3 Ways to do Christmas Cactus Propagation

Holiday cactus plants like the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) are popular indoor plants. They grow stunning blooms around the Christmas holidays, are low maintenance, and are easy to propagate.

WIth just a few cuttings you can grow new plants or make the original plant grow fuller.

Related Reading: Holiday cactus care – Different types of Holiday Cacti – How to get your holiday cactus to bloom – Common Christmas cactus problems.

Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide to succulent propagation and the 6 different ways to propagate your plants. 

How to Take Christmas Cactus Cuttings

All types of holiday cacti are very easy to propagate by taking cuttings. Start with multiple larger cuttings, each with at least three or four segments.

Gently remove a cutting from the plant. Carefully twist and wiggle until it comes loose. Make sure there is a clean cut without damage to the stem segment. The bottom is where the roots will grow from. If the bottom part is missing or damaged, propagation will not work.

Let the cuttings dry and callus over for about 2-3 days before putting in water or soil to root. Don’t skip this step. It prevents the cuttings from rotting.

Propagation is best done in spring or early summer. The warmer weather and longer daylight will help encourage new growth. Don’t propagate the Thanksgiving cactus when it is flowering or growing flower buds.

Water Propagation

Propagating your Christmas cactus in water is super simple. Root multiple cuttings at once to have a new full plant started fairly fast.

• Take stem cuttings as described above. Don’t forget to let them callous over.
• Place the cuttings in a small glass or jar with just enough water to cover the bottom part. 
• Keep them in bright, indirect light.  
• Change the water regularly to prevent algae from building up.
• Wait for roots to appear. Pot them up when the roots are at least one to two inches long.

Read the complete guide on how to Water Propagate Plants if you want to learn even more about growing plant cuttings in water. 

Propagation in Soil

Another simple way to propagate your holiday cactus is by rooting cuttings in soil. Take callused stem cuttings and plant them in well-draining succulent soil.

Apply a bit of rooting hormone powder to the end of the cutting before planting it. This powder helps to speed up the formation of roots and results in stronger, better-rooted plants. If you don’t have any, you can skip it. The propagation process might just take a little longer. 

Place the cuttings in a bright location with indirect light. Water very sparingly until you see new growth. At that time, continue with regular care. 

Propagating by Division

If you have a large Christmas or other holiday cactus, you can also propagate it by division. Split the rootball and repot the parts in separate, smaller containers.  

• Take the plant out of its pot. Gently remove as much old soil as possible without damaging the roots. 
• Decide where to divide the plant. Gently separate the roots and foliage with your hands. 
• If the root ball is very tangled, make a clean cut with a sharp knife to split the plant. 
• Pot each part in its own planter. Keep them in bright indirect light.   
• Water once, and wait to water again until you see new growth. 

Propagating by division is a much quicker way to propagate than propagation in water or soil. You basically have a complete plant already after dividing. Whereas when propagating cuttings it may take many months before you end up with a full plant.