3 Ways to Propagate Thanksgiving Cactus for Endless Free Plants

Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) is a beautiful, winter-flowering houseplant that produces vibrant blooms and intricate, toothed foliage. Typically found in nurseries and big box stores during fall, this plant flowers around Thanksgiving, filling your home with color and charm ahead of the holiday season. If you love your Thanksgiving cactus, propagation is an easy, low-cost way to enjoy an endless supply of this plant. Ahead, we're sharing expert tips for propagating Thanksgiving cactus in soil and water or through division.

When to Propagate Thanksgiving Cactus

The best time to propagate a Thanksgiving cactus is in the spring, after it blooms but is still actively growing. "If you trim it back in the spring, it will not only ensure more blossoms in the fall, but it will also provide pieces of the plant to propagate," says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of The Houseplant Guru.

How to Propagate Thanksgiving Cactus in Soil

One of the easiest methods of propagating a Thanksgiving cactus is by taking cuttings from the parent plant and rooting them in soil. Here's how to do it the right way, according to Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society.

1. Using pruning shears or scissors, remove a healthy stem that is two to three segments long.
2. Let the cut end callus over for a few days to prevent rot.
3. Fill a container with moist potting soil made for cacti and other succulents. Stick the bottom inch of the cutting in the potting mix.
4. Place the container in a location with indirect light or under grow lights. Keep the potting soil moist but not soggy. Rooting should occur in three to four weeks.
   

How to Propagate Thanksgiving Cactus in Water

Thanksgiving cactus can also be propagated in water, which allows you to see the roots as they grow from the cutting. Once the roots are a few inches long, you can move the cutting to a container with soil. Follow these tips from Bunting when propagating cuttings in water.

1. Using pruning shears or scissors, remove a healthy stem that is two to three segments long.
2. Let the cut end callus over for a few days to prevent rot.
3. Fill a glass with 1 inch of water. Add pebbles to the container. Place the cutting in the pebbles so that it is just touching the water.
4. Place the vase in a location with indirect light or under grow lights. Replace the water every few days. Rooting should grow in three to four weeks.

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How to Propagate Thanksgiving Cactus Through Division

Large containers of Thanksgiving cactus are typically started from multiple cuttings. "Because of this method, you can divide the plant," says Steinkopf. Here's how she says to do it.

1. Gently remove the plant from the container.
2. Look for natural separations or clusters of stems and roots, and carefully separate the plant into smaller sections.
3. Move each division into a new container filled with fresh cacti or succulent soil.
4. Place the container in a location with indirect light or under grow lights. Keep the potting soil moist, but not soggy. Rooting should occur in three to four weeks.

How to Care for the Cuttings

The propagation process doesn't end once your cuttings are added to soil or water. They need adequate care to ensure they produce healthy roots. "I make sure they never dry out and give them good, bright light," says Steinkopf. "Fertilize them lightly from spring until fall."

Once the cuttings produce healthy roots, Bunting recommends moving them to larger, 4-inch containers filled with a well-draining potting mix. "Create a small hole with your finger big enough to accommodate the roots. Place the roots of the cutting in the hole and tamp the soil around the roots with your finger," he says.

You can move the plants outside once summer arrives so long as you slowly acclimate them to bright light, notes Steinkopf. "By that, I mean place them on the north side of the house or under a tree for a week or two before moving them out into bright light," she says.