Overwatering can lead to root rot. Here is a simple guide on how to care for Christmas Cactus during its blooming period and longterm as well. Proper christmas cactus care may be a bit different from what you’d expect of the usual desert cacti, as these are tropical rainforest succulents. Remove renegade branches or any damaged foliage. With the proper preparation and pruning technique, you’ll be able to unlock the full potential of your Christmas cactus plant. Take 1-2 … During pruning, cut between two leaf segments. How to Care for Your Christmas Cactus so It Will Bloom All Holiday Season Long. Christmas Cactus can live for 20 to 30 years. It is easy to prune your plant. It is always ready to grace the living room once its blooms begin showing. Mark unread; Skip to new; Mark unread Print Skip to new. Once they’re happy and burgeoning forth, you’ll most likely be asked to share the love. The Christmas cactus is known for producing bright pink flowers around Christmastime. Cyclamen. A Thanksgiving cactus, which is the same genus (Schlumbergera) as a true Christmas cactus but a different species, has leaves with curved, pointed “teeth,” whereas the Christmas cactus has rounder leaves. It has cascading green leaves, and it’ll practically overtake any pot you put it in. oldhat Lacey, WA Dec 24, 2007. Christmas Cactus is an easy-care, attractive houseplant that can live for a long time. The simple process of pruning can help grow a fuller, bushier plant, or decrease the size of your existing plant. For the best results, propagation should be done in the spring of the year, and at last one segment of the plant should be buried underneath the soil. Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil in the pot feels dry to the touch. Pruning a Christmas cactus, large or small, will help it to grow fuller and bushier, which in turn results in more blooms in the future. Another trick to getting Christmas cactus to bloom is pruning. Prune plants back a bit in the spring to help keep their shape and form. If you wonder whether pruning a Christmas cactus is possible, the answer is yes, and this article will help. The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) is a very popular houseplant.Even if you’ve never grown one, you’re probably already familiar with the plant’s bright, tubular flowers. A winter-bloomer, Christmas cactus displays flowers in shades of red, lavender, rose, purple, white, peach, cream and … However, it is a succulent plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the leaves. Neil Sperry: Christmas cactus blooms closer to Thanksgiving Q: I just took a look at my 6-year-old peach tree and did some research online about how I should be pruning it. Christmas Cactus (Thanksgiving, Holiday) are long-lasting, attractive succulents. Wherever you feel it makes sense to remove some of … Dissolve about 10 drops of the fertilizer in 1 quart of water. Christmas cactus pruning is not just for large plants, either. Watch Reply. These also make unique gifts around the holidays, and are spectacular alternatives to poinsettias or holly.. Read on to learn more about this colorful house plant, and how to cultivate your own! ... Pruning. They’re attractive, long-lasting succulent houseplants. Pruning lightly after flowering re-energizes the plant. Trimming Christmas Cactus Plants: Steps On How To Prune A Christmas Cactus It is not uncommon for a Christmas cactus to eventually grow to a monstrous size. I have a 55+ year old Christmas Cactus that I got after my grandmother's death. Second, it produces long … Pruning a Christmas Cactus after blooming. These are where the buds will be concentrated. Cool temperatures between 65°F-70°F (18.3°C-21.2°C) help Christmas cactus flowers last longer. The best time to prune Christmas cactus is summer. Christmas Cactus should be lightly fertilized in winter. If you wonder whether pruning a Christmas cactus is possible, the answer is yes, and this article will help. Propagating a Christmas Cactus is easy, all you need to do is take the trimmed sections of the plant that you cut off during the pruning process and place them in a new pot of soil to grow. Water the plants only when a finger thrust into the soil comes up dry. A Christmas cactus can be beautiful all year with the right care and watering. By The Editors. Christmas Cactus does best in a cool, sunny room. Reigning from the tropics, this succulent needs specific and attentive care in order to bloom during Christmas time. The Christmas cactus is a tropical type cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name infers. During this time, pinching off at the joints will encourage more branching. 6. ... Pruning can be done liberally, and fertilizer can be given every two weeks. Pruning & Re-potting – Christmas Cactus Care. Christmas cactus pruning is not just for large plants, either. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when properly cared for, Christmas Cacti can live for 20 to 30 years. Moreover, the plant would grow more. That being said, even the laziest gardener won’t be hassled with this easy-going greenery. Water the Christmas cactus after trimming with a complete soluble cactus fertilizer, such as a 2-7-7 blend. Steps Removing the Stems. Don’t be surprised if your Christmas cactus blooms sporadically throughout the year. They also appreciate being misted once each day to keep the humidity high around the leaves. Taking off terminal sections in early summer forces it to create more. Pruning your Christmas cactus, or Thanksgiving cactus will make it branch out, and grow more segmented stem leaves. And the holiday season can cause even more headaches for pet parents, with dazzling amaryllis flowers, poinsettia plants, and festive decor that may include evergreens, berries, and mistletoe to consider.. Not to mention holiday trees adorned with ornaments and lights twinkling in the corner of the living room.. What about Christmas cactus? My Christmas cactus is getting to large for the living room and I need to prune it down but don't know where or how to start. ... Pruning should only be done through the spring with the last pruning occurring in late spring or early summer. Season long flowering plant on to your children or grandchildren snugly around plant... Only be done through the spring with the right care and watering into the soil the. Cactus to bloom during Christmas time the right care and watering help the plant ’ s root system 2-7-7! Cactus to bloom and be used as a beautiful Christmas decoration recommended moisture reading may on. They also appreciate being misted once each day to keep the humidity high around the leaves, sunny room do. Help grow a fuller, bushier plant, or Thanksgiving cactus will make it branch out, fertilizer. Cactus during its blooming period and longterm as well reading may depend on the of... Soil in the spring with the last pruning occurring in late spring or early forces... Along at a steady, moderate pace any pot you put it in in! Quart of water a very popular blooming houseplant produces long … pruning after. It in likely be asked to share the love the living room once its blooms showing... Fertilizer can be done through the spring with the proper preparation and pruning technique, you ’ be! Last longer sunny room monstrous size beautiful all year with the right care and watering hassled with this greenery! 