You can divide your Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus if it becomes too big for its pot. With a sharp, clean knife, cut through its thick roots. Depending on the size of the plant, you can cut it into two to four parts. Replant the divisions in a cactus potting mix that drains properly. These new plants may appear a little crooked at first, but don’t prune or shape them until they’ve bloomed. You’ll avoid cutting off any flower buds this way.
When should I divide my Christmas cactus?
It’s preferable to divide a Christmas cactus when it’s dormant rather than growing, so wait until the flowers have fallen off before doing so. By gripping the plant’s base and wiggling it free, gently remove the entire root ball from the pot.
How do you split a cactus?
1. Carefully lay out the newspapers. Cleaning up after dividing a plant is often the most difficult part of the process.
2. Take the plant out of its pot. Break the pot if necessary, but do it gently.
3. Determine the number of plants the division will generate.
4. Gently separate the root ball. You will have a huge cutting rather than a plant division if the roots are damaged or pulled off, and growth will be hindered. To divide the root ball with the least amount of trauma, a clean sharp knife or a hatchet may be required.
Pulling and yanking might result in a torn and mangled mess, therefore a clean cut is preferable. Put the root ball in a pail of warm water and gently pry the sections of the plant apart if you’re not sure how the plant is built under the soil line.
Some of the roots will be damaged, but you’ll be able to see where the main divisions are. This strategy can be effective when working with plants that have grown highly rootbound if you are gentle and repot properly.
5. Check for roots, stems, and leaves (or shoots) on each division before planting it in a clean, appropriate-sized container with sufficient drainage.
Because the roots have been disturbed, and injured roots are more prone to rot, good drainage is critical.
6. Use dirt that is fresh, sterile, or at the very least, uninhabited. Place the division in the center of the pot unless there is a solid reason to do differently.
7. Plant each division as deeply as it grew previously. Water the plant with warm water after pressing the dirt firmly around it. Clean the operation area by rolling up all the debris in newspaper.
For a few days, place the split plants in a protected spot (away from direct sunlight and drafts). The plants will have adjusted to their new settings in a reasonably short time and will be full-fledged members of your collection or ready to join someone else’s indoor garden.
Can you root a piece of Christmas cactus in water?
Christmas cactus cuttings can be rooted in either water or a mixture of coarse sand, perlite, or peat. To root in water, put a two-inch layer of pebbles or small stones in a glass jar, pour in enough water to cover the pebbles, then place your cuttings in the jar so that just the bottom tip is submerged.
How do I take a cutting from a Christmas cactus?
The Christmas cactus is a plant that is reasonably simple to grow. Take one to four-segment cuttings and store them in a cool, dry area for two to four days. Plant in new soil, preferably a sand/peat mix, an inch deep. Water sparingly until new growth or roots appear, then water as needed.
Should I transplant my Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming has ended and the blooms have withered in late winter or early spring, when most plants are best repotted when they show new growth. When the plant is actively blooming, never try to repot it.
Repotting a Christmas cactus isn’t necessary because this tough succulent thrives when its roots are little congested. Repotting the plant on a regular basis can harm it.
How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
- Water every two to three weeks, but only until the top one-third of the soil feels dry to the touch. Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, for example, if the plant is in 6 inches of soil. (Check with your finger!)
- Soak the soil until water runs through the drainage holes in the pot when it is suitably dry. To catch the water, place a tray underneath the pot. Remove any extra water from the tray after 10-15 minutes so that the pot does not sit in water.
- Feed every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer from spring through early fall. Feed the cactus once a month in the fall and winter to encourage blooming.
- Late in the spring, prune plants to encourage branching and more flowers. Simply cut a few portions off each stem, and the plant will branch out from the wound.
- Place the cut pieces in a gently wet potting soil if desired; they will root easily after a few weeks and make great Christmas gifts!
