How to Propagate a Christmas Cactus In 5 Easy Steps

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”@id”:”https://www.outdoorhappens.com/how-to-propagate-a-christmas-cactus/”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can You Root a Cactus In Water?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”You sure can! The Christmas cactus will root as well in water as in soil. Many plant hobbyists have great success propagating cacti cuttings in water. The same goes with the Christmas cactus, and water as a growth medium works well. To root the Christmas cactus in water, choose a healthy section of the plant, and slice it off. Use sharp garden scissors. Choosing the healthy part of the plant is the same process as planting your cutting in soil or water.Start by placing it in a glass jar with a couple of inches of gravel on its bottom. Place the cuttings about two inches deep. Place the cacti jar (or container) in a location with filtered sunlight. And, be patient!The benefit of starting your Christmas cactus in water instead of soil is that you can see the roots when they start to grow. So, there’s no guessing when this event occurs.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”When Should You Put a Christmas Cactus In the Dark?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”When you bought your Christmas cactus or received it as a gift, it was likely blooming. So, how do you get your Christmas cactus to bloom again? Why do you put it in the dark, is the question, though. Isn’t it?If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom, place it in a dark, cool place. It can take 8 to 16 weeks before blooms begin to set on your plant.So keep those times in mind. If you want it to bloom during the Christmas season, it needs to rest in the dark, around September 1st.If you want it to bloom at Easter, you will need to plant it eight to sixteen weeks before Easter Sunday if you wish to bloom at that time.Light and temperature are the two most significant factors when you put your Christmas cactus in the dark.It can have sunshine; however, it will need 12 hours of dark per day. In addition, the temperature where you keep your plant needs to be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit to get your plant to bloom.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Are Coffee Grounds Good for a Christmas Cactus?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes, they are! Coffee grounds provide nitrogen and potassium, nutrients required by your Christmas cactus. But don’t use the coffee grounds immediately! It’s best to dry them before using them, as wet soggy coffee grounds can produce mold. When you apply dried coffee grounds to a plant, add a tablespoon over the top of the soil, then water it in. That way – the coffee grounds release their nutrients every time you water them.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can You Root a Piece of Christmas Cactus In Water?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes, you can. It’s as good a method as growing in cactus soil and allows you to see the roots growing. Rooting your Christmas cactus in water is also less stressful than you think! Start by filling a small glass with water. But, you don’t need much water! The trick is to submerge the bottom in water.The rest of the cutting doesn’t need to be underwater. You can use thick coarse sand or small rocks to help prop the cutting up if you wish.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Long Does It Take Christmas Cactus Cuttings to Root?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”If you place your healthy Christmas cactus cutting in a bright area of your home – then it will take about three to four weeks to grow considerably. After four to six weeks, we recommend re-potting your Christmas cactus into succulent potting soil.Around this time (four to six weeks), we suspect that your Christmas cactus cutting root growth will be about an inch long. That’s the perfect length to transplant it into a fresh pot with succulent soil!”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Often Do You Water Christmas Cactus Cuttings?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”I always recommend watering your Christmas cactus two to three times per week. Take care not to overwater them, or they may rot. For best results, monitor the soil daily. When it feels dry – provide some water to moisten the soil.If you’ve planted your Christmas cacti cutting in water – then make sure to replenish the water as it evaporates.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can You Start a Christmas Cactus From a Cutting?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes! Christmas cacti are famously straightforward to propagate from a cutting. In other words – you can remove a stem cutting from a healthy Christmas cactus and clone the plant. You can start your cactus cutting in cactus soil mix or water. For best results – begin in the early Spring!”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Do I Take a Cutting From a Christmas Cactus?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”You pick out a sprig that is bright shiny green. Look for a section about two to three inches long. You grasp it firmly but gently and twist it. You can also use sharp scissors if you wish. The cacti section should release effortlessly and be ready to plant. For best results – place in a mixture of peat and sand or water.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Long Will My Christmas Cactus Live?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”If you care for your Christmas cacti well enough and water it regularly – it may just become a generational gift! That’s because your Christmas cactus can live at least two decades – that’s twenty years – or more.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How Do You Root a Broken Piece of Cactus?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”If your cactus has broken recently, then you should give your Christmas cactus time to heal. (They callus quickly!) Let your cactus rest in an area that’s cool and dark for a couple of days.After your cactus heals from roughly 48 hours – you root it the as you would a healthy piece that you have removed for propagation. Stick it in or lay it down in cactus potting soil, or put it in water to get it started growing roots. “}}]}