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If your Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus gets very big and pot-bound, you can divide it. Cut through its thick roots with a sharp, clean knife. You can divide it into two to four pieces, depending on the size of the plant. Replant the divisions in a well-drained cactus potting mix.
When can I divide my Christmas cactus?
Although you can grow them outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, they usually are grown as houseplants. The plants last five or six years, and with good care, they grow to fill a very large pot. You can separate a Christmas cactus in late spring or early summer.
Can you root a Christmas cactus in water?
You can root Christmas cactus cuttings in either water or a mixture of coarse sand and perlite or peat. To root in water, fill a glass jar with a two-inch layer of pebbles or small stones, pour in enough water to cover the pebbles, and add your cuttings to the jar so that only the bottom tip is in the water.
How do you thin out a Christmas cactus?
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.
Where do I cut my Christmas cactus to propagate?
Christmas cactus propagation usually begins by simply 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.
Can you split a Christmas cactus in half?
If your Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus gets very big and pot-bound, you can divide it. Cut through its thick roots with a sharp, clean knife. You can divide it into two to four pieces, depending on the size of the plant. These new plants may look a bit lopsided, but wait to prune or shape them until after they bloom.
Should I transplant my Christmas cactus?
Most plants are best repotted when they display new growth in spring, but Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming ends and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming. Often, a plant can bloom happily in the same pot for years.
How do you cut and replant a cactus?
Cut a segment from the cactus with a clean knife, selecting the segment from new growth and making the cut through the segment joint. Remove small plants from the base of a cactus by cutting through the new plant’s base just beneath the soil surface.
How do you root a broken piece of cactus?
Dig a small hole in the potting medium and bury one-third to one-half of the pad or stem, bottom end down, in the mix. Place in a warm location in bright, filtered light. Don’t water the plant until it begins to develop roots.
Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
In general, water a Christmas cactus when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. To help increase the humidity around your plant, fill the pot saucer with pebbles and add water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot shouldn’t be sitting directly in water). The air will become more humid as the water evaporates.
How do I make my Christmas cactus bushier?
Christmas cactus pruning is not just for large plants, either. Pruning a Christmas cactus, large or small, will help it to grow fuller and more bushier, which in turn results in more blooms in the future.
Why are the leaves on my Christmas cactus limp?
Wilted or limp Christmas cactus is sometimes caused by a lack of water or too much direct sunlight. If you’ve neglected to water the limp Christmas cactus, begin by giving the plant a limited drink. Poor drainage and soggy roots can make Christmas cactus very limp.
Why is my Christmas cactus dropping segments?
The most common cause of a Christmas Cactus dropping leaves is overwatering, or conditions that result in soggy soil conditions. This causes root rot, and damage to the rest of the plant. Poorly draining soil, temperature stress, overfertilizing, lighting problems, or pests can also cause leaf drop.
Can you plant two Christmas cactus together?
An old Christmas cactus can be combined in a single pot with a new plant, as long as neither plant is suffering from disease or pest infestation.
How long does it take for Christmas cactus to root?
It can take as long as one month for a Christmas cactus to root. So you’ll need to be patient for at least 3 to 4 weeks.
Do Christmas cactus like to be rootbound?
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.
Can I use orchid potting mix for Christmas cactus?
A handy formula for a soilless potting mix, ideal for your Christmas cactus is: 1 part cactus and succulent mix. 1 part orchid mix. 1 part horticultural pumice, sand, or fine gravel.
Are coffee grounds good for Christmas cactus?
Your Christmas cactus will enjoy a coffee as much as you do! Coffee grounds are a good source of potassium and nitrogen, two things the cactus needs to keep it healthy. Don’t use the grounds straight away, as moist grounds can go moldy, so you need to dry them first by spreading them out.
Can I split a cactus?
Most cacti and succulents can be easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings, as explained below. Cacti that form numerous heads, such as many Mammillaria and Echinopsis can be divided, or cut off individual heads and use them as cuttings.
