipsalidopsis) cactus plants.Using the instructions (below), the cutting will grow roots and grow into a new plant. Have you ever seen one of those pretty cactus plants with the long segmented leaves and colorful flowers blooming on each end? The Christmas cactus can be propagated either way. The Christmas cactus may be watered more frequently, fertilized and given additional light at this time. Mist the plant often during its active growth period and water it regularly to keep the mix moist, but not soggy. Feed a Christmas cactus with a 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 plant food diluted with water to 50% strength. This plant comes from the mountains of Brazil, and, unlike the typical desert cactus, it grows in a cascading shape. You can use your fingers or if you are afraid of hurting it, you can use a scissor or any cutting tool with a sharp edge. When doing Christmas cactus propagating, always be sure that cuttings are taken from healthy foliage. If you like getting your hands dirty (and what gardener doesn’t? Make sure there is adequate drainage provided to prevent the Christmas cactus from rotting. In certain conditions, mild houseplant fertilizer can produce even better results. I find propagation is best done 2 or 3 months after flowering. Water and fertilize regularly in spring and summer; however, during the winter months, this plant should be kept on the dry side, withholding water for six weeks. In my experience, new pads won’t form until the spring after you root the pad. So these, planted in … Propagating Christmas cactus is easy. Generally speaking, the Christmas cactus is a fairly easy plant to root. The picture of the cactus is one that I rooted. When to Propagate Christmas Cactus The best time to propagate a Christmas Cactus is 1-2 months after it’s finished blooming. Oops! Each year your cactus pad will grow new pads and get bigger and bigger. A successful rooting will take about two to three weeks. In this case you can take the large parts that have fallen apart from the big plant and root them. In any case, you need a big piece of cactus to root a new plant. The best way to root a Christmas cactus in dirt is: Prefer to go the hydro route? Once you see the roots starting to form, it’s time to transplant your now-rooted cuttings into a pot, where your cactus can actually grow. The leaves are small, flat, and smooth with scalloped edges. One cool feature of the Christmas cactus is that you can root a brand new plant just by taking a few clippings from an existing plant. No obligations here. Avoid overwatering the cactus, because it can cause root rot. Unsubscribe any time. Growing Roots in Water Fill the bottom of a jar with stones and water. Water sparingly until roots or new growth develop, then water as normal. Like most succulent plants, it requires moist soil to grow; however, these plants do not like to be sitting in a pool of water. In addition, fertilize the plant with a monthly application of a magnesium sulfate solution at a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water, but don’t apply the same week you add the plant food. The Christmas cactus is a relatively easy plant to propagate. The cutting may wilt some in the beginning, but this is normal and will eventually subside once the plant has taken to its new environment. Christmas cactus can do ok when it has become rootbound, but you should still repot your holiday cacti every four years, increasing the size of the pot by two inches each time you repot. Water the cutting sparingly at first to prevent rotting. You’ll need to have a bit of patience while your Christmas cactus roots. Christmas cactus propagation usually begins by simply taking a short, Y-shaped cutting from the stem tip. How to Grow Christmas Cactus From Cuttings. You want to avoid propagating it in fall while setting bloom & of course during the flowering period. Fertilize your plants also by mixing in a gallon of water with a teaspoon of Epsom salt, between the months of early April to early September. Don’t allow this plant to dry out completely between watering intervals. It’s nearly impossible to bring something dead back to life. This article may contain affiliate links. Rooting Christmas cactus cuttings is simple. two to three weeks In this manner, how do I root a Christmas cactus? In fact, when it comes to the Christmas cactus, propagating is a great way to share this wonderful plant with others. Here’s everything you need to know about how to root a Christmas cactus. How to Care for a Christmas Cactus: 14 Steps (with Pictures) To try this method, you’ll need a glass jar, some pebbles or stones, and a few cuttings from a healthy plant. This method is the best if you’ve got some large cuttings (around 4 pads … Plants grow and thrive differently, depending on your specific region and climate. When it comes to the Christmas cactus, the most important thing to remember is this: Take your cuttings from a thriving, healthy plant. While Christmas cactus can adapt to and be grown in low light, the plant will produce more blooms with brighter light conditions. There is a Thanksgiving cactus (Zygocactus truncates) and an Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri). This beautiful indoor plant belongs to the genus Schlumbergera , and many plant scientists consider it a hybrid between two different cacti species. 