Schlumbergera got its name thanks to the florist, cactus collector from France, Frederic Schlumberger. Another name for this plant is zygocactus. Translated from the Greek "zygo" means rocker. The stalks of the zygocactus take the form of a yoke when they branch, and only in two. There are also other names for the flower: Decembrist, Christmas cactus, Varvarin flower, Christmas tree.

The ancestor of Schlumbergera is considered to be a wild-growing epiphyllum, zygocactus. These plants live directly on the roots and trunks of trees that grow in the mountainous wetlands of Brazil and South America. Pollination of flowers in these conditions occurs due to hummingbirds.

General characteristics, pictures and photos of Schlumbergers

There are several varieties of Schlumbergera: gertner, bouclei, russeliana, truncated or trunkata. Zygocactus is a very common indoor plant, which is popular and sympathetic to many flower growers. This is due to their unpretentious content and at the same time beautiful appearance. They are epiphytic low stems with jointed shoots. Basically, Schlumbergera blooms at the beginning of winter, for which it received its other name - the Decembrist. But there are times when flowering occurs in April, May, June. During this period, Schlumbergera flowers are usually not so abundant. During the flowering period, buds form at the tips of the shoots. In the opened state, the flowers look like long tubes, consisting of many tiers. The long stamens are delicate, gracefully hanging down.

Blooming Schlumbergera is very beautiful, bright, attracting attention. During this period, it serves as an excellent decoration for any room. If by nature the Decembrist has only red flowers, then flower growers today have been able to grow plants blooming with pink, purple, purple, yellow, crimson, white, pink flowers. This plant is considered long-lived. Under favorable conditions of detention and competent care, it lives for 20 years or more.

How to care for a Schlumberger flower

Schlumbergera blooms incredibly beautifully

Schlumbergera flower care at home:

1. Keep in a bright place, out of direct sunlight.
2. In the spring and summer, it is better to put it in a semi-dark place.
3. This plant does not like when the soil is dry or too wet.

In the period from March to August, the Decembrist grows. It was then that the plant needs constant spraying, moderate watering. Water for irrigation is desirable soft, settled. With the onset of autumn, in the month of September, the surrounding air becomes cool, and frequent watering is not required. These factors, as well as the gradual decrease in daylight hours, contribute to the active emergence and maturation of flower buds. After the formation of buds, the Decembrist must be transferred to a room where the night temperature will be in the range of 20-22ºС, and the daytime temperature will be slightly warmer - 22-24ºС. During the ripening of flower buds and during the flowering period, the Schlumberger must not be rearranged; it is necessary to moderately moisturize, maintain the temperature regime. Otherwise, the buds and flowers of the Schlumbergera will fall off. The flowering period of the Decembrist lasts from December to January.

When flowering is over, the plant is left alone until spring. It is watered less and kept indoors at temperatures up to 15 degrees. With the onset of spring, in March, the Schlumberger can be transplanted into new soil.

Primer for Schlumbergera

The Schlumberger Decembrist loves leafy soddy soil with the addition of sand and humus. All this is maintained in proportions of 1:3:2:1. You can also add a little crushed brick, charcoal. It is recommended to make drainage from expanded clay or small pebbles on one third of the flower pot for good water permeability.

Soil fertilizers

In order to improve the quality of the soil where Schlumberger grows, it is flavored with mineral fertilizers. They should have an average nitrogen content. An excess of nitrogen supplements leads to root rot. The ratio of fertilizer components: potassium -24, phosphorus - 18, nitrogen - 9.

Diseases and pests of zygocactus

This flower has, unfortunately, enemies in the face of various diseases caused by bacteria and fungi, as well as insect pests. Fungal diseases include phytium, phytophthora, fusarium. Phytium and Fusarium enter the plant through infectious soil and infect the roots. The Decembrist begins to fall off and withers even in wet soil. It acquires a grayish-pale tint. Treatment is carried out with the help of drugs such as Vitaros, Topaz, Skor. Phytium - gets inside the plant through various violations of the outer cover of the stems (breaks, cuts, etc.) This disease is treated with fungicides, which include benomyl, chlorothalonil.

The bacterium Erwinia poses a bacterial threat to Schlumbergera. The main characteristic signs of flower infection are the following: a dark slippery spot forms at the base of the stem, which gradually covers the entire stem. The use of antibacterial agents in this infection will not help. Therefore, the infected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe plant should simply be removed.

Reproduction of the Decembrist

Schlumberger reproduces well by the so-called cuttings. The grown cuttings are delicately twisted from the main stem, dried for a day, and then planted in a new pot.

There is also a grafting method. From the top of the prickly pear, the perescias remove the leaves. The resulting bare stem is split. The cut off fragment of the Decembrist, consisting of 2-3 segments, must be sharpened and inserted into the split place. For a tighter fit, fix with a needle, wrap with threads on top. After 2-3 weeks, fusion occurs. The grafted shoot begins to grow. Newly appearing leaves and shoots must be removed. This breeding procedure is best done in the summer, in a room with a temperature of 20 degrees.

