How to prune a Christmas cactus – plus expert tips on when to do it to encourage returning blooms

Christmas cacti can quickly outgrow their containers when looked after correctly. To keep yours a manageable size, and to encourage blooming in future, learning how to prune a Christmas cactus is the best option.

Christmas cactus care is relatively simple. These Christmas plants are low-maintenance and don't often require pruning. However, they can sometimes benefit from a quick trim to maintain them when their tendrils become too long for your liking. 'Pruning a Christmas cactus will help maintain size, encourage new growth and increase the airflow. This will allow the main branches to grow outward,' explains Tammy Sons, horticulturist and CEO of TN Nurseries.

Luckily, it's fairly straightforward to cut back unruly growth on these plants. Doing so can even help make a Christmas cactus bloom again, so it's worth getting to grips with how to do it properly. Here, experts share all you need to know about pruning a Christmas cactus.

How to prune a Christmas cactus

Pruning or trimming a Christmas cactus is a simple task made even easier by the plant's unique, chain-like stem structure that provides natural breaks.

'Clip off where two stem segments connect,' says Tammy. 'Stay in the green, soft-stemmed leafy sections and avoid cutting into woody, leafless stems.'

You should use essential pruning tools to trim your Christmas cactus, like these gardening scissors from Amazon. 'I usually stick to removing two or three segments per stem, but if you want to rein in the size a bit, you can go up to a third of the plant each year without any issues,' says plant expert and founder at Tree Menders, Evan Torchio.

It's a common pruning mistake to remove more than a third of a plant at a time. This can cause a plant to go into shock and stunt growth, among other issues, often hindering flower development.

When pruning a healthy plant, experts say to keep some of the cuttings to propagate your Christmas cactus. 'They are easy to take cuttings from to create new plants. You break off a section of the stem structure with two or three nodes, then root that in potting soil,' explains horticulture expert Carol Michel.

Tammy Sons

Tammy Sons is a horticulture plant expert, garden writer, and educator. Tammy is the CEO and founder of TN Nursery, a thriving online plant nursery based in Altamont, Tennessee. She is also a prolific writer, sharing her knowledge through articles on various gardening topics, including plant care, sustainable landscaping, and the latest trends in horticulture.

Evan Torchio

Growing up in northern Ontario, Evan has always found solace around trees. He has a bachelor’s degree in forestry and is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Evan started his career in arboriculture working for a family-owned operation, before starting Tree Menders.

When to prune a Christmas cactus

Knowing when to prune a Christmas cactus is just as important as knowing how to. Getting the timing right ensures the plant recovers from the loss of foliage and can even help make a Christmas cactus bloom more impressively the following season.

'The best time to prune a Christmas cactus is right before it finishes blooming. This usually occurs in January or February,' says Tammy.

After the blooming period, Christmas cacti begin to reserve energy for their growth period; pruning during this growth period encourages the growth of fresh stems that will maintain the plant's shape, resulting in a bushy plant rather than a trailing, indoor hanging plant.

Of course, another reason you might be looking to prune your Christmas cactus is if it has discolored, or if your Christmas cactus leaves have turned limp beyond return. Trimming these stems back to the base will help breathe new life into your plant. In this case, your Christmas cactus can be cut back at any time of year, so long as you take care not to remove more than a third of the plant at a time.

Carol Michel

Carol J. Michel has a horticulture degree from Purdue University and is an award-winning author and podcaster.

FAQs

What to do if you over-prune a Christmas cactus

The good thing to know is that it's hard to over-prune a Christmas cactus, as these hardy plants are fast-growing indoor plants and will bounce back quite quickly. However, you should be aware that removing more than a third of the plant at one time can negatively impact the plant's health. If this has happened, you should provide optimal care to rejuvenate the health of your Christmas cactus and encourage it to grow. This includes providing bright, indirect light, moderate watering, and even fertilizing your Christmas cactus when it's actively growing - this succulent fertilizer from Amazon is a good choice.

Should I deadhead my Christmas cactus?

It's a good idea to deadhead a Christmas cactus once it has finished blooming after the festive period to encourage further plant growth. The flowers will begin to shrivel up and dry out as the blooming period comes to an end. This is a good sign to start deadheading your plant – just make sure to leave flowers still in bloom alone.

You should prune your Christmas cactus to prevent leggy growth and to maintain its size. However, be aware that your plant also might reach a point where you need to repot your Christmas cactus. As with other houseplants, as your Christmas cactus gets bigger, you will need to move it into a larger container. This will prevent it from becoming pot-bound and encourage it to continue growing healthily.