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Pruning a 30-Year-Old Thanksgiving Cactus in Stages

To reshape a lopsided, mature Thanksgiving cactus without losing blooms, prune in three stages: cut back one-third of the heavy side in late April, another third in June, the final third in August. Keep it outdoors in shade all summer for faster recovery and better light.

About Gardening: Azalea Pruning: Timing and Technique for Maximum Blooms; Pruning a Snowball Bush (Viburnum) for Better Blooms; Pruning Paddle Cactus (Opuntia): Timing, Technique, and Woody Stem Limitations; Thanksgiving Cactus Post‑Bloom Rest Period; Pruning Pyracantha Without the Bloodshed: Battery-Powered Hedge Trimmers; Clematis Pruning: Timing Depends on Bloom Type; Fig Pruning Strategy for Consistent Annual Crops; Thanksgiving Cactus vs. Christmas Cactus: How to Tell Them Apart; Pruning Leggy Gardenias: A Three-Year Plan for Stronger, Blooming Shrubs; Pruning Overgrown Hollies: Timing and Technique for a Fuller Shape

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