Many people start a plant, but do not know how to care for it.

1. The Decembrist has poorly developed roots, so it is recommended to plant it in small pots.
2. At the time of flowering, it is categorically impossible to rearrange the pot from place to place and turn it in different directions.
3. If the plant was purchased in flowering form, it is not necessary to transplant immediately. It's best to wait until it's fully bloomed.
4. It is good to transplant young sprouts every year, and adults already as needed, after about 3 or 4 years.
5. It is advisable to feed the soil of the Decembrist with mineral fertilizers during its flowering period 2 times a month.

After the end of flowering, you can pluck (in no case cut off) the tops of the stems to give a beautiful shape to the crown of the plant. The stems will become more branched, more new shoots will appear. Since future flower buds are tied at the tips of the shoots, the flowering will be more numerous. Decembrist looks great not only in pots, but also in hanging baskets.

What to do if the Schlumbergera does not give flowers

And now a few recommendations for the Decembrist to bloom. Perhaps the Schlumbergera does not bloom, because the plant does not feel the time of flowering. In this case, it must be moved to a cool place and kept there from September to November, inclusive. At the same time, watering is carried out rarely, do not feed. In early December, take out to a warm, bright room (but not in direct sunlight). The plant should wake up. After a certain time, flower buds will definitely appear.

How to distinguish Schlumbergera from ripsalidopsis

Ripsalidopsis also belongs to epiphytic plants, but from a different genus. In appearance, he is very similar to the Decembrist. However, on closer examination, there is still some difference. In ripsalidopsis, the edges of the stem plates are round, while in Schlumbergera they are pointed. Ripsalidopsis flowers are star-shaped, symmetrical; Decembrist flowers with beveled tips. But the most important feature is that, unlike the Decembrist, ripsalidopsis blooms only in spring, and therefore it is also called the Easter cactus.

Dear friends, do not forget to watch a short video about the Schlumberger plant, thanks to this video you will learn more about the care and maintenance of the flower at home.

Reading min. Views 2.2k. Published on 25.02.2016

plant care guide

Young plants once every 1-2 years, adults once every 3-5 years. Summer 20-27, winter 13-16, with the appearance of buds 15-18 During the period of active growth - abundant watering, in winter - no more than once a week Daily spraying Penumbra. West, east and north windows

Lighting

Since the natural habitat of the zygocactus is the forest, it prefers to grow in partial shade.

Exposure to scorching sunlight can cause irreparable harm to the Schlumberger..

In view of this, windows facing west, east or north will be the best place for the plant. In winter, this may be the south side.

In order for the crown of the plant to be lush and symmetrical, and not one-sided, it is recommended that the Schlumberger periodically rotate around its axis.

However, you should be aware that during budding and further flowering, it is impossible to turn and rearrange the pot. Otherwise, the plant will drop all the buds and flowers.

Temperature

Zygocactus is not very picky about the temperature regime. It can tolerate temperatures ranging from 2 to 45 degrees. However, it is better not to experiment with this.

The optimum temperature in summer for zygocactus will be 20-27 degrees. In autumn (September-October) for laying flower buds, he will need a decrease in temperature to 13-16 degrees. With the advent of buds, it is better to raise the temperature to 15-18 degrees. Such conditions are most favorable for abundant and long flowering.

Watering

During the period of active growth - from late April to August - zygocactus needs abundant and regular watering. It is important to ensure that the soil in the pot does not dry out..

However, stagnant water is also detrimental to the plant, since tender roots can quickly begin to rot. Therefore, 15-30 minutes after watering, all water from the pan must be drained.

Starting from the end of August, watering should be gradually reduced.. By September, watering should be rare (no more than 1 time per week). This is necessary for the normal laying of flower buds. When the first buds appear and until the end of flowering, normal watering is restored. After the flowers fall and until the end of the dormant period (April), watering should be moderate.

For humidification, settled or rain room temperature is used. Cold water can damage roots.

spraying

Schlumbergera loves daily spraying with warm settled water. The procedure must be carried out in the morning or evening with a fine-grained spray. During budding and flowering, the distance from the zygocactus to the sprayer is increased so that moisture does not accumulate on the buds and they do not begin to rot.

To increase the humidity of the environment, the pot can be placed in a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay.

Schlumbergera prefers high humidity - 60-80%, however, it can tolerate normal humidity (40-50%). It is especially important to pay attention to this component of care during the period of budding and flowering, since at a low level of humidity, the zygocactus can drop buds and flowers.

Another way to increase humidity is to place containers of water around the flower.

The soil

Schlumbergera needs loose and nutritious soil that is well breathable. The acidity of the soil for a cactus should be at the level of 5.5-6.5 pH.

You can buy ready-made substrate for succulents and cacti.

