The Christmas cactus is a beautiful succulent with bright, vibrant flowers. Christmas Cactuses require very little care and are easy to propagate by taking stem cuttings. With its festive blooms and ease of care, the Christmas cactus is an ideal addition to any home throughout the year. Its ease of propagation makes it easy to give one as a gift! In this article, we’ll break down how to propagate a Christmas cactus into multiple plants.
One thing to remember: while the Christmas cactus is a succulent, it is better to treat it like a tropical plant in terms of watering. In all stages keep the plant in a pot with drainage holes. This cactus prefers indirect sunlight and lots of it. Keep this in mind as you propagate, to make sure you have the appropriately lit space.
How to Prep a Christmas Cactus for Propagation
Propagating a Christmas cactus is a simple process with just a few steps. Rooting can take up to a month, so plan accordingly. For the best results take cuttings from a healthy plant. Pick one that isn’t flowering or budding. You’ll want to cut off a piece that is 2-3 segments long. You don’t want the cutting to be too long as it will tip over easily as the roots take hold. You can remove the cutting from the plant using a twisting motion with your hands or a sterile pair of scissors. Take care to break or cut in between each segment.
You can now start rooting your cutting. If you would like to let your cutting heal you can. This will take a few days and improve the chances of successful rooting. This step isn’t necessary but will lower the probability of root rot and infection. To heal your cuttings, place them in a cool, dry place for 2 to 4 days. Once callouses form they are ready to go!
How to Propagate a Christmas Cactus in Soil
Planting directly into the soil is the easiest approach as it has fewer steps. Get a small pot (4-5in) with drainage holes. Prepare your pot with a room-temperature soil mixture. We recommend a moist peat/sand mixture or a potting mix. Insert the cut end of the stem a quarter of its overall length into the soil or at least an inch. Water thoroughly and place in a bright area with 8 hours of indirect sunlight. Once established, your cactus starts can be repotted to a larger container.
How to Propagate a Christmas Cactus in Water
To root a Christmas Cactus in water, take your cutting and place it in a glass jar. Then add water to cover two segments. Maintain this water level throughout the rooting process. Place the jar in a place where it will get 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Alternatively, you can line the glass with small, sterile stones 2 in deep. Fill the glass with water to cover the stones and place the cutting on top of those. Just the very bottom of the cutting should be touching the water. Some people believe that this will help grow stronger roots. Whichever way you try, just make sure to keep an eye on the water level to keep it there.
Once the roots get to about a half-inch long you can transfer them to the soil. Fill a small pot most of the way with peat/sand mixture or potting mix. You’ll want the rooted cutting to be about an inch into the soil. Add the cutting and cover with soil. Add enough water for the soil to be moist but not drenched. Place in the same environment you had while rooting: an area with lots of indirect sunlight for 8 hours.