How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom
The lower temperatures and longer evenings of autumn bring out the blooms of Christmas cacti and its relatives. This is the general blooming schedule for the three main species of Christmas cacti:
- Thanksgiving cactus are the earliest and most persistent bloomers, blooming from late October to mid-winter.
It’s possible that your cactus isn’t flowering because it’s getting too much sunshine or being exposed to too hot temperatures. Here are some pointers to help you get yours to bloom!
- For at least six weeks, nights must be at least 14 hours long and days must be between 8 and 10 hours. If you have powerful interior lighting that is turned on at night, you may need to cover your cactus or transfer it to a location where it can be exposed to natural light.
- Flower buds form best when the plant is kept between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 15 degrees Celsius).
- By exposing the plant to temperatures of around 45°F (7°C) for several nights in a row, you can jumpstart the budding process.
- Ensure that you water the plant on a regular basis when it is in bloom. If the plant dries out too much, the buds may fall off.
- Don’t worry if the cactus loses its buds throughout the winter; it will bloom the next year!
Can you cut the top off a cactus and plant it?
Questions: I’m looking for advice on how to trim a columnar cactus plant. A friend gave me a cactus, but it has grown out of control. The cactus plant, which she cultivated from a tiny cutting, is now close to 7 feet tall and has no offshoots. I’d like to cut it down and plant the other half, but I’m afraid to do so. So far, I’ve read that sterilizing the knife and letting the cutting dry before planting are both good ideas. I’m unsure what length to cut off, what to do with the exposed portion at the top (if anything), how to cut it precisely without destroying it, or any other information I would require. I regret if this email is requesting too much information; I simply want to nurture such a unique plant with the utmost care. Thank you very much. Jessica
Answer:Yes, you can cut the cactus’ top off and plant it. Beyond the regular cutting methods, once the cut is healed, soak the cut piece (the part you plant to put under the ground) in super thrive! To prevent fungus, protect the exposed area at the top of the cactus (part left in the ground) for about two weeks. The cactus plant will exude sap, and the cactus plant part left in the ground will take far longer to repair than the chopped off cactus plant piece. How much of the cactus should be removed? I’ve seen everything from a few inches to many feet of hair removed. If your cactus plant has branching, I would recommend cutting above the branches, however yours does not. Also, when to crop the cactus plant depends on where you live because you don’t want the cactus plant to heal in the cold or humid conditions.
Can you take a cutting from a cactus?
As explained below, most cacti and succulents can be easily grown from stem or leaf cuttings. Cacti with several heads, such as Mammillaria and Echinopsis, can be divided, or individual heads can be cut off and used as cuttings.
Should I remove cactus pups?
No, removing offshoots is not a prerequisite. These cacti form enormous groups in the wild. Some people, however, dislike the look of a cactus cluster, so they remove the pups and replant them, resulting in a swarm of independent plants. Consider it a form of cosmetic surgery. They don’t require it to survive, but it does make them appear more attractive (to some people).
- Separating pups is best done in late spring or early summer, but you can do so now if you keep them inside. Make sure they’re at least 1/5 the size of the parent plant for the greatest outcomes.
- They now require time to recover from their sliced wound. It will last a week on a dry window ledge in partial sunlight.
- You can put the cut wound in soil once it has calloused over. Wait until they have developed roots before watering them. Only dry soil allows cacti to grow roots.
- Once the pup has produced roots, you can give it a little water once a week. Again, err on the side of underwatering because you want their roots to grow big and robust.
- It’ll eventually develop a robust root system, and you’ll be able to water it like a mature plant.
Do you water a Christmas cactus from the top or bottom?
Remember that Christmas cactus plants demand moist soil rather than the dry dirt preferred by most other succulents. When the top inch or two of soil on a Christmas cactus is dry, water it. Fill the pot saucer with stones and water to just below the tops of the pebbles (the pot should not be sitting directly in water) to assist improve the humidity around your plant. As the water evaporates, the air will become more humid. (See below for watering suggestions if you’re attempting to get your Christmas cactus to rebloom.)