Or prepare the mixture yourself, taking equal parts of leafy, soddy soil, sand and peat. Another option is turf, leafy soil, humus, sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 2. You can add a little crushed charcoal and brick chips.

Good drainage is very important for zygocactus. in the form of expanded clay or small pebbles - it should occupy 1/3 of the volume of the pot.

Fertilizer

Zygocactus should be fed only during active growth. Regularity - 1-2 times a month. For this purpose, fertilizers for cacti or for flowering plants are used. The concentration is 2 times weaker than indicated on the package. Feeding is not needed during flowering and dormancy.

Feed this plant with care. A large amount of mineral fertilizers can negatively affect its appearance and flowering. It should not be forgotten that the Schlumbergera is still a cactus that is adapted to exist with a deficit of both moisture and nutrition in the soil. It is much better to underfeed than to overfeed.

Fertilizers diluted with water are applied only to wet soil. After watering with ordinary water, at least 12 hours should pass so that the soil is saturated with moisture, and the cactus roots are prepared to absorb nutrients. It is strongly not recommended to apply fertilizers to dry soil. This can lead to damage to the root system and death of the plant.

Diseases

Of the fungal diseases, Schlumberger can be affected by late blight, phytium and fusarium. Their signs are the pallor of the plant, the gray color of the shoots, the loss of segments. Fungicides are used to fight: Topaz, Maxim, Fitosporin, Skor.

A bacterial infection is also possible, manifested in the appearance of slippery spots on the stems. The solution to the problem may be the removal of the affected parts of the plant.

With a strong bacterial lesion, the cactus will have to be disposed of while separating healthy cuttings for propagation.

Features of caring for a cactus Schlumbergera

Although Schlbümbergera is a cactus, it belongs to forest varieties. These plants are adapted to conditions that differ sharply from the conditions of existence of other cacti growing in dry steppes and semi-deserts. In order for the plant to please the grower with a beautiful view and abundant flowering, you need to know some of the features of caring for it.

The most important for the development of the plant is to create the right lighting for it. required humidity and temperature. We must not forget that this plant in the wild grows only under the crowns of trees, so it does not tolerate direct sunlight. But it is also impossible to keep it in the shade, as it stretches, its shoots become thinner.

Unlike other cacti, Schlumbergera lives at high humidity. Humidity must be maintained both in summer and in winter, when the plant blooms.

Schlumbergera does not need a rest period. In summer, it builds up shoots; in winter, the plant blooms. Therefore, the temperature of its content should be the same year-round. The flower reacts poorly to temperature changes and colder drafts. In winter, due to a sudden cold, it can shed its buds.

Video

We recommend that you watch a useful video on the topic of the article:

Now you know everything about caring for a Schlumbergera (Zygocactus, Decembrist) at home, as well as about the reproduction and transplantation of a flower.

Schlumbergera is a cactus brought to Europe from South America at the beginning of the 19th century by collector A. Cunningham. Its habitual habitat is tropical Brazilian forests. Schlumbergera is an epiphyte cactus, it prefers to settle on the branches of trees, absorbing food from the air.

The unpretentious houseplant is widely known as the "Decembrist" or "Christmas" because it prefers to bloom in November, December and January, when other plants are at rest.

Another cactus is called "Barbarian beauty." Usually "Christmas" - Schlumbergera pleases its owners with lush flowering for Christmas. It is believed that the "Decembrist" brings peace and tranquility to the house, absorbing negative energy and making the household kinder.

Ripsalidopsis, its closest relative, is very similar to Schlumbergera. This cactus - an epiphyte also grows in Brazil, and we cultivate it as a houseplant.

A photo

The cactus got its name in honor of the French collector Schlumberger. As a result of selection, a wide variety of hybrids of this plant have been bred. The store usually offers to buy a Schlumberger mix without specifying a specific variety, and the most common are just "Decembrist" and "Trunkata". You have the opportunity to admire them by looking at our photo gallery

Zygocactus or Decembrist

This cactus was originally known as zygocactus, in everyday life it was often called the “Decembrist”, but according to modern classification it is assigned to the genus Schlumbergera, it is called Schlumberger Buckley or Schlumberger Buckley.

On the left is the escape of Sh. Trunkat, on the right is Sh. Bukley

Low spreading cacti have jointed shoots, consisting of several segments. At the end of the segment, 2 new segments are formed, which is why the plant was called zygocactus, from the Greek word “zygon”, “rocker”. Asymmetric multi-tiered tubular crimson flowers with long stamens bloom at the ends of the stems. A plant with long shoots looks beautiful in hanging baskets, flowering lasts up to 2 months.

Trunkata (truncated)

The Schlumbergera Trunkata is slightly different in appearance from the Schlumbergera Buckley. She has more pronounced pointed edges of the segments, the color of the segments is darker and brighter. Flowers with bilateral symmetry have a variety of colors: red, white, lavender, salmon, peach, yellow. If you plant cuttings from plants of different varieties in one pot, you get a beautiful composition with multi-colored flowers.

