Repotting a 200 Year Old Christmas Cactus! 😱🌵😍 // Garden Answer 

I just want to say THANK YOU for doing this. As far as we know this plant is my the original from my great great grandmother, Selma; I have several grown from her cuttings. She's doing great since you've done this. We are so grateful for your willingness to even do this and keep Selma thriving; she's practically a family member!

I know this exact Scenario. My grandmother gave me one of her 50+ year old Christmas cactus about 5 years ago. I consider myself lucky; she re-potted hers every few years. Older Christmas cactuses are more common than you think. With proper care they can out last some of the oldest trees! Grandmas rules: Only water from the top if it’s suffering or has just been transplanted. Always water from the bottom. Once a week if outside and once every two-three weeks if in doors. They also like indirect sunlight. Once it starts to form bloom heads cut down on watering. Once it’s done blooming try to let them fall off or be totally wilted before removing. She has never fertilized hers that I know of. If your Christmas cactus starts to grow roots on its branches, that means you aren’t watering often enough. I hope more people realize how wonderfully long lasting these plants can be!

I'm a 68 year old woman caring for the Christmas Cactus originally owned by my great grandmother. It looks just like the one you repotted! Enormous in size and woody in places. I'm sure it's a similar age. I'm so grateful for your video as mine has not been repotted in 40 years ( give or take). It goes outside in the Spring and comes in the weekend deer hunting season begins (the first weekend in October). It blooms several times a year and it is a beautiful fuscia color. Thanks again.

I repotted an older Christmas cactus a couple of years ago that my Grandmother gifted me when I was 16. I am 63 now. She had it for many years before me, so I don’t actually know how old it is. I was a nervous wreck, but after watching an older video that you posted about their care, I attempted it, and it was a success. I cried when a few of the older woody branches broke off, but I hardened them off and repotted them back in with the original plant, and it’s been doing well. I used Espoma cactus soil and use their cactus fertilizer, too. It hasn’t bloomed since repotting, but it didn’t bloom from the time I got it until I was 31, so there’s hope! Thank you for giving us the gumption to try things that scare us initially.

Oh my! I would have been a nervous wreck repotting that “monster.” I was on the edge of my seat hoping you could get it out of the pot without breaking anything off. But of course you did it with such grace! You teach us all so much more than just gardening…..persistence, positivity, and a “can do” attitude are among many! Thank you once again for all you do to shine a bright light on us all and for making this a better world!

Also, could we go ahead and calendar an update for this guy? I wanna see how he does 6-12 months out! 👍

My father passed away in 88 and he had a shamrock with tiny white trumpet shaped blooms with orange tubers. He loved that plant and me and my siblings all have pieces and have grown many babies off them over the years. It's amazing to have sentiments towards a plant when it was a favorite of a most loved person that has passed.

I inherited my mom's christmas cactus. It's now about 60 years old. I've had it for 27 years and have never repotted it because I had no clue how to go about it. It has not been repotted for a least 40 years and is showing signs of stress. Thank you for this video.

You repotted that 200 year old beauty like a boss girl! I love how gentle and respectful you were with the plant yet you confidently did the job. Well done! Very fun to watch 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I have the mother plant that was my husbands grandmothers. we have had it 51 years and he remembers it in the parlor when he was a kid. I have made 3 more plants from cutting from the mother plant which are also huge. they go outside in the summer and into an unheated bedroom in the winter. just one of those plants you cant get rid of.

Wow! I thought my Christmas cactus was old. It was my grandma's plant. It is over 100 yrs old. It fell off the table it's on about 2 years ago. I never cried so hard. It bounced back and looks fabulous now. I love it so much. 💗

I have seen big Christmas cactus before but NEVER that big. That baby is huge and whoever is caring for that plant is doing an awesome job.

These plants are wonderful and this specimen is an assolute stunner. Could I get you to promise to show the plant again when it is in flower, I know its not yours and that might be difficult, but even a photo would be great...Steve...🙂

mine is 70 plus years, original root ball and some clippings for smaller plants. It's hard to repot but I put some of that landscaping screening and lay it in the pot. That way I can just lift up the edges of the fabric to repot to larger pot

My gram passed young in 1970, and my mother took her Christmas cactus. I’ve had it now for five years. 🥰🌺

The customer is so lucky to have you two tend to this difficult job! Your respect to the plant is what stood out to me. Well done and I really enjoy your videos!

So fantastic! My sister has my grandparents Christmas cactus. It's from the early 1900s. What a treasure that this family has that beautiful plant and that you were able to help them with this project.

