Some Questions About Christmas Cactus Propagation

[Mountaineer370]

I have (had) a medium-sized Christmas cactus -- and maybe it's a Thanksgiving or Easter cactus, I don't really know. It's the kind that has the spiky leaves as opposed to the rounded leaves. (Well, I have one with rounded leaves, too, but this question is about my spiky-leaved one.)

A couple months ago, we had a bad storm here and the plants on my front porch got knocked off their bench, and this cactus was badly damaged. Many of the branches on one side got broken off, and the pot was broken. I repotted of course, and cleaned up the damage as best I could, but the poor thing looks pathetic and keeps dropping more and more branches as they dry up and die.

Yesterday, I had to bring my outside plants in as the nights are getting too cold, and this cactus now resides on my dining room table. Just since last night, another big chunk of branch fell off. I think it's a goner, but I would like to salvage a few cuttings from it so I can hopefully get a new plant started from it.

My preferred method of propogation is putting them in water, as opposed to soil. I have always had the best luck that way. In fact, I'm currently starting a new little jade plant that way from my jade that also got damaged, and it's growing good roots.

My main question here is this. The cactus is putting out buds on the parts of it that didn't get damaged too badly. Of course, those parts are the best ones for taking the cuttings to try to propagate. The rest of the plant does not look healthy. Is there any danger in trying to root cuttings with buds already forming? I'm a bit afraid that if I wait a couple more months for it to bloom and for the flowers then to die before I take the cuttings, the whole plant could further deteriorate and I may lost my chance to get healthy cuttings from it.

I know some of you have experience with these type of plants. Any thoughts?