When and how to sculpt a Christmas cactus
Thanks to its long flowering season and abundant flowering in winter, the Christmas cactus is a favorite among houseplants.
When you purchase your Christmas Cactus plant at the start of the holiday season, you need to take good care of it.
Without proper care for the first few months and even years after that initial purchase, flowers will never appear on what appears to be such a beautiful cactus!
Prerequisites for Growing Christmas Cacti
One of the most important conditions for the Christmas cactus to flower is that it receives 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness per day.
The best way to protect your plant is to stop watering it and keep it cool for about a month.
Pruning is an essential cultural requirement which, if not followed correctly, can inhibit or even prevent flowers from forming the following year.
Cut a Christmas cactus.
The Christmas cactus is a unique type of plant that does not have a standard stem and leaf system. Instead, short segments called "leaflets" attach the flower's petals at their base. It is crucial to regularly prune these types of plants so that they do not become bulky or lose their beautiful appearance in order to maintain the shape of this cactus without doing it too much harm during the winter months.
This plant is large and should only be pruned one month after the end of flowering. Cut the leaf segments together to maintain a uniform shape
After the Christmas cactus has beautifully bloomed, it enters its growth period, where new foliage forms and pruning helps create a bushier plant by forcing outwards rather than upwards.
Use sterile clippers or pruners
To avoid tearing delicate plant tissue, the pruning shears you use should be very sharp and sterilized. It is essential that your hands are clean! When working with plants or their flowers, these precautions help protect against the spread of disease.
Trim the differences between segments
Always prune the leaf segments of your Christmas cactus. It is important to maintain your health and appearance, as these are often considered your weak point!
To remove these sections, some gardeners prefer to use scissors or even their hands, while others find that knives work better. The technique you choose depends on your personal preference.
We do not recommend cutting more than a third of the leaves from your Christmas cactus. If you just bought a Christmas cactus, cut it back at least a third. Each stem should be almost identical in length.
A great opportunity to carefully inspect your Christmas cactus to ensure that there are no pests or pathogens present so that it is not damaged is its size.
For more plants, use cutting.
Plant cuttings should not be left in a pot as they will quickly become attractive to pests and pathogens. Consider using the cut pieces to feed more plants than throwing them away or composting!
All you need to do is let the cuttings sit for a few days in a cool, dry place before placing them with potting soil and watering sparingly. After about two weeks, your new plants should start growing!