Expert: Greg Simpson - 11/30/2007

Question
when i do cuttings from my Christmas cactus, do I just leave it out without water to "heal" for two weeks and then out into cactus soil? It seems counter intuitive, so i wanted to confirm i have it right.  Thank you.

Answer
David,

With a Christmas cactus, 2 weeks would be maximum (between a week to 2 weeks should be sufficient). Succulent plants like cacti do not root in water, unless under very special circumstances. The Christmas cactus type may be more tolerant as it comes from a rain forest, but I would recommend rooting it in potting soil. Make sure to use some type of fungicide as well as a rooting hormone. Both are available at a nursery or possibly Home Depot. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg