How to Propagate a Christmas Cactus

This post will cover the basics of how to propagate your Christmas cactus as well as give you a few tips on how to help them thrive.

If you wish to propagate your plant, place the cuttings in vermiculite. Make sure one segment of each cutting is buried beneath the soil. They should root easily. You can propagate them by doing the following:

1. Step 1

   Prepare small pots for the stems you will want to propagate. Fill them with vermiculite and ensure that the pot will drain properly once watered. To make your Christmas Cactus bloom, you will need to follow a specific watering strategy throughout the year.

2. STEP 2

   To prune your plant, cut or twist off a few sections (between the segments) of each stem and set them aside from the healthiest sections for propagation. Dispose of (or compost) and segments that you don’t intend to use.

3. STEP 3

   Bury at least one segment of the stem buried beneath the soil in the pot. This will be the section that will take root into the soil You can place more in the soil without issue.

4. STEP 4

   Water the soil thoroughly, then continue to care for your Christmas cactus propagations as you would an adult plant.

When Should You Propagate a Christmas Cactus?

The best time to propagate a Christmas cactus is in the spring after the plant has finished its bloom cycle. Propagating the plant at this time allows it to settle before its growth season, taking advantage of it. Prune and propagate your Christmas cactus in spring or early summer, about a month after the plant stops blooming. Not only will this aid propagation, but it will also encourage branching on the parent plant, which will lead to more flowers.

How Much of the Parent Plant Can You Prune for Propagation?

The Christmas cactus is a pretty hardy plant that allows you to remove up to a third of it each year without causing lasting damage to it. This makes for a lot of potential baby plants that you can give away as gifts.