How to care?

Having bought blooming Schlumbergia in a store, I want to keep its beautiful appearance for as long as possible. This can be done by following a few simple guidelines.

Do I need a transplant after purchase?

If the plant blooms, it can be transplanted only after flowering has ended, otherwise all the flowers will fall off. Young plants are transplanted annually, adults - once every 2-3 years. The pot should not be large, the roots can not be completely freed from the ground, it is only necessary to add fresh soil.

The composition of the soil and types of fertilizers for the soil

Schlumbergera prefers light, breathable, slightly acidic soil (ph ~ 6). Drainage is first poured into the pot (about 1/3), and then the soil is covered. A good earthen mixture will turn out if you add a little soil for orchids to the finished soil for cacti.

Top dressing with a weak solution of complete mineral fertilizer is carried out 2 times a month. You can use fertilizer for cacti or orchids.

Watering and lighting

The plant feels good on the window sill, oriented to the southwest. Schlumbergera does not tolerate direct sunlight and does well in light shade. The plant is rarely watered with water at room temperature, the earth in the pot should not dry out. Abundant watering is allowed only during the flowering period. Schlumbergera responds well to high humidity, it is recommended to periodically spray it with water at room temperature.

Optimal growing temperature

Schlumbergera does not tolerate both severe hypothermia and high temperatures. It will never bloom at temperatures below 11 degrees and above 22 degrees. The most favorable conditions for this plant are a temperature of 15-20 degrees.

The widespread variety of Schlumberger Buckley (Bukley) withstands low temperatures. Schlumbergera Trunkata, imported from Holland and Germany, is more demanding on temperature and does not tolerate hypothermia.

reproduction

Schlumbergera can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. To breed varietal varieties, they sow and grow a plant from seeds; cuttings are usually used in everyday life.

For successful propagation by a cutting, it must have 2-3 segments.

cuttings

Schlumbergera, an inhabitant of tropical rainforests, easily forms aerial roots, it is very easy to propagate it by cuttings. After the plant has faded, the following operations must be done:

• A stalk with 2-3 segments is carefully unscrewed from the mother plant.
• the stalk is dried” during the day in the air;
• the stalk is planted for rooting.

How to root?

Schlumbergera cuttings can be rooted in sand, soil, vermiculite and perlite. The rooting process takes about a month. The appearance of a young segment is a signal that rooting has been successful.

Plant diseases

Schlumbergera is quite resistant to diseases and is practically not affected by pests. Sluggish shriveled shoots most often symbolize waterlogging or insufficient watering. Redness of the shoots is associated with too strong lighting.

Oddly enough, either a lack or an excess of watering leads to such consequences.

Fungal diseases are provoked by damage to the plant (phytophthora), or can be caused by contaminated soil (fusarium and phytium). To combat phytophthora, fungicides (“Fitosporin”) are used. Fusarium and phytium affect mainly the basal part of the stem. The plant has a sluggish appearance, the segments fall off en masse, the flowers become gray in color. For treatment, drugs "Topaz" and "Vitaros" are used.

With a bacterial infection in a plant, the stem begins to rot, gradually this disease begins to spread to the entire plant. Infected pieces of stems should be removed, and in some cases it is advisable to use a healthy cutting and grow a new plant.

Schlumbergera is often affected by a spider mite, the plant is, as it were, covered with a rusty coating. In this case, the use of the Fitoverm preparation is very effective.

Many people buy Schlumbergera in stores or grow it themselves from cuttings borrowed from friends to please themselves with bright flowers in winter. Sometimes the wait drags on for years, the flower does not want to bloom. This is facilitated by the wrong conditions for keeping the plant, sometimes the "Christmas" is confused with the "Easter cactus".

The colors of the Decembrist will appeal to many flower gourmets

Why does it not bloom and how to make it bloom?

Schlumbergera should bloom in winter. At high room temperature, more than 20 degrees, the plant forms a large vegetative mass and does not bloom. If too large a pot is chosen for the plant, it will also start growing, forgetting to bloom.

Schlumbergera blooms profusely every year, if a number of conditions are met:

1. The plant should grow in a tight pot.
2. A pot with a plant is placed on a bright window, protecting it from direct sun and draft.
3. In October-November, it is necessary to provide him with peace, maintaining the temperature no higher than 15 degrees and watering no more than 1 time in 2 weeks, preventing the earthen coma from drying out.
4. It is undesirable to change the location of the cactus during the budding period, otherwise it may drop them.

How is it different from ripsalidopsis?

The cactus-epiphyte of Schlumberger and the cactus-epiphyte of ripsalidopsis are outwardly similar, but in ripsalidopsis the edges of the leaf plates (segments) are smoother, at the ends of the segments “rudiments” of spines - hair brushes are visible.

