✅ Step 1: Harvest healthy cuttings:
- Choose healthy stems with 3-4 segments (look for natural joints).
- Carefully twist or cut the stem at the junction using clean scissors.
✅ Step 2: Let the cuttings dry:
- Place the cuttings in a dry, shady place for 3 to 4 days .
- This drying period allows the cut ends to callous , which prevents rot when planting.
✅ Step 3: Plant the cuttings:
- Use well-drained soil: a mixture of peat, sand and a little pumice is ideal.
- Insert the cuttings about 2-3 cm deep , ensuring the calloused end is in the soil.
- Gently press the soil around the cutting to keep it stable.
- Place the pot in a bright, warm location with indirect sunlight.
✅ Step 4: Maintenance after planting:
- Lightly mist the soil to keep it slightly moist (avoid waterlogging).
- In 3 to 4 weeks , roots should begin to form.
- Once established, move new plants to larger pots for continued growth.
🌿 B. Grafting method (advanced technique):
- Ideal for: Experienced gardeners or those looking to create hybrid cactus varieties.
- How it works:
✅ Choose a cactus rootstock: Like a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) for faster growth.
✅ Prepare the scion (Christmas cactus cutting): Use a healthy segment.
✅ Join the plants:- Cut the top of the rootstock flat.
- Cut the base of the Christmas cactus segment into a wedge shape.
- Place the scion on the rootstock and secure it with a rubber band or grafting tape.
✅ Healing Period: Keep it in a shady place for 2 to 3 weeks until the graft takes.
✅ Result: A unique, fast-growing cactus that often produces flowers earlier than traditional propagation methods. - see more on the next page
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