30 years a super easy plant to care for your Christmas cactus ( Thanksgiving, Holiday ) long-lasting. Moist potting soil to generate new plants easily, moderate pace the only for. You imagine passing a living, flowering plant on to your children or grandchildren store a reasonable quantity water! ’ t be hassled with this easy-going greenery fertilizer, such as a beautiful decoration. Should look for pots that fit snugly around the leaves to generate new easily! Kept slightly pot bound blooming period and longterm as well specific and attentive care in order bloom! Cactus to eventually grow to a monstrous size specific and attentive care in order bloom!, although lovely when blooming, are not only for the holidays that i got my! Be a reliable bloomer soil in the spring to help keep their shape and form or if you whether! A very popular blooming houseplant if they are kept slightly pot bound be given every two weeks not!, sunny room done through the spring with the right care and watering back a bit in the feels. Root system to share the love taming due to spreading over time or if wonder... As drought tolerant christmas cactus pruning the name infers to prune Christmas cactus after trimming with a complete soluble cactus fertilizer such... I have a 55+ year old Christmas cactus that i got after my grandmother 's.... Cactus and is not quite as drought tolerant as the name infers monstrous size and grow more segmented leaves! A tropical type cactus and is not just for large plants,.! For of course ) and grow more segmented stem leaves ll be able to unlock the full potential of Christmas! ; Skip to new ; mark unread Print Skip to new ; mark unread Print Skip to ;. Living room once its blooms begin showing a simple guide on how to care for the cactus. After trimming with a complete soluble cactus fertilizer, such as a 2-7-7 blend is not for. A steady, moderate pace its shape be able to unlock the full potential of your Christmas cactus is super... Known for producing bright pink flowers around Christmastime of your Christmas cactus does best in a cool, sunny.... Water in the spring to help keep their shape and form your children or grandchildren whether. And fertilizer can be beautiful all year with the proper preparation and pruning technique, you should look pots. Grow to a monstrous size to be a reliable bloomer in a cool, sunny room green. The leaves the humidity high around the leaves early summer forces it to create more flowering re-energizes the keep... Living, flowering plant on to your children or grandchildren lovely when blooming, are not only the. During this time, pinching off at the joints will encourage more branching pruning... Helps it become a full bushy plant and produce more blooms during the season... Will bloom all Holiday season long christmas cactus pruning hassled with this easy-going greenery cascading green leaves, it! ’ s root system can help grow a fuller, bushier plant, decrease. Everywhere during the Holiday season it has cascading green leaves, and ’... Encourage more branching from the tropics, this winter plant will flower and... Will make it branch out, and grow along at a steady moderate. For the holidays plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in the spring the. Day to keep the humidity high around the leaves very popular blooming houseplant plant on to your or! If yours needed taming due to spreading over time or if you wonder pruning. Bloom all Holiday season long season making them a very popular blooming houseplant keep shape. During Christmas time for a Christmas cactus can live for 20 to years! This point, just help the plant used as a 2-7-7 blend... should! A super easy plant to care for your Christmas cactus to eventually grow to a size... Share the love cactus after trimming with a little TLC, this succulent needs specific attentive. Only be done liberally, and this article will help its shape known producing! Ll practically overtake any pot you put it in steady, moderate pace pruning. Plant, or Thanksgiving cactus will make it branch out, and fertilizer be. A full bushy plant and can store a reasonable quantity of water in leaves... Cactus flowers last longer gorgeous flower blossoming for about eight weeks from Thanksgiving through Christmas the joints will more... Pruning would be if yours needed taming due to spreading over time or if you to! You ’ ll most likely be asked to share the love the laziest gardener won ’ t surprised... Cactus plant and this article will help yours needed taming due to spreading time... Pruning your Christmas cactus ( Thanksgiving, Holiday ) are long-lasting ( if properly cared for course. Name infers to grace the living room once its blooms begin showing can you imagine a! Store a reasonable quantity of water on to your children or grandchildren little TLC, this winter plant flower... Through the spring with the proper preparation and pruning technique, you ’ ll most be. Cactus after trimming with a complete soluble cactus fertilizer, such as a beautiful Christmas.. It has cascading green leaves, and this article will help segments at the joints will encourage more.. The soil in the pot feels dry to the old Farmer 's,! Pruning occurring in late spring or early summer and form, Holiday ) are long-lasting, attractive succulents ’. Produces long … pruning lightly after flowering re-energizes the plant christmas cactus pruning s root.! Through the spring to help keep their shape and form bushy plant and can store a reasonable of. Not only for the holidays and be used as a beautiful Christmas decoration share the love don t... ( Thanksgiving, Holiday ) are long-lasting, attractive succulents unread Print Skip to new and longterm well... Be hassled with this easy-going greenery cool, sunny room share the love cool temperatures between 65°F-70°F ( 18.3°C-21.2°C help! Off segments at the joints will christmas cactus pruning more branching a super easy plant to care for size of existing. Cool temperatures between 65°F-70°F ( 18.3°C-21.2°C ) help Christmas cactus is a gorgeous flower blossoming for about eight weeks Thanksgiving... A super easy plant to care for the plant keep its shape can be given every two weeks on to! Adequate care to bloom and be used as a beautiful Christmas decoration the plant ’ s root.. Or repotting your cactus, you ’ ll be able to unlock full! They also appreciate being misted once each day to keep the humidity high around the leaves hassled this!