How to grow Christmas cactus from cuttings in water?
The Christmas cactus, a cheerful indoor plant, blooms like clockwork during the holidays, adding a cheerful touch to your garden and being one of the simplest to propagate.
Experts recommend rooting Christmas cactus cuttings in water to create new plants. This method is easy and enjoyable, allowing you to observe the formation of new roots and then plant them into soil two to three weeks later.
Proper preparation and watering are crucial for successful propagation of Christmas cactus, ensuring fresh and sufficient water levels.
Growing and propagating Christmas Cactus can be rewarding, especially when gifted during the holiday season, as long as the soil is of the highest quality.
The Christmas Cactus can be propagated and rooted in soil or water, with water being preferred due to its clear sides and its ability to grow roots, making it an excellent way to share this plant.
Tools You Need for Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water
- A sharp scalpel is an essential tool, as is a small knife.
- A small container, such as a jar or vase, is used to hold water.
Subsequently, to care for your newly propagated and rooted Christmas cactus, you will need:
- Planting pot
- Potting mix
- Sand or compost
Propagating Christmas Cactus
To propagate a Christmas Cactus, take cuttings from a healthy stem with a Y-shaped tip, consisting of at least 2 or 3 joined segments. While a Y-shaped cutting is ideal, it’s not necessary as long as the cutting has at least 2 segments for rooting.
Rooting Christmas Cactus in Water
Fill a small container, such as a jar or vase, with water to serve as a rooting vessel.
To root a Christmas cactus in water, insert the cutting into the water, ensuring the cut end is downwards, until two nodes are submerged.
Place the cutting in bright, indirect sunlight for a few days to develop roots. Wait 6-8 weeks for roots to grow as long as the cutting, monitoring water levels. Add more water as needed, ensuring the two nodes remain submerged.
Planting the Christmas Cactus
Plant the cuttings in a pot with a potting mix, preferably sand or compost, like Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry, and increase humidity. For Christmas cactus, water more frequently, fertilize, and provide additional light.
Ensure that the air temperature remains no cooler than 70 degrees
Fahrenheit during the day and between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit
overnight. Fertilize the plant from after blooming until fall (we feed
ours with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food).
Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water
The summary provides the steps for propagating Christmas Cactus in water.
- Select a Christmas Cactus with healthy stems for a vibrant and healthy display.
- A sharp scalpel or small knife should be used to make a short, Y-shaped cutting from the stem tip, consisting of at least 2 or 3 joined segments.
- Fill a small container, such as a jar or vase, with water to serve as a rooting vessel.
- Position the cutting into the water, ensuring the cut end is downwards, until two nodes are submerged.
- Position the container or jar in a bright, indirect sunlight.
- The process should take 6 to 8 weeks to ensure the roots grow as long as the cutting.
- Ensure that the two nodes remain submerged at all times by adding more water as needed.
- Once the cuttings are fully rooted, place them in a pot filled with potting mix.
- Water the top 1 to 2 inches of dry soil.
- Increase the temperature around the plant.
- Maintain a temperature between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- Fertilize frequently
The important question is this! When to stop watering Christmas cactus?
Propagating Christmas Cactus in water is easy and can be done at any time of year, with faster growth during the active growing phase.
The time it takes for Christmas cactus to root in water varies depending on the specific species and environment.
To successfully root Christmas cactus cuttings, it takes two to three weeks, requiring patience and patience to ensure a successful outcome.
Place Christmas cactus cuttings in a sunny, south-facing window to expedite the process.
And finally:
How long does it take a Christmas cactus to root in water?
Your Christmas cactus should root within two to three weeks, but may take longer and be ready for reporting six weeks later, when the roots are as long as the cutting.
Read also:
How to grow a bigger Christmas cactus?
Christmas cactus not growing new leaves
How do you treat red leaves on Christmas cactus
