How to Propagate Dried Christmas Cactus

Examine the dried Christmas cactus leaf before attempting to sprout it. Squeeze the center of the leaf to feel if it is still soft inside. Attempt to root the leaf only if there is still moist flesh in its center.

Fill a 4-inch nursery container with equal parts succulent potting mix and perlite. Mix the two components thoroughly before filling the pot to ensure the moisture-retentive perlite stones are distributed evenly throughout the soil. Pour 1/2 cup of water over the rooting mix to settle it.

Dig a narrow planting hole in the center of the pot of soil. Make the depth of the hole equal to half the length of the leaf; a 4-inch leaf, for instance, needs a 2-inch hole.

Determine which end of the Christmas cactus leaf will root by examining the direction of the scalloped edges. The scallops point toward the flowering end, so place the other end into the hole.

Insert the Christmas cactus leaf into the hole. Press the soil firmly around the leaf to anchor it and displace any air that might be trapped against it.

Place the potted Christmas cactus leaf inside a sealable 1-gallon plastic bag. Spray the inside of the bag and the leaf with water from a spray bottle. Three or four spritzes will suffice.

Seal the bag over the Christmas cactus but leave it open 1 inch to let moisture escape and to allow good air flow.

Place the potted Christmas cactus on a well-lit window ledge with no direct sun exposure. Keep temperatures around the Christmas cactus above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Mist the inside of the bag once a week with the spray bottle. Look for signs of root growth in 15 to 20 days.

Repot the Christmas cactus cutting two weeks after the dried flesh begins to plump up and turn bright green. Pot it in a medium-size pot with good drainage and succulent or orchid formula potting mix.