The Pinching Trick That'll Set Your Christmas Cactus Up To Thrive After Propagating

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If you've ever spotted a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera × buckleyi) in someone else's home, chances are it made an impression. This charming hybrid features long, segmented stems that look like a string of leaves tied together, creating a beautiful cascade effect perfect for containers and hanging planters. In addition, when given the right conditions during September and into the fall, this cactus produces lovely, brightly colored blooms just in time for the Christmas season. With all these visual benefits — in addition to the fact that the Christmas cactus is known for being relatively easy to grow — you might consider propagation in order to fill your home with free Christmas cacti.

However, propagation can sometimes be tricky and gardeners can run into a range of problems such as a lack of buds, weak roots, and plants that just aren't growing as well. One issue you may face with Christmas cactus is that its growth can become leggy, ruining the round, bushy effect of the plant. Luckily, there is actually a super easy tip for making houseplants look fuller and lush. Simply keep an eye on the stems that have new growth which you don't want to get too long. Then, gently twist or pinch off the end. This is particularly easy with a Christmas cactus because the segmented stems offer an easy separation point. Not only does this trick work to make your newly propagated Christmas cactus look healthier, but there are benefits to incorporating it into your own gardening schedule.

It may seem a little odd to suggest pinching off a portion of your plant to encourage it to grow more, but its effectiveness can be easily explained. When you take off the new growth of a stem, the plant often opts to grow below the small wound you have created instead. This effectively tells it to grow outward instead of upward like it tends to do in its natural habitat. The pinching is best done closest to the little rounded area of a growth node, so if you need a little help being precise you can always use a tool like these lightweight Meibatu garden scissors from Amazon rather than just your fingers.

Another upside of this trick is that it can have a huge impact on your Christmas cactus' blooms,. By pinching off some new growth, you are encouraging the plant to branch out rather than spending its energy making a single stem longer. This means that it will have more stems which can produce flowers, and those blooms may even stick around for longer. Keep in mind that this method can cause some plants to bloom later than usual. So if you want your propagated Christmas cactus to have its beautiful flowers in time for the festive season, it is a good idea to attempt it as early in the year as possible. Try out this trick to keep your perennial blooming longer and to help make your cactus fuller, more balanced, and bloom better overall in your home.