Schlumbergera is a room plant

Schlumbergera – a popular indoor plant with attractive flowers. Abundant flowering it starts in December, so the home cactus is popularly called Epiphyllanthus or Zygocactus. He draws attention to the beauty of the flowering and the fact that in this period are not many flowering houseplants.
Epiphyllanthus- houseplant

Description cultural characteristics

Schlumbergera come from rainforests southeast Brizilii. It has other names: Zigokaktus, Schlumberger (in honor of the collector of cacti Schlumberger).

Schlumbergera refers to a genus of epiphytic cacti that naturally live in the branches of other plants, cactus family, but does not have thorns.

Note that in the natural environment shlyumberg blooms only red and pink flowers. At home, the growers involved in breeding hybrid species, which differ in diverse color of flowers, flowering dates and configuration of the stems. Breeders are constantly breed new varieties of various colors: white, yellow, crimson, purple and others.

White Rozhdestvennik (Dekabrist)
Orange Dekabrist
Pink Rozhdestvennik

Edge of lamina also varied: is wavy or toothed, with a thin and short fibers.

In winter, on the flat bottom of the soft stems of the flowers are 4-8 cm in length. Several layers of narrow petals. Buds bloom slowly, but the flower lives only 3-5 days.

Schlumbergera – care at home

Winter blooming flower in the house looks very nice. That he zatsvol in full force, for it needs special care.

Care for rozhdestvennikom no way for ordinary cacti. Requirements had to care like indoor foliage plants.

Choosing a location

Culture has low to bright light, but can not tolerate direct sunlight, which can cause burns on the leaves.

Good to know!With a lack of light does not bloom or Zigokaktus produces a very small quantity of the buds. Summer vase with a flower in partial shade better to move.

Flower rozhdestvennik. How to care

temperature and humidity

Dekabrist tolerant of temperature regime. For good plant growth requires temperatures in the range 16-20 degrees, at flowering – 15 degrees. A flower can not supercool and leave in a draft. When at rest, which should continue it from August to October, the room temperature should be kept below 15 C.

Rozhdestvennik – it comes from the tropics and grows it there in high humidity. To increase the humidity in the room, you need to regularly spray the flower. During flowering dry indoor air results in the dropping of buds.

Watering

Zigokaktus needs moderate watering, and responds well to regular sprinkling of water. Since the beginning of the formation of buds, in November and December, and during the flowering time watering should be plentiful and regular.

Watering Zigokaktus

Important!is too wet earth in the pot could harm the plant and overdried soil has a bad effect on the state of the plant.

Heavily drenched flower can begin to drop leaves, and then it will not bloom. It is necessary to water when the top layer of soil in the pot dry. It is enough to moisten the soil every 4 days.

Note!To use a watering-settled or boiled water. It should be free of lime, as this flower does not tolerate lime content and chlorine in the water.

Decembrists – zimnetsvetuschie plants and abundant flowering they need a small vacation from August to October. Contain them at a temperature below 15 C., and during this period daylength should not exceed 8 hours.

The period of active growth of the flower – from March to August. During this period he was actively watered and fed. Fertilize the plant once in two weeks. Since August, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.

Important!When the blooms rozhdestvennik, must never be changed and deployed, it can lose its beautiful flowers.

How to cut Zigokaktus

The plant is necessary to shorten the stems for the beautiful and smooth bush crown. It is recommended to cut immediately after flowering. Difficulties in this process there. Remove the excess part of the stem, and remove the old shoots – buds are formed only on the young shoots.

Crop Zigokaktus

Note!Shorten shoots during flowering can not, otherwise all the flowers fall off and the plant to bloom in this season will be gone.

How to transplant Schlumbergera and when it is possible to transplant rozhdestvennik

It is better to transplant a few weeks after flowering. The root system is not very Zigokaktus grows so large pot he does not need. The pot is poured drainage layer that takes third container is filled with soil and consisting of equal parts sand, peat, turf land and the sheet. Flower Rozhdestvennik after transplantation few days do not water.

Flower Rozhdestvennik transplant

Reproduction Schlumberger. How to propagate Zigokaktus?

He is very easily cultivated piece of escape. Propagated by it at any time of the year, mainly stems from cuttings. Stem cuttings with 2-3 segments do not cut and neatly break off from the parent bush. Place the cut on the handle should be covered with foil, then they are planted in the prepared lightweight soil. Within a month, they take root.

Types of room Zigokaktus

In nature, there are 6 types of Zigokaktus, and to grow in the home used mainly exist.

    • The truncated – with serrated edges, the upper part of the leaf as if cut off. On shoots flowers bloom pink, salmon and crimson color.
      Zigokaktus truncated
    • At Schlumberger Kautsky leaves shaped like a truncated similar, but smaller. Purple flowers (5 cm) narrow, with pointed petals.
      Zigokaktus Kautsky
    • Russeliana – stems with flat serrated shape, sheet plate having a size from 1 to 4 cm tubular flowers Pink – 5 cm Zigokaktus orssichiana[/caption]
    • Opuntsievidny. This species is characterized by a flat shape with serrated edges of the stem. Over the years, the leaves are rounded and make a cylindrical shape. Pink or purple flowers in a length of 6 cm.
      Schlumbergera opuntsievidny
    • Zigokaktus microsphaerica are cylindrical leaves. Their length is 1.5-4 cm. At the end of March, he produces small white blossoms.
      Zigokaktus microsphaerica

Pests and diseases

When excessive watering and air decembrist low temperature can be affected with root rot. Parasites rarely settle on his crown. In the dry air in the room can be found on the crown spider mite. Get rid of the parasite to help insecticides.

Rozhdestvenik can easily be grown at home. Taking care of him and observing simple rules, he will enjoy the amazing winter flowering.