The flowers of ripsalidopsis are symmetrical in shape in the form of stars, the color palette is not as diverse as that of Schlumbergera, but the tones are very bright, from dark pink to red, there are instances with white flowers. The pink flowers of ripsalidopsis are fragrant. Ripsalidopsis bloom in the spring, at Easter, so they are called "Easter cacti".

Do not forget to watch a short story about transplanting a Decembrist forest cactus, thanks to this video you can visually appreciate the simplicity and at the same time the scrupulousness of the process. Happy viewing friends!

We want to introduce you to an unusual indoor flower. It is a cactus that does not like heat and direct sunlight, has no thorns and blooms in December, when all other flowers prefer winter rest. The botanical name of this cactus is Schlumbergera. It is also called Zygocactus. Due to the flowering time, which peaks in December, on Christmas Eve, this plant is most often called Decembrist or Rozhdestvennik. In this article, we will introduce you to the features of caring for the Decembrist at home. Moreover, the agricultural technology of growing this flower is fundamentally different from the agricultural technology of all other cacti.

The pot with the Decembrist is best placed in partial shade. The flower loves good lighting, but does not tolerate bright direct sun, from which its stems can get burned, and the final leaf segments can dry out and die. Therefore, the window sills of the southern and western directions will not work. It is better if these are east windows. If you have an ampelous view of Zygocactus, then instead of a pot, you can grow a flower in a hanging flowerpot near the windows. In the summer, we recommend taking the flower to the balcony or loggia and placing or hanging it there in partial shade. You can find a well-lit place for it, but protected from the direct rays of the sun and wind, in your garden or in the country.

In addition, in order to form a bush harmoniously developed on all sides, the pot must be turned to the light in different directions. This can be done all summer, until the beginning of autumn, while the Decembrist is actively growing shoots. If the bush stands all summer with one side towards the light, then by the time of flowering it will be one-sided. But during this period, it is already too late to correct the appearance of the cactus - it is impossible to unscrew the extra shoots or turn the pot the other side towards the light during flowering.

With the onset of cool nights, the Decembrist should be brought into the room. In winter, during the set of buds and flowering, it is advisable to organize additional lighting for the flower with a fluorescent lamp or phytolamp.

Watering

It is necessary to designate several different periods in the life of the Decembrist, when the irrigation regime should be changed. The common thing is that Schlumberger should be watered with warm settled water, preferably boiled. The substrate should dry well between waterings. Cold hard water and heavy watering, after which the earth does not have time to dry out, can cause root rot and fungal infections of the plant.

Now about features. During the set of buds and flowering, from November to February, the Decembrist should be watered with such regularity that the soil is constantly moist. After flowering, from February to March, the next watering is done after the top layer of the substrate dries well to a depth of 2 cm. It is impossible to dry the soil completely. Observe the same watering regimen during the Decembrist dormancy period before flowering (September-November). In the summer, watering should be regular and moderate, two to three times a week. Make sure the soil dries out almost completely between waterings.

Humidity

Christmas loves moist fresh air. If the air in the room is dry, it is necessary to spray the flower several times a day with warm, clean water using a fine spray bottle. A pot with a Decembrist can be placed in a deep pan with wet pebbles or expanded clay. In the summer, arrange a regular shower for Zygocactus - it will not only wash away dust from the leaves of the plant, but also nourish them with moisture.

Temperature

The Decembrist normally refers to the usual room temperature of the content - from 18 to 26 gr. Celsius. When the room is too hot, spray it more often and keep an eye on the humidity indicators - this cactus was born in the tropics. During his rest before flowering (September - November) and after flowering (February - March), it is desirable to reduce the temperature of the content to 12 - 16 gr. During the set of buds and flowering (November - February), avoid drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Well, if it is constantly within 16 - 18 gr. Then the Decembrist will bloom longer and more abundantly.

Temperatures above 37 and below 2 degrees Celsius are considered critical for Zygocactus.

pruning

Pruning of the Decembrist is called the careful unscrewing of the leaves-segments of the plant by hand. This removes excess shoots, damaged segments, stems growing in the wrong direction. This work should be done at the beginning of summer, firstly, to give the bush the desired beautiful shape, and secondly, for abundant flowering in winter, because the buds are formed on healthy young shoots.

Transfer

The Decembrists are transplanted at the end of February, after the end of flowering. Young bushes are transplanted annually, and adult plants less often - once every 3 to 4 years. New pots should be a couple of cm larger than the old ones.

soil and pot

The soil for Schlumbergera is slightly acidic, loose and light. Ready-made substrate for succulents or cacti can be purchased at the store. It is also not difficult to prepare the soil yourself. Recall that in nature, these cacti grow on trees, where there is no soil, in the usual sense of the word. Mix peat, leafy and soddy soil with coarse sand in equal proportions. For disinfection, add a little crushed coal, and for good water permeability - vermiculite or brick chips.

