You can't get enough of the flowering Christmas cactus. Fortunately, young plants can be grown very easily during pruning.
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) should not only be watered and fertilized according to the season. Regular repotting also promotes the growth and he alth of the festive plant. You can find out when and how to repot and how to propagate the Christmas cactus here.
Propagating Christmas Cactus
Generative propagation by seeds is relatively simple for the Christmas cactus and works very well, but it is really only relevant for the work of breeding companies. Two specimens are required for fertilization, which in our latitudes have to be pollinated by hand. If pollination was successful, the seeds can be removed from the fruit. It can take two to three years for sown plants to flower.
Propagating the Christmas cactus in early summer is even easier with cuttings. They can flower in the first year. To do this, simply remove the last two to three segments at the end of a shoot. The transformed shoot axis has no leaves, but is composed of flat, green segments. Such a shoot is called platycladium.
The terminal segments should be as large and mature as possible, which can be recognized by the dark green coloration. The cuttings can be easily detached from the mother plant at the point between two limbs. Cutting is not required. Let the separated shoots dry for a few hours. The cuttings are then placed in a special, well-moistened cuttings substrate such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. With its loose structure and the adjusted nutrient content, our peat-free organic soil is ideally suited for the Christmas cactus cuttings. The cuttings should be placed deep enough in the ground that they can stand on their own. If you put two cuttings back to back in theIf the substrate is stuck, a denser, bushier plant will develop.
Water the cuttings with lime-free water as soon as the soil on the surface has become dry. After about four weeks at around 22 °C and in a bright location, the first roots should have formed.
It is also possible to graft the Christmas cactus so that it sits on an upright base - i.e. another plant - and thus gets a little trunk. The genus Selenicereus from the cactus family (Cactaceae) is suitable as a base for the Christmas cactus.
At a glance: Propagating Christmas Cactus
- Propagation by cuttings: In early summer, separate 1 - 3 dark green segments, let them dry and place them in cuttings soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. Set up at 22 °C and keep well moist. The young plants root after about 4 weeks and can flower soon.
- Propagation by seed: If seed can be obtained or purchased, sow seeds in potting soil in spring and keep warm at 19 - 21 °C. Keep moist under cling film until germination. Then keep it a little drier and set it up cooler at around 16 °C. Different flower colors can be combined.
- Propagation by grafting: In summer, separate 2 segments and carefully peel at the base with a knife. Cut the rootstock straight at the top and split so that the cutting fits in. Stick one or two cuttings back to back into the gap and secure with a ribbon. Place in an airy place at 19 °C without direct light. Usually fuses within a few days.
Should you cut the Christmas cactus?
It is not mandatory to cut a Christmas cactus. It is very keen on branching by nature and will take on attractive branching when there is enough light. If you still want denser growth and more flowers, you can cut back the Christmas cactus. To do this, separate the shoot at the desired length between two segments. With a perennial culture, it can also happen that the shoots are very long and the typical, overhanging shape is a bit extreme. If the growth of the Christmas cactus is then to be curbed, it is best to make the shortening cut after flowering and before new growth, i.e. in February or March.
You should break or cut at the prominent point between two segments. It is not recommended to cut through the leaf-like segments. This is unnecessary stress and carries the risk that the plant will quickly be attacked by life-threatening infections. Otherwise, the shortening "cut" can also be easily combined with your own propagation by cuttings in early summer.
At a glance: cutting the Christmas cactus
- Shortening not absolutely necessary
- Pruning encourages branching and thereby formation of more flower buds
- Suitable time is in February or March
- It is best to cut or break at a prominent point between two segments
- Never cut through a segment
- Pruning can be easily combined with propagation by cuttings in spring
Repotting Christmas cactus: when and how does it work?
The Christmas cactus is a classic pot plant. Although it can also spend a few weeks outdoors in summer, it is not worth planting it in the bed. With falling temperatures, from 10 °C, he has to move back into the house. If the perennial cactus is allowed to flower in several winters, it can make sense to repot it occasionally. When it has fully rooted its pot, it's time to repot. This can also be the case every year with the vigorous Christmas cactus. Immediately after purchase, it should always be provided with fresh substrate. The best time to repot the Christmas cactus is after flowering but before new growth - around March.
When repotting the Christmas cactus, the old substrate is removed as best as possible but carefully from the roots. The Christmas cactus is provided with fresh substrate in a new, slightly larger pot. If the roots don't completely fill the old pot, you can keep the old pot size and only use fresh substrate. Structurally stable potting soil with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.0 is suitable. For example, our Plantura organic potting soil, which contains broken expanded clay for high permeability and important nutrients for flowering plants, is suitable. In addition, it does not require any peat at all. So that the optimal for the roots of the Christmas cactuspermeability of the substrate is achieved, it is recommended to mix the potting soil with 40% sand. In order to avoid waterlogging, it is also highly advisable to create a drainage layer.
Once the perennial Christmas cactus has found its way into fresh substrate and a new pot, it still needs to be watered. After that, the care of the Christmas cactus can take place as usual. Repotting is an important step for he althy and vigorous plants. In order to be able to get the Christmas cactus to bloom in abundance, there are still a few small rules to follow.
Repotting Christmas cactus summarized:
- The best time for repotting is March, after flowering.
- It is best to give fresh substrate every year, as soon as the pot is rooted, choose the next pot size.
- Remove old soil from roots as much as possible.
- Create drainage layer.
- Mix in sand for optimal permeability of the substrate and to avoid waterlogging of the potting soil.
Care needs to be taken when caring for poisonous houseplants. You can find out whether the Christmas cactus is also poisonous in our special article.