Now is the time for all good Holiday Cactus lovers to give your plants a bath, if they are finished blooming, trim them back and take the cuttings for new plants. This includes both Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus.
Today I bathed all of my cactus that I was able to do in the house. It is too cold to bathe them outside.
There were only 13 different hybrids that were finished blooming, so those were the only ones that got trimmed. I got new cuttings from Thor Tenna, Malindi, Peaches N Cream, Zygo x Xmas Flame, Naomi,Polka Dancer, Yellow, Twilight Tangerine, White Christmas, Claudia, Naomi, Christmas Fantasy and Fuchsia. If they all make it after planting, I may have to put an extension on the Greenhouse.
I still have the big ones to trim and bathe but they will have to wait until I can take them outside. They are all so big that I need help to do that. Plus it must be much warmer.
The Orchid Cactus got trimmed and they were all planted a few days ago.
Cuttings removed from stock plants should be done by twisting 180 deg and pulling upward.
One thing you need to remember is to be sure the cuttings are free of any disease. Be sure your containers are clean.
Cuttings can be disinfected by a five minute dip in diluted bleach (6.5 fluid ounces Clorox per gallon of water) followed by a thorough rinsing in tap water.
Cuttings can be stored for up to three months, and the optimum storage conditions area 50 -59 deg. F and 85-95% relative humidity.
Be sure to mark your cuttings so you know what you have when planted.
Have fun.