Choose a container for planting that is not deep, since the Decembrist's root system is superficial, and not too wide, since the Decembrist blooms more readily in a narrow pot. One third of the pot should be occupied by a drainage layer. In the bottom - drainage holes, under the pot - a pallet. A ceramic pot would be preferable to others. For transplanting, each time pick up a container two to three cm wider than the previous one.

top dressing

The Decembrist needs feeding. Suitable complex fertilizers for epiphytic plants. If you can’t find these, buy ordinary liquid complex fertilizers for decorative leafy indoor flowers. Only use a dose half that recommended on the package. In the spring it is enough to feed once a month. In the summer, when the stems begin to actively grow, feed the plant more often, twice a month. Stop fertilizing in the fall to allow the plant to rest before bud formation. At the same time, it is desirable, in order to prevent fungal diseases, to treat the Decembrist with some fungicide.

Conditions for the annual flowering of the Decembrist

Many people wonder why the Christmas tree does not bloom? The fact is that in order to make the Zygocactus Decembrist bloom in December, it is necessary to prepare it for this from the beginning of September. Reduce watering the flower, stop feeding it, move it to a cooler, but not dark room. There, at a temperature of 12 - 16 gr. Celsius, it should be at rest for about three months.

At the end of November, return the flower to its original place - light and warm. Start watering regularly - The Decembrist should wake up and feel that it is time for him to bloom. At this time, you need to rotate the plant around its axis to evenly illuminate its shoots from all sides. Watch the cactus.

As soon as you see that buds have begun to form at the ends of its leaf-segments, stop disturbing the flower: do not move it to other places anymore, do not turn it in different directions, especially do not transplant it into another pot - it can panic and drop the long-awaited buds. Warn your family about this. And yet, make sure that the substrate in the pot is always slightly damp.

No less important are all the previously described rules for keeping a flower. If you have followed these rules all year, your Decembrist will definitely bloom.

To make flowering last longer, remove faded buds in a timely manner. Watch the temperature - it should be within 16 - 20 gr. and no sudden changes. Watering should be regular and plentiful with soft boiled water at room temperature.

After the Decembrist has faded, begin to gradually reduce watering. Again, transfer the flower pot to a cool place with a temperature of about 15 degrees. Do not feed, let the flower rest and gain new strength. The vegetative period at Rozhdestvennik begins at the end of March. At this time, return the flower to its former bright and warm place. Start the new season with more watering and fertilizing.

Lifespan

Zygocactus in the wild live a very long time. There are cases when the life expectancy of individual specimens of Schlumbergera in the botanical garden ranged from 120 years or more. At home, the Decembrist can please his owners with lush flowering for about 20 years, but only if he is comfortable.

Reproduction Schlumbergera cuttings

The Decembrist is very easy to propagate by cuttings. Unscrew from the mother plant a stalk with two to three extreme leaf segments. Dry them for a day - two on a plate in the shade and then plant them in a moist substrate of peat and sand. To accelerate root formation, you can use special preparations: zircon or root. Cover the cutting container with something suitable to create a greenhouse effect. Keep the temperature around 20 degrees. Celsius. Find a place for your greenhouse in partial shade. Once a day, open, ventilate. The Decembrist successfully takes root in spring and summer for a month.

Decembrist cuttings in cups

Specialists usually root those cuttings that were obtained during the pruning of the Decembrist.

Note that cuttings take root in a glass of water in the same way. After the appearance of a new segment on the handle, rooting can be considered successful. The bush is ready for transplanting into a pot with suitable soil in accordance with all the rules.

Propagation of the Christmas tree by seeds

In the wild, Schlumbergera reproduces by seeds. The flowers pollinated by insects form an ovary, which thickens and lengthens during the development of the fetus, and reaches its final size - about 2 cm in length. Within a month, the fruit will ripen, but will stay on the plant until the next flowering. The color of ripe fruits is orange or pinkish. Their shape is pear-shaped. Morphologically, the Decembrist fruit is a berry with a large number of seeds in the juicy pulp. The Decembrist, like all types of cacti, has edible fruits. They are juicy and sour in taste. They are pecked with pleasure by birds, and the seeds, having passed through their intestines, along with excrement, will be carried to various places.

Decembrist seeds begin to germinate inside the fruit

Interestingly, the seeds begin to germinate right in the overripe fruits of the plant. If this fruit is cut, then inside the pink pulp you can find a tiny emerald cactus. And when the fruits finally fall down to the ground, they begin to rot, creating a substrate suitable for the roots of the young Decembrist. The cactus takes root well and grows further on its own.

At home, it is possible to grow a Decembrist from seeds bought in a store. It is not realistic to get seeds on your own, so we will not describe this process. Note that the timing of seed germination is very different. Some germinate within 20 to 30 days, while others wait for something in a wet greenhouse for many months. If you need all the sprouts, keep moistening the substrate in the greenhouse, and most likely all the seeds will come out. After two or three months, germinated sprouts with two or three segments can be carefully planted in an independent pot.

