---
title: "Hello! My Christmas cactus is over 20 years old, and I don’t know how…"
description: "Hello! My Christmas cactus is over 20 years old, and I don’t know how much I can revive or how to do it. She had blossomed a few months ago, and has new…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/LO-L70DrTtOJcyjbTqqTAw"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Cheekyswipe"
published: "2024-06-20T11:42:21.658467Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/efik9vP-o_Oyn9sYZ5CnPLGna1tPOi44jo-c9yMuV7s/FYldnVN_Te2jjSQIpFSQIA.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hello! My Christmas cactus is over 20 years old, and I don’t know how…

_Posted by Cheekyswipe on 2024-06-20_

Hello! My Christmas cactus is over 20 years old, and I don’t know how much I can revive or how to do it. She had blossomed a few months ago, and has new growth, but the main “trunks” are woody and look rotten. How can I save the living branches?

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/efik9vP-o_Oyn9sYZ5CnPLGna1tPOi44jo-c9yMuV7s/FYldnVN_Te2jjSQIpFSQIA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/efik9vP-o_Oyn9sYZ5CnPLGna1tPOi44jo-c9yMuV7s/SD5lWLXTQiSPsFc6fERssw.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### send\_nodes commented on 2024-06-20

Stems getting woody on these guys is normal, it’s called “corking” and it gives the plant more structure

But I do see some segments on this one that have dried up. You can just twist those off to remove it

If you want to propagate to start a new plant, twist off a piece that you want to use, put the end of it in water, and it’ll start growing new roots! 🌱

#### Kades replied on 2024-06-20

Totally agree! As long as the woody stems aren’t mushy, then you’ll want to chop the healthy stems.

### Cheekyswipe commented on 2024-06-20

Thank you! Easier than I thought 🤗! Yes, they’re not mushy, I’ll just have to clean her up a bit! I’m relieved about the “corking” that it’s normal, thanks again!

### Sunny commented on 2024-06-20

Looks like powdery mildew on the leaves. Treat with a commercial fungicide. Continuously wet soil promotes the growth of fungus. Check the roots for rot if any part of the plant is soft or mushy instead of dry. 🍀🪴

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