My mom has one that was handed down to her that’s this size. It’s never been repotted so saving this for later 😍

Interesting FACT : Laura in a Q&A once was asked about having her own Christmas cactus - - she said she didn't care to own one... Mine is only 30 yrs old, it's magnificent in pink blooms in October. Older branches break off, it's normal, that's how it spreads. Easiest gift to break off a few branches pop it in a beautiful new pot and they bloom in the first year for your friend or loved one. Two of my friends' dogs passed away and I painted custom pots with their names on them. When they bloom every year it reminds them fondly of their fur baby. 🙏🌞

I love having my morning coffee with "the garden lady" (as my kids call you). Your knowledge has rubbed off on my soon-to-be second grader. We homeschool and a lot of her science right now is about plants. Because I watch your videos, and have since started a garden, she's flying through the plant category of her schooling. It's almost too easy as she quickly labels parts of a seedling and light requirements 😆 You've been a big help in her education and mine. Thank you for all that you do.

Rambo wielding the garden knife is absolutely my new favorite graphic. Bravo to either Ken or Aaron, whoever came up with that! Made my day! I have some poison ivy to tackle this week, and I'm already plotting to send the photo to my husband when I'm heading out for battle.

Wow, that’s the biggest Christmas cactus I have ever seen! They have taken such good care of it! You were brave to handle this one.

I would love to see a picture of this Christmas cactus in bloom!

Didn't expect a re-potting video to be such a nail-biter! Awesome job!

My favorite re-potting tip is: If you use dryer sheets for your laundry, save the used dryer sheets, not the new coated ones. Depending on the number of holes or size of holes in your pots, place one or two whole sheets or pieces of sheets over the drain holes. The roots will grow through them, the water will drain and the potting medium will stay in the pot. Dryer sheets do not disintegrate. You’ll be able to use them indefinitely. One less thing in the landfill.

Was watering my Christmas cactus yesterday, which originally came from my Grandmother many moons ago and was thinking that it needed to be repotted as the soil is really, really dry looking - but thinking 🤔 how am I going to do this knowing how fragile the foliage can be…then, as I sat down with my coffee this morning to see what Laura was up to today, your video gave me the answer! Here we go! Thank you!

I’ve never seen a Christmas Cactus this large! Wow! What this must look like in bloom!!

Laura, you did an amazing job repotting this cactus! I am really moved about your concern for the person who owns this cactus and for their plant. Your kindness for others is beautiful and it shows in all you do. Being kind and considerent is the way we all should be. Thank you for sharing this video...I loved it. 😊❤😊

I was given my grandma’s Hoya when she past away 25 years ago. I’ve never repotted it. It is so healthy and still blooms every year. I’ve given starts to family members over the years for them to have a piece of this legendary plant. My grandma had this plant well before I was born 53 years ago. My mom says the plant is somewhere between 60 and 70yrs old!! Crazy!!! Thanks for sharing how you did this!! What an amazing plant.

I can hear that plant go “Awww that feels so good!” when you started to cut the root bulb, “I can finally stretch my feet!” You have done such a great job. You did such a great job.

Well, the owner of this fabulous plant surely called the right person for the repotting job! I'm really impressed with your expertise!

Precarious project, live 200 year old family heirloom, Laura breaks out the folding chair 😂 I could instantly hear every adult from my childhood, “Do not stand on that folding chair!” Laura got it done in expert fashion. Such a fun video. I actually have 3 holiday cactus from a plant lot my husband bought me from an estate sale. Not nearly this big or lush but definitely old with thick, woody stems. I’ve kept them a year and half and considered passing them onto someone else but this video gives me renewed energy for them. As always, many thanks, Laura.

I thought it was crazy when my mom told me her Christmas cactus was over 150yrs old! It came from my great gramma! This is so awesome!

Most shocking part of this video was when Aaron declined the opportunity to smash the pot. 😂

I just cant get over how this plant was thriving without being re-potted for so long. I just repotted one that I inherited from my mom that was only a fraction of this size and I was really nervous. Good work and very interesting!

What an incredible plant, the old soul in me kept thinking about how much history is connected to it and the life it has witnessed throughout the generations of that family. If walls could talk, but in this case if plants could or roots. 😁

I have a Christmas Cactus my mom is taking care of for me as I moved to Scotland and agriculture laws prohibit taking a plant or cutting. It took me 14 years to find that plant!! My great-grandma had an old c.c. way before I was born; after she passed my grandma had it til I was almost 30 and it just seemed to die at that point. It had several colors- I'd never seen one like it before or since. Yellow was among the colors and I searched for 14 years to find one with yellow blooms! My grandma gave me a few cuttings over the years but they didn't take. 😪 I was very sad- I remember as a small child being dazzled by the blooms every winter so I was determined to find one for myself when the cuttings didn t make it. Finally got one and my mom thankfully is keeping it for me until I return home. The blooms are such a lovely, delicate color and as much as I love it for its own beauty, it does remind me of that time from childhood too, staring at the pretty flowers and watching my great-grandma crochet.