Diseases of Zygocactus

Most often, the Decembrist is affected by fungal diseases, the pathogens of which enter the plant tissue from contaminated soil. The root neck of the flower suffers the most. A diseased plant becomes lethargic, loses color, elasticity of the stem. Leaf segments fall off. These fungal diseases, phytium, fusarium and late blight, are treated with fungicides. Transplant the fungicide-treated plant into a new substrate, and do not make mistakes when watering.

Why is the Christmas tree withering? If you water your Zygocactus with cold tap water, the root system of the plant can get sick from hypothermia. The flower will lose stability, begin to sway, the shoots will wither. This must not be allowed.

The same effect can be obtained from the fact that the flower is in the sun in a plastic pot. Its root system may suffer from overheating.

The root system of the flower also suffers from too high a concentration of fertilizers in the soil. In nature, cacti usually live on trees without soil, their roots are not able to absorb many nutrients instantly. A high concentration of minerals can destroy the root system in a short time. Do not overdose fertilizer when top dressing. Use a substrate suitable for cacti for planting and transplanting the Decembrist.

In all these cases, get rid of the unsuitable soil and transplant the diseased plant into a new substrate, after examining its roots, removing all rotten and damaged ones. Spray the flower with a suitable fungicide and start taking care of the Decembrist in the right way.

Sometimes the Decembrist's leaf segments begin to crumble. There may be several reasons for this.

If you have not fed your cactus for a long time, the reason may lie in the lack of nutrients in the soil. Feed the flower with fertilizer for flowering houseplants at the root and spray its leaves with a fertilizer solution for epiphytic cacti. The Decembrist should soon restore his strength and stop the leaf fall. If top dressing did not help, change the soil.

The stress transferred by the flower in the form of a sharp temperature drop, drafts or transplantation can also cause the leaves to fall off.

Another reason may lie in the too dry air of the room with the flower. It is necessary to increase the humidity in any way available to you:

• place a container of water near the pot with the Decembrist;
• put the pot in a tray with wet pebbles;
• spray the flower and the surrounding area with warm water;
• use a humidifier;
• move the pot away from heating appliances;
• cover the battery with a damp towel.

Another reason for leaf fall can be considered with a magnifying glass if a spider mite settled on the Decembrist. How to get rid of it, we will tell a little lower.

If you brought home a blooming Decembrist bought in a store, and he began to drop buds and flowers, do not worry. The plant has been stressed. It will take a little time, and Schlumberger adapts to new growing conditions.

Pests of the Decembrist

1. If brownish tubercles about 4 mm in size appear on the leaf blades, these are most likely scale insects. They feed on the juice of the plant, the leaves wither and fall off.
2. If you notice thin cobwebs between the shoots of the Decembrist, the stem was covered with a rusty coating, and the leaves began to crumble, then most likely the flower was struck by a spider mite. These insects are very small, brown, yellow or reddish in color. They appear on plants in rooms with dry air and feed on their juice.
3. If you notice whitish lumps between the leaf segments that look like flour or cotton wool, most likely your pet has been attacked by mealybugs.

If you manage to provide your pet with good care, then the Decembrist will delight you with its healthy and attractive appearance for many years. According to legend, this unusual cactus is able to melt the coldest heart and fill it with warmth and love. For some, it helps to normalize blood pressure, for others it relieves insomnia. And literally everyone the Decembrist brings joy on the eve of Christmas and New Year holidays with his colorful flowering.

Probably, many people know such a plant as the Decembrist or Schlumbergera. But not everyone knows that it is a cactus, and one of the synonyms for its name is zygocactus.

Representatives of the genus Schlumberger are epiphytes that came to us from the tropics. They got their name "Decembrist" or "Christmas" due to the fact that they bloom in December and their flowering often falls on Christmas for the old style.

Schlumbergera species and varieties

This genus is not numerous, it includes only six species, the remaining names are most often synonyms or varietal forms.

The shoots consist of flat elements, on the sides of which two or three blunt teeth are placed. One gets the impression that the elements that make up the sheet are truncated, which is why the view is called so. The flowers are large - up to 8 cm in length, can be of various tones.

In the past, it was classified as a subspecies of the Truncated, but later separated into a separate species. Segments of cladodies (modified shoots) are smaller. The flowers are purple in color, slightly smaller in both length and diameter. The fruits are yellowish with red.

On the segments of this Decembrist, teeth stand out well. The elements themselves are slightly larger than those of relatives. Flowers pale pink. The fruits are yellow-green, ribbed. It is valuable for gardeners because it blooms three times a year: in early spring, late summer and late autumn.

The elements of the cladodii are also rather large; they begin to become woody with aging. Flowers up to 6 cm long, up to 5 cm in diameter. Blooms in mid-spring. The fruit is green in color, round and ribbed.

All types of zygocactus are demanding on the conditions of detention and it is difficult to grow them in a room; if the rules of care are violated, the plants die quickly. Therefore, great value for gardeners, especially beginners, in this matter, is Zygocactus Buckley , which is a hybrid form and has greater unpretentiousness than pure species.