1. Privacy Policy. Here’s an amazing story: We moved last August, and our medium-sized Christmas cactus accidentally got put in a box that went into storage. Sign up for our newsletter. Let us start with one of the most common types of cacti grown indoors; the Christmas cactus. Once potted, most cactus cuttings root in four to six weeks and are ready for transplant one month later. Allow the cutting to dry a few hours before potting it up for rooting, as to avoid potential stem rot from excessive moisture. Insert the segment about a quarter of its length below the soil surface. Few months after the blooming season, when the flowers have all been gone, a Christmas cactus is now ready to be pruned. Cutting it is very easy. The cutting should consist of at least two or three joined segments. So put your best foot forward and start with healthy cuttings to give you the best advantage. Christmas cactus propagating doesn’t get any easier than this. New posts & Daily Deals delivered straight to your inbox. You’ll need to have a bit of patience while your Christmas cactus roots. When we talk about rooting a cactus, what we’re actually talking about is propagation. How do you do it? Here are some tips to make sure your Christmas cactus gets bigger every year: 5 steps to stimulate root growth in a Christmas Cactus Water. However, an overwatered Christmas cactus plant will succumb to root rot and that family heirloom may pass on to the compost heap. And some need to be rooted in water. Just make sure that the water doesn’t evaporate! How To Root a Christmas Cactus. Placing the pot on a tray of pebbles and water can add more humidity to drier surroundings. They need sun but not too much sun. This peach is another lovely color, especially if you like your plant colors on the … Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! After all, if you want to be a respectable horticulturist, you should know the technical terms! Saturating it can cause it to rot, so you need to water it regularly and thoroughly without saturating or soaking the soil. Growing a Christmas Cactus. Good news! Sometimes a large Christmas cactus will start to fall apart. If the break is crooked or uneven, make a fresh cut to even it out. Christmas cactus propagation usually begins by simply taking a short, Y … Into straight succulent & cactus mix they go (with about 1/2″ of the end sticking in) & they start to root in a couple of weeks. In fact, when it comes to the Christmas cactus, propagating is a great way to share this wonderful plant with others. How to root the Christmas cactus cutting in water Use a sharp scalpel (we like these sterile, disposable cutting scalpels ) or small knife to remove a length of Christmas cactus. You can pretty much ignore the cactus with deep but infrequent watering and it will thrive. Keep an eye on it and add more water as you see it vanishing. Before we get into how to root this plant, let’s get specific. You can propagate a variety of different plants through this process. Christmas cactus cuttings typically take six to eight weeks to root, but they may take a little less or a little more time. Take cuttings of one to four segments and let them sit in a cool, dry place for two to four days. And, once you’ve mastered the art of cactus rooting, keep at it! This is as easy as it gets for plant propagation. The Christmas Cactus often does better when the pot is a little smaller than you’d think it needs. Propagating Christmas Cactus. Their colorful leaves give them a one-of-a-kind look, and they’re actually pretty easy to care for once you get them going. Something went wrong while submitting the form. The Christmas cactus is a long-lived plant that is often passed from one generation to another. After about two or three weeks of rooting, the cutting should start showing signs of growth at the tips of its leaves, which is usually reddish in color. Their beautiful flowers, long bloom time, and easy care requirements make them a wonderful plant. During the rooting process, you want to keep your cutting watered but not soaked. You can also try cutting a large part off of a big cactus and rooting it. Propagating Upright in Soil. Read more articles about Christmas Cactus. Watering Christmas Cactus. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Each of these plants blooms around a specific holiday. Propagating a Christmas cactus isn’t hard to do, but it may take some trial and error. Take cuttings of one to four segments and let them sit in a cool, dry place for two to four days. As long as it has at least two sections, it will root. The Christmas cactus can also be rooted in water. Check the broken end of the cactus. This plant makes a great holiday gift for friends and family, so knowing how to propagate and grow Christmas cactus can help make this shopping easier and less hectic. Water the soil lightly when … It will not happen overnight! Christmas cacti are a very popular houseplant—and for good reason!When they bloom, they produce colorful, tubular flowers in pink or lilac colors. Once your cutting has rooted, it can be transplanted into a pot with loose potting soil, preferably with a little sand or compost added. This is a very simple and easy propagation and takes very little effort! Place the pot in a well-lit area, avoiding direct sunlight. Some can be rooted in soil. Monitor the cutting during that time to make sure it's growing well and look for signs of new growth so you know when to repot. Cactus are extremely drought tolerant and can rot if they get too much water, so err on the side of under watering. ), then get yourself a pot, a peat/sand/soil mix, and a few cuttings of your favorite existing plant. 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As with anything in life, practice makes perfect! Christmas cacti are native to humid, jungle-type woodlands, and often grow attached to a tree. Saving an overwatered Christmas cactus requires swift decisive action … Once you’ve transplanted your rooted cactus to its proper pot, here’s what you’ll need to do: Water it on a regular basis, especially during the spring and summer. For a complete list of what plants grow best in which climates, Gardenia put together a comprehensive guide by hardiness zone. If you take care of your Christmas cactus it can grow and bloom for more than 20 years, according to Homeguides. In some circles, they’re referred to as the Thanksgiving cactus or the holiday cactus. Plant an inch deep in new soil, preferably a sand/peat mix. First, fill the bottom third of a … Today I will show you how to propagate your Christmas Cactus!! The best way to root a Christmas cactus in water is: The humidity in the jar will help your plant to root without rotting. 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