You should not prune it that much, as the cactus will lose too much water. If it doesn’t easily break, try using your thumbnail to separate the stem at the juncture. If they don’t come off easily, try digging your thumbnail in to separate them. This helps the plant produce new growth in the spring. wikiHow's. The ideal time is after the blooming ends. For more info, check out how to prune Christmas cactus. It is easy to prune your plant. When they bloom, both the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus have tube-shaped blooms, whereas the Easter cactus has a more daisy-shaped flower. Most all of mine have stopped blooming but one. ", Your pruning instructions were very helpful. Read more articles about Christmas Cactus. You can prune your Christmas cactus anytime after it blooms until late spring. Use a cactus compost or John Innes No. Take a section of up to five segments from the end of a stem. How to Care for a Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus. This is normal and will subside once the plant gets used to its new home. Whether your plant is called a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter cactus, they each need the same care. The good part is that I got to see it bloom again and I have all those cuttings rooting nicely in with my lavender which was super simple! Last Updated: December 25, 2020 Once your Christmas cactus has stopped blooming, continue to care for with consistent watering. Keep the soil very dry for about a month after it stops blooming; Also after about a month, it’s time to prune a Christmas Cactus. With the proper preparation and pruning technique, you’ll be able to unlock the full potential of your Christmas cactus plant. In fact, you can remove up to ⅓ of your Christmas cactus if you want to reduce its size. Pruning a Christmas cactus right after it blooms will force it to branch out, which means the plant will grow more of its distinctive stems. Pruning a Christmas cactus can help it fill out more, becoming bushier. The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is right after it has bloomed. The simple process of pruning can help grow a fuller, bushier plant, or decrease the size of your existing plant. Prep Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom To prune your Christmas cactus, wait until after it’s bloomed, when it’s putting out new leaves, which is when it grows best. It grew and flowered the first year! Tap to unmute. Just twist or cut one or several of the segments off the ends of each of the stems. The Easter cactus hybrid blooms later in the season, and it has more orange on the flowers than the other varieties. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) Schlumbergera truncata and S. × buckleyi are the two species of epiphytic cacti that are both commonly known as Christmas cactus.So called because they flower from late November to late January, they give a wonderful Christmas display or are an ideal Christmas gift. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 233,590 times. At this time, the Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and will start to put out new leaves. If you are pruning a Christmas cactus to reduce its size, you can remove up to one-third of the plant per year. Move over poinsettia, the Christmas cactus is in town this holiday season!And we are going to learn everything about Christmas cactus care in this article. Make sure to follow all our tips carefully to enjoy the adorable flowers on this plant. You don’t need shears to prune a Christmas cactus. 1. You should only water the plant when the topmost soil layer (about one inch or 2.5cm) is completely dry to touch. When in bloom, the cactus should be misted frequently, keeping the soil evenly moist. If you are not able to do your Christmas cactus pruning right after it blooms, you can prune the plant any time from after it blooms until late spring without doing harm to the Christmas cactus plant. After the cactus blooms, you can prune back the branches. Approved. "I received 1 beautiful pink Epiphyllum from a girl at my garden club. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. In this case, 98% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. 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. Alternatively, if you want to grow other plants from it, take cuttings that are 3-4 segments long, since these will survive better on their own. At this time, an owner may wonder if pruning a Christmas cactus is possible and exactly how to trim a Christmas cactus. [1] X Research source The vibrant color blooms that emerge from tendrils draping and creeping over the plant make it look more attractive. The best time to do this is in March, when it has come out of its period of rest. How to Trim a Christmas Cactus. Because of the unique stems, pruning a Christmas cactus is perhaps one of the easiest pruning jobs there is. For more tips, including how to root your Christmas cactus, read on! Easter cacti are one of three holiday cacti, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, that bloom in the autumn and winter, respectively. Can I save a Christmas (Thanksgiving) cactus with some split brown stems - apparently root rot? So whether you are looking to simply reduce the size of your plant or are looking to make yours look even more beautiful, keep reading to learn more about how to trim a Christmas cactus. This varies by plant. