Learn everything about Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water from this step-by-step guide for a rewarding experience!
Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water can be an enjoyable process and yes they can root in water like Pothos and Snakeplants if you do it the right way. Follow these simple steps and techniques to increase your chances of better results and create a beautiful Christmas cactus collection.
Propagating Christmas Cactus in Water
Things You’ll Need
- Sterile Cutters/ Prunner
- A healthy plant for cuttings
- Glass Vase or Container
- Clean Filtered Water
- Gloves
1. Gather All Equipment and A Healthy Plant
Gather the necessary supplies and a bushy, healthy plant. Check your Christmas cactus for infestations or diseases. If there are any, better to take a healthier one and clean the container or vase if it has been sitting for a long time in your home.
2. Take Cuttings
Identify a healthy stem on your plant and make clean cuts about 2-3 segments long with a sharp and sterile cutter. Make sure each segment is not less than an inch; segments between 1 and 2 inches are good enough. Besides, avoid taking the cuttings with flowers or flower buds because they will absorb the nutrients from the cutting and reduce the chances of rooting.
3. Put Cuttings in Water
Bring the container and fill it with clean, room-temperature water. Then, just submerge the cuttings in a way that at least the cut end is underwater and the rest is above. In this process avoid submerging the entire cutting else it will rot.
To prevent this, use toothpicks or sticks to give support to the cuttings from submerging entirely in water. There is one more trick: you can try covering the mouth of the vase with transparent plastic and punch holes on it, slightly smaller than the size of the cutting segments. Then, adjust the cuttings into the holes so the cut ends are submerged in water with its support.
5. Placement of Container
Now, you just need to find a bright space in your home that is not near the vents of air conditioners and heaters. A tabletop near a bright window might do the job. So, keep a regular check and try to maintain the temperature above 70F (21C). Otherwise, the cuttings won’t make it to rooting development.
6. Regular Water Change
This is a very important step; change the water every 2-3 days, regularly. At this stage, they are more susceptible to pests or diseases, so clean water is a must. Sometimes, you can just gently wash your cuttings in the sink to remove the extra debris that accumulates in stagnant water.
7. The Wait is Real
After 3 to 6 weeks, the roots will form at the ends submerged in water. Let them grow like that until they are about an inch long. This is when you can start prepping for a good potting mixture and a container to transplant them into new pots.
Otherwise, you can also continue to grow in water as long as you keep changing the water and keep up with other maintenance. However, when they grow to a moderate size, you have to transfer them to the soil because the growth in water is slow, and won’t produce flowers.
Pro Tip: Monitor your plants and check for any indications like cloudy water, browning, or wrinkled foliage, and take necessary actions accordingly. These are all signs of not changing water regularly.
9. Plant Rooted Cuttings
Transfer them to the soil that is well-draining, loamy, and porous soil mixture. To make this, take 50% sandy soil, mix it with 20% cocopeat, 10% perlite, or some tiny pebbles, and 10% husks with 10% dry organic fertilizers and carefully plant each cutting.
Make sure not to disturb the roots. Place the plant in a bright spot in your home. Avoid keeping them under direct sunlight for long hours.
When Is the Right Time to Propagate Christmas Cactus?
The right time to propagate Christmas cactus from cuttings is after the end of its flowering period. Generally, late spring and early summer are the best times to propagate a Christmas cactus.
Caution: Don’t do this after late summer to the winter season because during this time the plant prepares itself for the blooming period.
