Tropicals & Tender Perennials: pruning Christmas Cactus, 0 by grrrnthumb

grrrnthumb wrote:
I prune mine very heavily. I usually prune after flowering but before the new big flush of growth. Anything that isn't a double branch gets lopped back, so everything branches twice. Plus any major branches that are extending too far out of the plant's average overall shape. Also any leaves that are drooping heavily; lower branches are pruned even more critically this way. Then, into the growing season, when the new leaves are about half high, I prune again with the doubles only rule. This gives the plant time (& encouragement) to send out a new pair of leaves where you just took one & still have it plenty mature for blooming time.
Once you get the big upright shape like this, then you can choose to let it all spill over the edge for a bigger display.
This is only one possible way of pruning, most people don't attempt to get them upright like this.
The red leaf coloration is the plant getting maxed out on sun. Fastest overall growth to me seems like green leaves with red edges. Fully green leaves means you could tolerate more sun & get faster growth. This was this plant's second bloom last year.

This message was edited Apr 4, 2006 9:32 PM