Pruning a plant is a bit like trimming your explicit individual hair: Logically, you already know that it’s going to all develop as soon as extra. Nonetheless the a part of you tentatively holding the scissors is feeling fairly apprehensive. Don’t panic! Pruning doesn’t ought to set off tons anxiousness; considerably on a species as forgiving on account of the Christmas cactus.

Schlumbergera x buckleyi is a much-loved houseplant well-liked for its longevity and winter-flowering nature. Of their native Brazil, Christmas cacti anchor themselves to shady cliffs and tree nooks and accumulate dietary nutritional vitamins from wildlife droppings and decaying leaf litter. Potted up in a entrance room, they like well-drained, barely acidic soil. In stark distinction to their desert-dwelling cousins, these vegetation want mild temperatures and quite a lot of water. 

Why Prune Your Christmas Cactus?

Youthful Christmas cacti have an upright development type, nonetheless as they age, the basal stems thicken and develop to be woody. The branches will lengthen and begin to drape downward. This presents it a really elegant look, however over time, it’ll most likely look leggy and a bit scraggly. Pruning can reshape and enhance the seems of those pretty long-lived beauties.

Pruning can even assist promote flowering. This species kinds flowers absolutely on the ends of the stems, considerably the place the segments of the flattened stems meet. Additional stems will lastly equal further flowers.

One different excuse to present your houseplant a haircut? To make further of them! This species can merely be propagated with stem cuttings. 

Step 1: Wait Till It’s Completed Blooming

Prune your Christmas cactus right after it has completed blooming however prior to it begins actively rising as quickly as further. That is typically spherical February or March. Pruning correct now will direct the upcoming vitality in path of producing new stems as an alternative of down current stems. The top outcome? A lush, bushy plant comparatively than longer stems.

Don’t prune earlier summer season season. The Christmas cactus begins to direct vitality in path of flower bud formation in early fall. As shortly as buds start to type, it’s finest to go away them undisturbed. As short-day vegetation, Christmas cacti require varied uninterrupted weeks of cool temperatures and extended (12+ hours per 24-hour day) stretches of darkness to set off flowering.

Step 2: Uncover the Acceptable Pruning Diploma 

Fortunate for us, the pure kind of a Christmas cacti’s stem makes pruning fairly foolproof. The segmented stems are composed of many leaf-like buildings known as phylloclades. Botanically talking, these are sometimes not true leaves, however they do perform photosynthesis. Select a slender joint between division segments. It’d most likely naturally produce 1-2 new phylloclades the place it was lower.

Keep away from reducing the hardened, woody development down close to the crown. Woody stems are a pure a part of the rising older course of and an indication of a mature plant! Observe the softer, inexperienced development close to the very best of the stem.

Step 3: Make the Reduce

The second you’ve been ready for: time to prune your Christmas cactus! Some gardeners merely twist the stem at thought of certainly one of many slender joints. I have to make the most of a pair of pruners or a knife to keep away from tearing. In case you select to make the most of pruners or a pair of snips, be certain they’re clear prior to utilizing them. In case you’re hoping to propagate your cuttings, be certain every stem reducing has on the very least 3-4 segments and is varied inches extended. 

Step 4: Resolve on a Fast Snip or Exhausting Reduce

In case you merely ought to tidy up or take away a few stray stems, varied fast snips must do it. Older vegetation which may very well be further large might begin to drop branches that they are going to not help. On this state of affairs, you might wish to lower significantly more durable.

Must you’re attempting to drastically reshape the plant or take away a few of its mass, you possibly can prune as quite a bit as one third of the foliage. Eradicating a number of third of the leaves at any given time might ship it into shock. The plant might or could not flower contained in the upcoming season.

Step 5: Make Additional Crops

Now, what to do with all these bits of stem? That is the right varied to broaden your Christmas cactus assortment (or a fantastic buddy’s) and propagate varied new vegetation! Chances are it’s possible you’ll wish to begin varied stem cuttings to up your odds of worthwhile propagation.

Let the stem reducing dry for a day. This may permit the wound to callous over, which, in flip, will forestall rot. Then, place the reducing upright in moistened potting combine. Christmas cacti require very sharply drained soil that’s comparatively nutrient poor. Use a potting combine considerably made for succulents and cacti, or make your explicit individual potting combine out of potting soil, perlite, and coarse gravel or sand.

Put the planted stem reducing in a shiny, heat (65-75°F or 18-24°C) location. Keep the potting combine persistently moist however not waterlogged. Quite a few spritzes with a sprig bottle will assist amp up the humidity with out drowning the stem reducing. You can too affix a plastic bag or dome all through the vegetation to take care of up humidity.

It ought to most likely take 2-3 weeks for roots to type. Be affected particular person! As shortly as new development begins rising on the tip, you possibly can re-pot the stem reducing in an excellent greater container of your alternative. Chances are it’s possible you’ll wish to try planting 2-3 stem cuttings collectively to assist fill out an excellent greater container. New cuttings may very well be propagated at any time of 12 months, however you would possibly want among the many most interesting leads to late spring.