How to Prune a Christmas Cactus So It Thrives for Decades, According to Horticulturists

Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant to keep during the holiday season. But what some people don't know is that this plant can last for decades when properly cared for. One essential way to ensure your Christmas cactus stays healthy beyond its namesake holiday is through pruning. Pruning a Christmas cactus encourages blooming, prevents disease, and allows you to share the plant with loved ones through propagation. Ahead, horticulturists share their tips for pruning Christmas cactus.

Importance of Pruning Christmas Cactus

Pruning Christmas cactus helps it bloom more prolifically and is beneficial for its overall health. “Holiday cacti produce flowers at the tips of their pads. When you prune, you encourage it to make more branches—which means that there may be more pads from which it can produce flowers,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. 

Another reason to prune Christmas cactus is to control its size. “An old plant can trail more than 2 feet,” says Hancock, adding that these plants can live for decades. Finally, gardeners may prune Christmas cactus to propagate it and share the cuttings with loved ones.  

When to Prune Christmas Cactus 

The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is immediately after it has finished blooming, which is typically in January or February. “Your Christmas cactus will start growing new segments after flowering,” says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. “This is a time to shape your cactus and remove scraggly growth. Working with a Christmas cactus's natural cycle will benefit the health of the cactus and give it a prolific bloom next season.”

How to Prune Christmas Cactus for Size

When pruning for size and shape, prioritize parts of the plant that need more sunlight and airflow and any stems that look dead or diseased. 

1. Use clean, sharp pruners to remove yellow, dead, or diseased leaf-like segments first, making each cut at the joint where two pads meet. Make each cut at the joint where two pads meet.
2. After each cut, sanitize your pruners to avoid spreading diseases to healthy branches.
3. Continue pruning until the Christmas cactus is your desired shape and size, removing up to 1/3 of the plant’s tips. (Don’t cut off more than this or you risk stressing the plant.)

How to Prune Christmas Cactus for Propagation

To prune a Christmas cactus for propagating, only cut off as many stems as you plant to propagate.

1. Use clean, sharp pruners to remove as many cuttings as you want, being careful not to prune away more than 1/3 of the plant. Ensure the pieces you cut off have at least two to three pads.
2. Let the cuttings dry out for a day or two.
3. Once dry, pot the cuttings in a container with cacti and succulent mix.
4. Water well and place the pot in a warm, bright location. 
   

How to Deadhead a Christmas Cactus

Deadheading is the process of removing old, faded flowers from plants. “On some plants, you might do this to prevent it from going to seed. But on holiday cactus, it’s more about the plant’s appearance so you don’t have to look at old, dried-up flowers hanging off your plant,” says Hancock. “To deadhead, gently grasp a faded flower at its base (where it comes out of the pad) and gently pull or twist it off. I’ve always found faded flowers snap off pretty easily.”