Like leaves, cladophylls photosynthesize light into food for the plant. Save Cuttings to Propagate After pruning, you can propagate Christmas cactus stems into new plants in water or in soil.

If you want to promote growth, feeding your Christmas cactus with a dedicated fertilizer is encouraged, such as the Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food ($6.29, Amazon).

Like its relatives, Christmas cactus is a lovely, arching plant with no spikes, so it's a great choice for families with kids and pets. It has profusions of gorgeous bright flowers in early winter.