How To Trim A Christmas Cactus

The stem nodes of a Christmas cactus look like interlocking pieces. 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.

When should I cut back my Christmas cactus?

ANSWER: You may prune your holiday cactus plants anytime from when they finish blooming up until about June. Feel free to prune the plants as much as you need in order to keep them the size you prefer.

How do you trim a Christmas cactus leggy?

Pruning. Trim your Christmas cactus to create a fuller, bushier plant about a month after blooming, but never prune a Christmas cactus after late spring. To prune the plant, just pinch off one or more of the sections. Replant them in a separate pots if you want to create new plants.

How do you cut a Christmas cactus?

Now you might be thinking that you have a Thanksgiving cactus you'll be able to tell. Because you'll

How do you keep a Christmas cactus bushy?

Pruning an older plant will cause new growth to emerge. The plant will put out new segments wherever you trim. This is a great way to deal with a leggy plant, as it will fill in, making for a bushier, fuller Christmas cactus.

How do I make my Christmas cactus Fuller?

Take 1-2 segments from the plant if you want it to grow more fully. If you are pruning your plant to allow further growth, you don't need to take much off the ends. In fact, you can remove up to ⅓ of your Christmas cactus if you want to reduce its size. Take longer cuttings if you want to propagate.

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.

How long should a Christmas cactus live?

The Christmas cactus is everywhere during the holiday season, with good reason. It's a blooming succulent that is easy to care for, has gorgeous flowers, and when properly tended can live up to 100 years! That's right! This plant can survive for decades, adding color to your holidays for generations.

How many times a year can a Christmas cactus bloom?

How many times a year does a Christmas cactus bloom? 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 do I encourage my Christmas cactus to branch?

Prune plants in late spring to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut off a few sections of each stem; the plant will branch from the wound. If you wish, place the cut pieces in a lightly moist potting soil—they root easily after a few weeks and make for excellent Christmas presents!

How do you force a Christmas cactus to bud?

Christmas cacti produce flowers in a cool, environment-short day cycle. To initiate the production of flower buds, there needs to be at least eight days of 16 hours of dark and eight hours of light each day. Wherever the plant is placed, do not turn on the lights at night, even for a short period of time.

Why is my Christmas cactus thin and droopy?

LIMP OR WILTING CHRISTMAS CACTUS The soil could be too wet, or too dry, or it may be too rootbound. Feel the soil with your finger, to about an inch deep, and use the process of elimination to determine the problem. Solution: If the soil is just damp, let it dry before watering again.

Does Christmas cactus like sun or shade?

Holiday cacti grow best when they are placed in a location with partial shade, such as an east or west facing window, with a temperature between 70° and 80℉.

Do you deadhead a Christmas cactus?

Keep your cacti looking its best during and after the Christmas season by deadheading all the spent blooms. This also encourages the plant to continue blooming. Once Christmas is over you can continue to enjoy your cacti until it finally stops producing flowers.

Why is my Christmas cactus leggy?

Common Problem: If your Christmas Cactus looks leggy and weak, this could mean that it's not getting enough sunlight. However, too much sun will burn your Christmas Cactus. Solution: Christmas Cactus can adapt to low light conditions, but it will produce blooms more readily if exposed to bright, indirect light.

Should I water my Christmas cactus more when it is 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.

Do Christmas cactus like to be crowded?

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.

What does a healthy Christmas cactus look like?

Signs that your Christmas cactus is healthy are plump green leaves and plenty of blooms. It's easy to spot, though when it is unhealthy. Look out for wrinkled, puckered leaves, a sign of under-watering, or leaves that are brown, or dotted with black or red spots, which could be a sign of over-watering.

What stimulates Christmas cactus blooms?

To encourage bud set, provide bright light, temperatures between 55 F and 65 F, and 13 hours or more of continuous darkness each day. For flowers during the winter holiday season, long nights should be started in late September or October and continued for eight weeks.

Do Christmas cactus like shallow or deep pots?

Christmas Cactus bloom best when slightly potbound. Mine was in a 6″ grow pot & I planted it into an 8″ pot. I've seen older Christmas Cacti planted in relatively small pots & they're doing just fine. Make sure the pot has at least 1 drain hole.