Sprouting new growth, a Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera truncata) begins to harden and mature in late spring. Pruning at this time of year encourages the plant to put out side shoots, resulting in a fuller, bushier plant.
Pruning a Christmas cactus is a simple process that can be done with a sharp knife or pair of scissors. Simply cut off any stems that are longer than you desire. You can also remove any stems that are dead or dying.
How do you trim a Christmas cactus without killing it?
Christmas cacti are easy to propagate! Simply take a sharp pair of pruning snips and carefully trim between the stem nodes. You can also twist and bend the nodes until a piece breaks off. I use the snips to avoid damaging the plant.
It’s perfectly fine to prune your holiday cactus plants anytime from when they finish blooming up until about June. In fact, feel free to prune the plants as much as you need in order to keep them the size you prefer.
How do you fix a Christmas cactus leggy
If you have a Christmas cactus that is all legs, you can prune the plant to encourage it to grow fuller. To do this, you can pinch back leggy growth to encourage the plant to grow outward rather than adding more length.
If you want your cacti to look its best during and after the Christmas season, make sure to deadhead all the spent blooms. This will also encourage the plant to continue blooming. Once Christmas is over, you can continue to enjoy your cacti until it finally stops producing flowers.
Where do you cut a Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus propagation is a relatively simple process that can be accomplished by taking a short, Y-shaped cutting from the stem tip. The cutting should consist of at least two or three joined segments. When doing Christmas cactus propagating, always be sure that cuttings are taken from healthy foliage.
Christmas cacti are a type of cactus that prefers high humidity and moist conditions. If your house is dry indoors in winter, you can place the Christmas cactus on a tray of pebbles or near other plants to help increase the humidity. Water the cactus when the top surface feels dry, and make sure it never sits in water. Christmas cacti prefer daytime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees, and evening temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees.
What month do you not water Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus has a bloom cycle of dormancy, water, light and temperature. Cut back on how much you water your Christmas cactus during late fall, from October to the middle of November. Let the top two or three inches of soil dry out between waterings. This will help to initiate the blooming cycle. When the days start to lengthen in late winter, around February, give your plant a rest from watering and don’t fertilize it. Move it to a cool, bright spot and wait for the buds to form. Once the buds start to open, you can resume watering and fertilizing.
A Christmas cactus can bloom up to two times per year if they’re given the proper care and dormancy conditions. It’s normal for them to bloom in December, and sometimes they will flower again in the spring.
How often do you water a Christmas cactus when it’s blooming
Watering your plants every 2 to 3 weeks is a good general rule of thumb. However, be sure to check the top one third of the soil before watering. Watering when the soil is dry to the touch will help ensure that your plants are getting the moisture they need.
Pruning your holiday cactus will result in a fuller, bushier plant that will produce more blooms. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to propagate more plants to give to friends and family! The best time to prune a holiday cactus is right after it has bloomed and before it actively begins growing.
How do you force a Christmas cactus to bud?
If you want your Christmas cactus to produce flowers, you need to make sure it experiences a cool, short day cycle. This means that there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of darkness and eight hours of light each day. Wherever you place your plant, don’t turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.
Christmas cactus is a beautiful plant that’s very easy to propagate. Cuttings of one to four segments can be taken and left to sit in a cool, dry place for two to four days. Plant the cutting an inch deep in new soil, preferably a sand/peat mix. Water sparingly until roots or new growth develop, then water as normal. Enjoy your new Christmas cactus!
Should a Christmas cactus be watered while blooming
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist while your plant is blooming, misting it frequently.
Light: Place the cactus in an east-facing window for moderate light and some direct sun.
Fertilization: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks once buds form.
This is a great way to get your cactus to bloom for the holidays! By putting it in a dark closet for 14 hours a night, you are tricking it into thinking it is winter. This will cause the plant to start forming buds. Once the buds begin to form, you can bring the plant back out into the light and it should bloom beautifully for the holidays!
Should I water my Christmas cactus when it has buds?
Watering is essential to the growth of your Christmas cactus. During the plant’s active growth period in spring and summer, make sure to keep the soil evenly moist. This will encourage bud formation and prevent the plant from wilting.
Christmas cactuses actually like to have their roots sort of crowded. This is a struggle for plant parents because it’s tough to prevent them from becoming root bound when they actually grow best in a crowded pot.
Final Words
To prune your Christmas cactus, start by cutting away any dead or dying leaves or stems. Next, trim back any leggy or overgrown stems to encourage new growth. Finally, cut away any stems that are crossing or rubbing against each other to promote better air circulation.
Pruning a Christmas cactus is a simple process that can be done with a pair of sharp gardening scissors. First, cut off any dead or dying leaves or stems. Next, trim back any long or leggy stems, cutting them back to a point just above a leaf node. Finally, cut off any flower buds that are present. With regular pruning, your Christmas cactus will stay healthy and look its best.