That’s what I call a unit !!! That one of the biggest Christmas cactus plants I have ever seen!

Wow! My grandma always had large Christmas cacti in her breezeway when I was growing up. She passed many years ago but this plant always reminds me of her. Thanks for bringing us along 🥰

200 years, INCREDIBLE!!😯 It looks so beautful!!❤🎄

Such a different and fun project today! The knife is a Japanese style hori-hori. Very useful for root pruning.

I’m in Australia (Southern Hemisphere) so my Christmas cactus is all budded up about to bloom right now! We’ve had a late winter in the tropics this year - I usually get blooms in June but I’m so ready for these July blooms any day now!

My mom had a Christmas cactus that lived around 40-50 years, so I do believe this one could have lived around 200 years. I just got my first one at the beginning of this month. 💕

What a magnificent Christmas cactus! The owners have cared for it well and you respected it with tender loving care as you do all your plants. One of my Christmas cactus is about 50 years old and I treasure it. Thank you for having such a fantastic channel. I love all you videos and knowledge.

How stressful it is, working on someone else's sentiment plant! I saw the look of relief on your face when you repotted it without incident. Great job!

I’d love to see where the homeowner keeps this plant. It needs a lot of space! Great job Laura!

That plant is beautiful and you’re the ONLY one I would trust to report it. Thank you for sharing the process.

Be cool to see the customers reaction. I bet they were thrilled. So trustworthy Erin and Laura. This was great! No fear haha Makes me want to get one xoxo

Good job! Wow what an interesting project. That’s wild 200 years old. I had a desert rose break a terra cotta pot growing so fast it busted the pot. Hopefully, our ponytail palm tree that was my dads will come out of his pot. It’s over 15 years old and huge. Thankfully, it’s been repotted throughout the years cuz it’s 6’ tall. It was his first plant he bought when they moved to the Sedona desert to retire and become a master gardener. I love how plants can be passed down generations. Gives them such sentimental value living on.

It’s amazing how huge and beautiful that plant is considering how small the pot was and rootbound the plant was. The final result is beautiful. Great job, Laura.

Instead of throwing away the broken pot, use the pieces to help cover the hole of the new pot. That's how we did it in the greenhouse years ago!

My friend has a Christmas Cactus this big or larger, and it was one her mother (88 years old) has always had. Loved watching you take such care in repotting it. I'm going to remember this for my friend's Mr. Big!

Just from looking at the thumbnail, I thought to myself, “I’m a pray for you, Laura! That is a BEAST of a plant chore!”. This could be a whole new series: Laura VS Huge Houseplants

Great video! I just lost mine of 17 years trying to repot it, so I definitely learned that mine probably was not so healthy. I did save a couple of cuttings and will try again. This really helped me see the structure so I can hopefully be successful this time! Thank you!

Dr. Laura, plant physician! Was anyone else holding their breath through this procedure? Veryy interesting. Thanks for bringing us along!! 👍❤️🌻

I am so excited to see you repot this Christmas cactus! I have one that is about the same size that belonged to my grandmother. It is now 98 years old! I repotted it about 15 years ago and have been putting off doing it again it was such a project! Watching this video gave me a few helpful tips and the courage to do it again! It has not bloomed the last four years so I’m guessing it’s getting a bit stressed and root bound. Thank you for this video and wish me luck!☺️

The timing of this video is uncanny, I am just preparing to do this to my plant I received when my mother passed 22 years ago. I've been so afraid to loose it and like this one it shows no signs of stress. I am far less stressed now Laura just WOW! Thank you for all you bring us along for even when you're learning with us.

Such a classic houseplant. The person taking care of it is doing good. It was so sweet of you to repot it for them.

I just received a 150 uear old Christmas cactus from my grandmother! This video is seriously perfect timing!! Mine has been in the same pot for about 25 years

Laura just love how you are always so willing to take us all along on your own learning by trial and error journeys! I have learned so much from you about managing my own expectations with more grace.

