Christmas cactus after late spring to create a bushier plant, but don’t trim it until a month after it blooms. Just pinch off one or more of the sections. If you want to create a larger plant, replant them in separate pots.
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How far back can you cut a Christmas cactus?
If you want to reduce the size of a christmas cactus, you can remove up to one-third of the plant annually. If you trim the Christmas cactus plants to make them grow more fully, you only need to trim the end one to two inches.
Where do I prune a Christmas cactus?
The christmas cactus should always be trimmed at the gap between the leaf segments. The weakest part of the plant should make this easy. Some people prefer to twist at the segment to remove foliage instead of using a knife, but this approach seems to be less effective. Once you’ve pruned your plant, it’s time to transplant it into a new pot.
If you’re growing in a greenhouse, you’ll want to use a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. You’ll also need to make sure that the pot has drainage holes in all four corners, so that water doesn’t drain into the roots.
Should I remove old blooms from Christmas cactus?
During and after the Christmas season, deadhead all the spent blooms of your cacti. Christmas is over, you can enjoy your cacti until they stop producing flowers. Don’t get rid of it once it’s gone.
Why does my Christmas cactus look Woody?
The stems of a Christmas cactus are normal for their age. You have kept your plant healthy enough to become a mature individual. If you want to give your old Christmas cactus a spa day, you have to do it after the plant has bloomed. It’s the best time of the year for cacti to bloom, as it’s the time of year when they’re at their best.
The first thing you need to do is to remove the plant from its pot. You can do this by using a sharp knife to cut off the top of the pot, or you can use a pair of tweezers to gently pry it off. Then, you’ll want to place the cut-off pot on a flat surface, such as a countertop, and place it in a warm, dry place for about a week.
During this time, the plants will be able to shed their old leaves and grow new ones. If you wait too long, however, your plants won’t have enough time to grow a new set of leaves.
When should you put a Christmas cactus in the dark?
Put your christmas cactus in absolute darkness for at least 12 hours a day, every day, starting in october. Just in time for the holiday season, this gives the plant about eight weeks to form buds.
Do Christmas cactus like to be root bound?
Holiday cacti like to be root bound, but eventually they get too restricted to remain healthy. Try to repot your plant into a new pot with a drainage hole one or two inches deep if it perks up and then fades again within a few days or if it doesn’t perk up from watering.
This will help keep the roots from getting too tightly bound. If your cactus has been in a pot for a long time, it may not have had enough time to get used to the new soil. In this case, you may want to give it a good shake to loosen up the soil a bit.
You can do this by gently shaking the pot or by shaking it with your hand. It may take a couple of shakes to dislodge some of the old soil, so be patient and don’t be afraid to use your hands if necessary.
How often do you water a Christmas cactus?
How to care for Christmas cacti. The plan is to water every few weeks, but only when the top third of the soil is dry. If the plant is in 6 inches of soil, water when the top 2 inches are not wet. If the soil is wet, wait until it dries out before watering.
If you are watering your Christmas cactus, be sure to use a water that is not too hot or too cold. Too much water can cause the cactuses to over-water, which can lead to root rot and other problems. The water should be at a temperature that allows the plants to absorb the water without drying out.