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Feed your Christmas cactus monthly with a diluted water-soluble fertilizer during the spring and summer months. You do this for two reasons, either to reduce its size or to make it grow more fully. Pruning a Christmas cactus right after it blooms will force it to branch out, which means the plant will grow more of its distinctive stems. 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. Pruning a Christmas cactus right after it blooms will force it to branch out, which means the plant will grow more of its distinctive stems. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Just twist the segments with your fingers to break them off. Christmas cacti are easily propagated. Repot into a slightly larger pot – the roots like to be snug. Typically, it will bloom in November or December and again in February. The Christmas cactus has a similar boxy-shape, but with notched sides, rather than teeth. If you are not able to do your Christmas cactus pruning right after it blooms, you can prune the plant any time from after it blooms until late spring without doing harm to the Christmas cactus plant. Step 1: Take a Cutting From a Mature Plant If you want to propagate and plant a Christmas cactus, start with a mature plant a couple months after the plant has finished blooming. Christmas Cactus loves well drained and sandy soil. % of people told us that this article helped them. Throughout the rest of the year, the Christmas cactus should be heavily watered to soak the … Don’t worry if your plant wilts at the beginning. I moved mine to the covered side patio where it gets indirect yet bright light. Remove the stem with a sharp knife or pruner by cutting between the segments. It can bloom multiple times per year. 1. ", http://www.gardenloversclub.com/houseplants/christmas-cactus/care-for-christmas-cactus/, https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/growing/growing-systems-tools-gardening/how-to-grow-christmas-cactus-for-generations-of-blooms/, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/christmas-cactus-pruning.htm, https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/christmas-cactus-tips-for-growing-care-propagating-235180, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/how-to-propagate-and-plant-christmas-cactus.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/repotting-christmas-cactus.htm, https://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/giftflowers/flowersandoccassions/christmas-cactus. If your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x hybrida) thrives in its well-worn container, don't be in a rush to transplant. Pruning your Christmas cactus, or Thanksgiving cactus will make it branch out, and grow more segmented stem leaves. … If you want your Christmas cactus to grow more fully, only prune 1 or 2 segments at a time. This brief rest encourages the Christmas Cactus to … Because of the unique stems, pruning a Christmas cactus is perhaps one of the easiest pruning jobs there is. 2. I just let them dry out for a day, then planted them in potting soil. Sign up for our newsletter. The best part of growing a Christmas cactus is that it is extremely low maintenance. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The Christmas cactus (the Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a gorgeous plant from the cacti family.It blooms in late November or early December. I let it settle … now has turned into 5 big plants. Minimal watering will encourage the plant to enter dormancy, which is a critical stage for getting your plant to bloom. Continue to water and care for you plant as usual after it has bloomed, removing any spent blooms or foliage that become unsightly or damaged. Christmas cactus is one of the most favorite holiday succulents. How to Promote Blooming in a Christmas Cactus. Test the soil to see if it needs watering. The really fun thing about trimming a Christmas cactus is that you can easily root the Christmas cactus cuttings and give the new plants to friends and family. The best time to prune a Christmas Cactus is about a month after it has finished flowering. Jun 14, 2019 - How to Prune a Christmas Cactus. the spent blooms will fall off on their own, and you can encourage branching by pinching off some growth at the joints but it's not necessary for the life of the plant. You can easily start new plants with the parts you've pinched off by sticking them in moist soil to root, or rooting them in water. 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. At this time, the Christmas cactus will be entering a growth period and will start to put out new leaves. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Jan 14, 2020 - How to Prune a Christmas Cactus. It has tiny buds on it again, this is the first week of March and it has been blooming since November. If you don’t have a Christmas Cactus yet, you can find Christmas Cactus Seeds here as well as live Christmas Cactus plants here. While this is lovely to see, it can create problems for a homeowner with limited space. Because Christmas cactus plants are so easy to care for, it is not uncommon for a Christmas cactus to eventually grow to a monstrous size. This article has been viewed 233,590 times. 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