Propagate a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera, often sold as holiday cactus) from stem segments, not from a detached leaf. These Schlumbergera species grow as epiphytes in shady rain forests.

Materials

  • A healthy Christmas cactus with firm stem segments
  • Clean scissors, or pinch at a joint
  • A pot with drainage (Clemson: 4-inch pot for three cuttings, or 6-inch for five)
  • Perlite or coarse sand (Iowa State), or well-drained potting mix (Clemson, Wisconsin)
  • Optional: a clear plastic bag (Clemson protocol)
  • Well-drained mix for potting on once roots are about an inch long

Steps

  1. Take the cutting. Iowa State: 2 to 5 flattened stem segments, cut or pinched at a joint. Clemson: 3 to 5 phylloclades, pinched, in May or June. Wisconsin: one joint, or 2 to 3.
  2. Callus the cut end. Iowa State: overnight, pot the next day. Clemson: a day or two outdoors in the shade. Wisconsin: 2 to 3 days in a shady place. Across these sources, callus time runs overnight to about 3 days.
  3. Fill a drained pot with perlite or coarse sand (Iowa) or well-drained mix (Clemson, Wisconsin). Water and let it drain.
  4. Insert the callused end about 1 inch deep. Firm the medium. Keep the original orientation. Iowa State: cuttings placed upside down will not root.
  5. Light: Iowa State, a brightly lit place. Clemson: bright, indirect light until roots form.
  6. Moisture: Iowa State, water when the medium begins to dry. Wisconsin: moist, not saturated. Clemson: water the soil well, then keep humidity with a clear plastic bag on the pot until roots form, then remove the bag. Iowa and Wisconsin do not require a bag. Clemson’s bag is optional; remove it after rooting.
  7. Wait. Wisconsin Horticulture often 2 to 3 weeks; Clemson 3 to 8 weeks; Iowa State about 6 to 8 weeks. Iowa State: pot on when roots are one inch or longer, in a well-drained mix.

UC Master Gardeners also root holiday cactus cuttings in a jar of water (Solano County: at least two joints, water at the base only). For water cuttings in general, see water propagation.

Common Mistakes

  • Segment upside down (Iowa State: will not root).
  • Wet break into wet mix with no callus.
  • Soggy medium or a pot with no drainage.
  • Laying a Christmas cactus “leaf” on grit like the succulents parent. These are stem segments. Leaf-on-mix stays on how to propagate succulents.
  • A full water-jar tutorial on this URL.

People Also Ask

How many segments do I need?

Iowa State: 2 to 5. Clemson: 3 to 5. Wisconsin: one joint, or 2 to 3.

Do the ends need to callus?

Yes. Overnight (Iowa State) to 1 to 2 days (Clemson) or 2 to 3 days (Wisconsin).

Can I root Christmas cactus in water?

UC Master Gardeners describe a jar of water (Solano County: at least two joints, water at the base only). For water cuttings in general, see water propagation. The steps on this page follow Iowa State, Clemson, and Wisconsin in mix or perlite.

Which way up?

The end that faced the pot stays down. Iowa State: upside down will not root.

How long until roots?

Sources do not agree on one number. Wisconsin Horticulture: often 2 to 3 weeks. Clemson: 3 to 8 weeks. Iowa State: about 6 to 8 weeks.

When should I take cuttings?

Clemson: May or June. Wisconsin: any time, often better late spring through summer.

Thanksgiving cactus or Christmas cactus?

Clemson: Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata) has 2 to 4 saw-toothed edges on each phylloclade; Christmas (S. × buckleyi) has more rounded margins. Same cutting method in these sources.

Keep reading