This was very interesting! I have a potted Hostess that had belonged to a friend and when she moved she gave it to another friend and now that friend has moved to Texas so I have the plant. The soil is so hard I can't poke it with anything and it is jam-packed full in a large container meaning about 14 in from side to side. It's in a beautiful blue ceramic pot and I doubt very much that the multiple plants would come out without breaking the pot. If I try to repot all of it would I take the individual stocks apart and put each one in a separate pot or leave everything intact? It is already so very heavy I might think about using a plant stand so I wouldn't have to lean over to pick it up. I'm very new at all of this and in fact have plants on my back patio for the first time in my life and I am 79 years old. It's all because of you Laura and the way you are so encouraging and positive. I thank you for that. I also now have two house plants the kind that like to be ignored and so far they're doing okay of course I have only had them a few months so we shall see what happens.😊 Thank you for letting me "be part of your family ." Aaron I really appreciate your love for trees, arborvitae and grass and I so very much enjoy watching all of the big projects with equipment large and small. I'm impressed with the way you plan where electrical and water need to go. What a team.... also all the wonderful helpers you have outside and of course I know you have helpers inside as well taking special care of your two wonderful children while you are working at your jobs. Thank you from the western side of Oregon.

That is one huge Christmas cactus. A majestic beauty.

We have an Easter cactus. It was a small plant my husband gave his mother when he was in kindergarten. He is 64; so, this one is close to 60 years old. He got the plant back when his Mom moved about 40 years ago. It was repotted about 30 years ago and it does show signs of stress. This video motivated me and will help get repotting done our plant. This plant gets brilliant pink double blooms. This video was so needed. You, with Erin assisting, did an outstanding job.

I couldn't believe how that root ball looked. It almost looked like dry clay on the outer edges of it. You did pretty awesome!

Girl, you got guts to take on that task and share it as you were going through the process of transplanting!! Thank you Ben for that shot of Sylvester Stallone at 3:18. It provoked a good laugh!! Whille I was cringing at 16:38 when Laura was finally putting the plant inside the new pot. As she is celebrating that she did not break a branch, I was closely looking at the ones facing the camera and coaching her to watch that some of the branches would not get folded inwards and get stuck on the rim. That was painful to watch. Good job !! 🌵🌵

I am glad to be in on this one. How exciting, like buried treasure. It is a beautiful cactus. My family has passed down my grammas iris. I am now 70 so it's been going for a while. My daughter will get some soon.

My mom has one that is over 25 yrs but we keep repoting every 2 years. It has not flowered for 3 years. I am going to get fertilizer for it Mom uses Plant fertilizer but going to use cactus fertilizer It seemed that this was a special video just for her. Mom is 89 she gets a big smile on her face when I say Laura has a new video today. She sends loves and hugs the the whole family. Also your cats.

WOW! 😱 I honestly hope to see an update on this grand plant sometime in the future! Nice work, Laura and Aaron!

Laura, please show us all the plants in your studio & in your house. I’d like to see how they have grown & how you care for them. Thank you. I love all you do.

Good morning, Laura, from Windermere, Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 I have a very large Thanksgiving Cactus for about 20 years. I have had it in different pots and about 10 years ago I joined 3 plants into 1 large clay pot. I found the BEST watering is to use 2 waterballs that I add a few drops of Cactus food into the waterballs. It blooms from November and December and lives outside and withstands our Florida heats of almost 100°! And I do cover it if we are expecting a freeze. Happy Gardening Everyone 👩‍🌾👍

My friend has a 70 yo one; it's HUGE! She gave me clippings from it♥️

Wow.. I was amazed to see how calcified the root ball was. It almost looked like a layer from the pot. Totally agree with you about repotting. I usually wait until I see signs of stress and when that happens there is hardly any soil left. Then I soak them over night and put them into their new 'shoe' for the next few years. Christmas and Easter Cacti are extremely forgiving and I always find they benefit from a really soak. After all.. they are more a succulent than a true cactus.

Laura, our favorite garden content creator turned plant surgeon!! You did great! Thanks for bringing us along

Oh my, what a big undertaking. Such a beautiful plant! I would LOVE to see a follow up video or picture when this beauty blooms at Christmas time this winter.

I bought a Christmas cactus 2 yrs ago and last year, i put it in the dark for 6 weeks. Had a fantastic bloom time! Never forced a plant to bloom before. Id love to see this beauty in full bloom!

