Good afternoon, my reader. This flower has several more names: Rozhdestvennik, Zygokaktus, Schlumberger or Varvarin's color. It comes from the tropics of South and Central America, where this epiphytic cactus grows on trees.
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Features and varieties
The cactus looks like a bush with branching stems reaching a length of 30-40 cm. Stems are made up of small segments, or leaf-like segments, that have projections at the edges. The cactus has a weak root system, as its roots are airy in order to capture moisture directly from the air. Zygocactus blooms with long tubular flowers with hanging stamens. Breeders have bred varieties with different flower colors, so you can find plants with raspberry, purple, yellow, white and pink hues.
There are several types of Decembrists that appeared due to selection:
- the Decembrist Gertner;
- zygocactus Russeliana;
- Decembrist Boucley;
- truncated zygocactus.
Reproduction
The plant propagates by cuttings with already existing small roots, which are selected so that they have two or three segments. The ideal time for planting cuttings is considered the period after flowering, which falls on the end of April - early May.
To obtain a large bush, several cuttings are planted in one pot at once, which are taken from the most lush parts of the cactus. But before planting, it takes some time for the cuttings to dry out. It is not recommended to plant them immediately.
The soil
For planting a plant, a soil mixture is prepared, which consists of:
- sod land - 1 part;
- leaf land - 6 parts;
- peat - 2 parts;
- sand - 2 parts.
The soil composition is thoroughly mixed, the necessary top dressing is introduced into it, and after that the cuttings are planted.
Lighting and humidity
Decembrists do not like direct sun hitting their stems. They prefer moisture-saturated air, so when the room is hot and the air is dry, they need to be sprayed daily, and sometimes put under the shower.
Watering and feeding
But at the same time, you still need to water the plant sparingly, so that the soil is slightly moist and not saturated with water. With an abundance of water, the weak roots of the Decembrist can rot.
Zygocactus is fed most often in the spring, using a complex of mineral fertilizers designed specifically for breeding cacti.
Temperature regime
Decembrists are unpretentious to temperature fluctuations. They can easily withstand temperatures up to +40 ºС, and up to + 2 ºС. To achieve intense flowering, the plant needs periods of rest. Therefore, in the autumn, at temperatures above 23 ºС, they are unlikely to bloom. The optimum temperature for flowering is in the range from +18 ºС to +20 ºС.
Prevention of plant diseases
For all its unpretentiousness, the cactus is susceptible to late blight, fusarium and phytium. Therefore, you need to monitor the degree of watering, a sharp drop in temperature, the presence and condition of drainage.
If all conditions of keeping are properly observed, the plant can live at home for up to 20 years, giving lush flowering.
Is a Decembrist growing in your house?
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