Since almost all species have their own characteristics in care, this particular hybrid is mainly grown in floriculture.

There are also many varieties with different colors of petals, among which there are variegated ones.

• Aspen - large white double flowers.

• brazil - the center of the petal is white, and the edges are yellow.

• Frances Rolanson - in the center it changes from white to yellow, and the edges of the petals are red.

• beauty dragon - peach color of petals.

• salsa dancer - the middle of the flower is white, and the edges are lilac.

• Polka dancer - delicate light lilac color.

Schlumberger home care

As already mentioned, in terms of care, the Decembrist is a whimsical plant. Although its hybrid form is most often grown by flower growers, it is less demanding, but it also needs to be well looked after.

In terms of lighting, the zygocactus needs partial shade with weak diffused light. Direct beams can be fatal. If the shoots began to turn red, then most likely this is a symptom of excessive lighting. It is worth paying attention to the fact that lighting by artificial sources is excellent for the Decembrist.

Both in summer and winter, the Decembrist must be kept at a temperature close to 19 ° C. This plant does not have a pronounced dormant period.

Hybrid Schlumberger blooms in winter with oblong pink or white (but the color may vary depending on the variety) flowers that are placed at the ends of the cladodes. When grown in a room, pollination is not possible, since in nature they are pollinated by birds.

Pachypodium is an interesting succulent with beautiful flowering, grown at home without much hassle, but still some rules should be followed. You can find all the necessary recommendations for growing and caring in this article.

Watering Schlumbergera

In the warm season, watering is carried out approximately once every 4 days, plus or minus one, depending on the air temperature. Do not allow the soil to dry out or the presence of excess moisture.

Starting from mid-autumn, watering begins to be carried out every 7 days. When the buds are formed, watering is resumed to the summer level. After the end of flowering, the number of waterings is again reduced to once for 14 days.

Primer for Schlumbergera

To grow a Schlumberger, you need soil with a lot of humus. To make the mixture yourself, take turfy soil, leaf humus, peat and coarse sand in equal proportions.

Also, do not forget about a good drainage layer. A small pot is selected for growing, otherwise all the strength of the bush will go to the roots and flowering will not come soon.

Schlumberger transplant

Transplantation is carried out after the end of flowering or at the beginning of spring every 2-4 years, depending on the need.

The procedure, as a rule, does not cause difficulties and does not require special skills, you just need to be careful not to damage the root system. A pot for transplanting is taken only 1-2 cm larger than the previous one.

Fertilizer for Schlumbergera

It is necessary to fertilize the zygocactus once every 20-30 days with top dressing for decorative flowering houseplants or cacti.

Schlumbergera Growing Mistakes

• Sometimes you can find completely disastrous tips for caring for a Schlumberger. For example, the advice to keep the soil always moist will not lead to budding, but to rotting of the root system.
• Maintaining a Decembrist for a long time without watering will not help speed up budding.
• Also, in order for the plant to grow buds, it is sometimes advised to put it in the dark - this is also wrong, because without light the zygocactus dies as well as with its excess.

Schlumbergera breeding

Reproduction of zygocactus at home is available only by cuttings.

Cuttings root very easily, even if it is just one element of the cladody. To get a cutting, several segments are carefully unscrewed from the rest of the shoot; they cannot be cut off.

Within seven days, the material is dried, approximately in this period of time, callus should appear on the cuttings, after which they can be planted for rooting in peat mixed with sand.

When the cuttings grow, they are transplanted into separate pots with soil for adult plants.

Also, the cuttings can be rooted in a hydrogel, already swollen balls are poured into a small vase and cladodes are inserted between them. The cutting will suck moisture from the hydrogel as needed. Transplantation is carried out as the roots grow.

Diseases and pests

Despite the high sensitivity to the conditions of detention, pests and diseases rarely disturb the Decembrist.

Sometimes an attack can happen spider mite - in this case, the shoots are washed with soapy water or they resort to insecticides, for example, Aktellik. Similar with mealybug - this pest is harvested by hand, and with a large invasion, they resort to chemical preparations.

Most often, problems begin precisely because of improper care.

plant wilting in most cases it occurs due to excess moisture, it may seem that the bush is drying out, but, as a rule, this is not the case. To test your guess, lightly pull the bush - if it is weakly held in the ground, then it is unlikely to be saved. It is better to put the bush on the cutting material.

Redness of the cladodes , as already mentioned, indicates an excess of light. Place the plant in a more shaded place and everything will gradually return to normal.

There is also the question of lack of flowering zygocactus . Buds are laid best at a temperature of 11 to 17 ° C. If the room is above 23 or below 10 degrees, flowering will not occur. To make the buds better, lower the temperature in the room with the Decembrist to 16-18 degrees in October, or a little lower if this is not a problem for you. Also, in order to stimulate budding, it is advised to pinch the extreme segments on shoots that have already bloomed in the past.