This spring I split my 25+year old Thanksgiving cactus into three separate pots, making many cuttings. I hope they all "take" and root well. I was encouraged when you said that it may be set back the first year, so I will not panic! Great, great video Laura, thanks! 🪴🏵

Great video. I loved the change up. Its been a hot minute since I repotted my Christmas cactus. I am of the same philosophy, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" but I am hardly an expert on house plants. Thanks for sharing this with us and let me say, you are brave to tackle someone else's 200 year old baby. I'd be so stressed out. 😱

Wow!!! That was Amazing! Laura your a Rock Star 🤩 I’ve never seen a plant where you had to break the pot!!! Great job! I was holding my breath through most of it!

Great/interesting video! I love Thanksgiving/Xmas cactus! I use coffee filters to cover the holes in the pot...they work great! TYFS! ❤️🦋💜

Hi Laura and Aaron! That is a really beautiful Christmas Cactus! I've never seen one that big. Aaron, I don't blame you for deciding not to be the one to break the pot. You did a great job on repotting it, Laura. As others have said, I hope you'll be able to give an update on how it is doing after the repot and asking the client for a picture of it in bloom. Thank you so much for sharing!

I purchased a Thanksgiving Cactus 6 years ago. When I purchased the plant it had beautiful red blooms. The second year the blooms were pink and now the blooms are white. I think it needs fertilizer. I've never given it fertilizer because I was told they do not like fertilizer. After Laura said how to fertilizer the cactus I'm thinking the lady that told me they don't like fertilizer didn't mean never. Poor thing, I'm going to get right on this. Thank you Laura.

You broke a golden rule Laura! One never discards pieces of terra cotta pots. They come in handy for partially covering drain holes in other pots, like you did earlier with the piece of cloth. 😁

Beautiful plant, must be amazing in bloom

Wow, I have never seen one anywhere close to this big!

I stress about repotting the 50 year cactus I got from my grandmother never mind repotting someone else's plant really old plant!! Awesome job!

You were so meticulous and gentle with that plant. I might have destroyed it in the process. Love your “Rambo” knife - you provide comic relief too. 😃Good job Laura, another happy client!

Wow! Beautiful job repotting! I learned a lot today. Thank you! My cactus is from before 1886. A start from the old plant of my husband's great, great grandmother!

Oh wow, what a ginormous plant! Great job repotting that Laura, you hardly broke anything off of it. Such a gorgeous plant. Thank you for sharing.

The roots are like another thought pot itself, the soil in that pot is like none existing because it’s broken down and turned in to cement with he roots !!! Crazy video 😍😍😍😍

Wow, great job repotting that! I have been trying to work on planting a steep hill in my yard and after seeing that root ball I really understand how plants can help prevent erosion 😳😂 It’s amazing how strong plants are!

What a beautiful plant! Whether the propagation of an heirloom 200 yr old legacy plant, or if the actual age of this particular plant, what a lovely plant! Thanks for sharing

Botanical surgical procedure! That was amazing. You did an incredible job. I would love to see it in bloom. What an amazing history. My sister has one that she was given to her when she had her son 45 years ago it’s still beautiful .

Good morning Laura and Aaron! My Mother loved a Christmas cactus and we had one in our home growing up most years. I have never seen one with wooden like branches like this one. Amazing! LOVE Aaron's childlike enthusiasm for breaking up that pot!🤣🤣 Hugs from N.C..❤️

What a beautiful plant. You looked so relieved when you finally got that big boy in the pot. Hope your mom is feeling better I’m keeping her and your family in my prayers. Enjoy the day.

Amazing! I was given s Christmas cactus cutting last year and have not managed to kill it yet but those tips were sure helpful! Well done Laura! Ps - I also have a super old plant that is a cutting from a plant that is my husband's grandmas grandma. Amazing!

You amaze me daily on what you're able to accomplish. A true inspiration! Aaron get your wife a step stool! It's so dangerous standing on a folding chair! Trust me on this! This episode is my reminder to repot my 20 year old Christmas and Easter cacti collection. 😊

Your original Christmas Catus video was the first video I had watched way back when... I subscribed at that moment. The second video was your opening of baby gifts for Benjamin. There was a subscriber from Winnipeg (Manitoba Canada) who had sent a gift and it was at that moment I became a Member. ❤ This moment feels full circle for me.

I always use coffee filters in the bottoms of my pots. I can see where fabric might last longer although I have never had a coffee filter give out. Amazing Christmas cactus.

I hope to have an oldie like this some day. Whenmy dad first moved out about 45 years ago he picked up a peace lily from the store because "you're supposed to have a plant". When I first moved out about 5 years ago he gave me a propagation from his peace lily. I hope to have a happy old plant from it ^u^

Wow that root ball surround looked like cardboard! You did an excellent job like a plant doctor! I'm sure the owner will be so happy that that job is done!👏👍