Christmas cacti are very beautiful succulent plants, which actually encompass the entire genus Schlumbergera, with 7 accepted species. They are also called Santa Teresita cactus or Santa Teresa feathers, and are related to the Easter cactus. The Christmas cactus gets its name from the fact that its beautiful flowers, which can be pink, fuchsia, red, white, yellow or orange, appear just at this time of year as it is a winter flowering plant. Thus, it brings a lot of color to any space, at a time when most plants are in a vegetative state.
They are very easy plants to care for and, as in the case of many succulents, their multiplication is within everyone’s reach. If you want to learn how to multiply or reproduce a Christmas cactus without the slightest problem, join us in this EcologíaVerde article, because here you will see a guide on how to make Christmas cactus cuttings.
How the Christmas cactus reproduces
As with many plants, the reproduction of the Christmas cactus plant can be done in various ways. The most natural is using the christmas cactus seedsbut for that we would have to wait for the adult plant to give flowers and fruits and then germinate the seeds.
Succulents, however, are characterized by tending to offer greater ease of cultivation. reproduction by cuttings. The good thing about this type of multiplication is that we will obtain a plant that will be an exact genetic copy of the original one, so if a cutting is made from a strong and healthy Christmas cactus, we have a good chance of getting it to grow just as well. right. In addition, reproduction by cutting is much faster, since it allows us to skip the entire process of seed germination and initial growth of the seedling.
When to take Christmas cactus cuttings
The multiplication by cuttings of the Christmas cactus It requires a mild climate, so, in most climates, the ideal time to carry it out will be during spring.
If you have your cactus indoors or the summer is not very hot and dry, you can also do it at this time of year, or even during the fall if there are no frosts or intense cold in your area. Of course, we must avoid making the cutting during the winter, regardless of the weather or the area because it will not work.
How to reproduce the Christmas cactus step by step
Now that you know more about the reproduction of this plant, follow this guide to reproduce a Christmas cactus successfully:
- The first step is obviously to prepare the Christmas cactus cutting. To do this, we can use a stem that has been broken or cut it ourselves with the greatest possible care. To cut the cutting you have to prepare the pruning tools. Ideally, use pruning shears or a knife as sharp as possible and sterilize them with alcohol or a specific product.
- When selecting the stem to cut, you can note that the Christmas cactus can sometimes produce aerial roots in some of those sections of the stem that look like leaves. This is due to the fact that it is an epiphytic plant, which in its natural habitat grows on the trunks of trees, so those roots serve to hold on better. If you cut the cutting there, without damaging these roots, it will be faster and easier for it to grow well once transplanted.
- Once the stem is cut, you can separate it into several cuttings of about two or three sections, since each of these parts is enough for a new Christmas cactus to grow from. However, you should not plant them after cutting them: to avoid rot problems, it is necessary to leave the cuttings to dry in a cool and dry area, in the shade, so that the cut wounds close. It is better that you do not keep the cuttings of the Christmas cactus in water, as they need dryness.
- Next, it will be necessary to prepare the container. You will need a pot with drainage holes, since the Christmas cactus requires plenty of moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. A small container is enough, since the roots of this plant do not reach very deep.
- For the substrate, you can mix equal parts peat moss and coconut fibre, then add a generous amount of perlite. This will give rise to a very light substrate, with the capacity to retain moisture, but also with great drainage capacity, just what the Christmas cactus needs. If you have taken the cutting in spring and you are going to place the pot indoors, away from drafts and heaters or air conditioners, you will not need to cover the pot. If your climate is far from 20 ºC due to excess or deficiency, it may be necessary to find a more suitable area with that range of temperatures until the cutting gains strength.
- Finally, prepare some small grooves in the substrate, which is where you should plant the cuttings, in a vertical position and with the roots down and the end pointing up, as is its natural position.
- Water after planting and try to keep it moist, but never waterlogged.
In a couple of months, your cuttings should start to show new growth, a sign that the process has been successful. Now that you know how to make Christmas cactus cuttings, we recommend you read this other guide on How to care for a Christmas cactus and watch the video below on the same topic.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to make Christmas cactus cuttingswe recommend that you enter our category .
