Let’s learn how to propagate a Christmas cactus because the more the merrier and your home will be full of colors!
A popular holiday plant, aka. the Christmas Cactus is now mandatory for festive decoration in many parts of the world. The best part here is that it blooms with so many colorful blossoms during the Christmas and New Year seasons. So, here is a simple guide on how to propagate and plant this gorgeous beauty right at your place!
Christmas Cactus Information
The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), unlike its desert cousins, comes from the humid and shady forests of southeastern Brazil. It’s an epiphytic cactus that grows on trees and rocks instead of the ground like orchids! Further, being a perennial plant requires less work and you get beautiful blooms.
The succulent has unique, flat, and slightly serrated stems that look a bit like leaves. In late fall or early winter, beautiful blooms appear at the tips of these stems.
Golden Tip: Grow the Christmas cactus as a hanging plant or place it where it has room to drape. This will encourage the succulent to branch out more.
Christmas Cactus Propagation
When learning how to propagate a Christmas Cactus, you’ll find there are two easy ways. First, you can try direct planting or you might enjoy water propagation. Both are simple and rewarding, so pick whichever suits your style!
Here is a quick note, don’t take cuttings from your plant while it’s budding. To speed up the rooting time, take the cutting when the temperature is warmer (71–81°F). You can place multiple cuttings in a pot, allowing an inch of space between them.
How to Propagate Christmas Cactus
The best time to propagate a Christmas Cactus is a couple of months after it finishes blooming. Stem cuttings remain the most effective method for propagating Christmas Cactus. To start, carefully cut a healthy stem with 2–3 segments from your Christmas Cactus using a pair of sterile scissors. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting. Let the cut end air dry for a couple of days in a bright spot. This allows a protective layer to form.
Once dry, gently plant the cutting in a pot filled with well-draining cactus or succulent soil. Place the pot in a location with bright, indirect light. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
1. Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water
Place the cut end of a stem cutting (with at least two segments) in a jar or glass filled with 1–2 inches of filtered water. Position the jar in a bright spot with indirect light, like a windowsill. Keep changing the water weekly to keep it fresh. Once you see healthy roots growing, typically 1–2 inches long, it’s time to pot your new cactus in well-draining soil.
2. Propagating Christmas Cactus in Soil
Learning how to propagate a Christmas Cactus in the soil is a simple and effective method. Take a cutting consisting of two or three segments from a healthy plant. Next, allow the cut end to dry for a day or two to prevent rot. Next, fill a small pot with a well-draining mix and gently insert the cutting, burying the bottom segment about halfway.
Lastly, place the pot in a location with bright, indirect light, such as a windowsill. Along with this, keep the soil slightly moist but avoid overwatering. With proper care, your Christmas Cactus cutting will soon root and develop into a new plant.
Requirements for Christmas Cactus
Light
Christmas cacti thrive in bright, indirect light. So, place them near an east- or west-facing window, where they’ll receive ample light without the harsh rays of direct sun. Make sure that you haven’t kept them in direct sunlight, especially during the summer months, as this can scorch their leaves.
Water
Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Allow excess water to drain freely from the pot to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Reduce watering during the fall and winter when the plant is preparing to bloom.
Temperature
Christmas cacti prefer moderate temperatures. Ideal daytime temperatures range from 65-75°F. Cooler nighttime temperatures (around 55–60°F) during the fall can encourage bud formation. Avoid exposing them to drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations.
Note: Increased humidity is helpful to the Christmas Cactus. Misting the plant regularly or placing it on a water-filled pebble tray is beneficial.
Soil
You can use a well-draining potting mix specifically formulated for cacti and succulents. This type of soil ensures proper drainage and prevents root rot. Besides, you can also add perlite or sand to improve drainage.
Christmas Cactus Pests and Diseases
Common pests on Christmas Cacti include fungus, gnats, thrips, aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs and overwatering is the main cause of these pests. It also increases the risk of fungal diseases like Fusarium and Phytophthora sp. Fusarium causes brown spots at the soil line.
While recovery is possible, it’s often difficult to save a plant with severe Fusarium infection. First, allow the soil to dry out completely and apply a fungicide solution. Again, insecticidal soap and horticultural oil are usually effective for other pest control. Gently wipe off tiny pests with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball.
How to Make Christmas Cactus Bloom
Christmas cacti typically bloom for 4 to 6 weeks, displaying bright and attractive colors. To enjoy their blooms for as long as possible, simply keep up with deadheading the dead flowers whenever they appear. This simple step helps the plant conserve energy and may even produce more blooms.
Pro Tip: Move the plant to a bright and draft-free spot once it starts budding. This will help the flowers to bloom within a couple of weeks. Also, keep rotating the plant so that it receives the light from all sides for bushier and uniform growth.
Hope this guide will help you out with your Christmas cactus. In the meantime if you have more tips from your experience why not share with us too!
