Schlumberger (zigokaktus) / schlumbergera (zygocactus)

Refers to the family of cacti. The homeland is the tropics of America.

General description: In the nation, these cacti are called Decembrists, because it is in this moon that they begin to form buds. Flowering usually falls on Christmas. In nature, they grow in a tropical forest on trees, ie, they, so-called, epiphytic plants.

Branched arcuate shoots are composed of flat leaf-shaped segments, with age the trunk is lignified and starts to branch more poorly. To form the crown and improve flowering, the plant is periodically pruned and pricked. At that time, at what time it is not useful for the bloomber to turn the pot different sides to the light, so that the shoots grow evenly. The most common species of Schlumbergera truncata (Schlumberger truncated) owns jagged margins of segments of shoots. Blossoms with snow-white, red, purple or pink flowers with back-bent petals up to 2, 5 cm in diameter.

It is important to provide the Decembrist with a cool and dry period of inactivity in the fall, before the source of flowering.

If a pair of unrelated Decembrists is sprayed, the plant can give bright pink fruits that last very long.

Recommendations for the care of the Schlumberger plant:

Illumination : Needs bright, but diffused light.

Irrigation regime : Abundant during flowering, later transplant until April, moderate, until the autumn is outlandish, from September to November dry conditions.

Humidity : Adores high humidity, often sprinkle, periodically wash under a warm shower. Keep away from drafts. Autumn is a dry entity.

Temperature conditions : Optimum 18-20 ° C, not higher than 20 ° C, in October and November not higher than 15 ° C, at least 8 ° C.

Soil : Drainage is mandatory. You can add charcoal and brick chips.

Recommended soil mix: 1 share sod, 1 share leafy, 1 share peat land, 1 share sand.

During the growth period, it needs fertilizing once every two weeks with fertilizers for cacti and succulents. Top dressing is done 3 weeks after transplantation.

Breeding : Stem cuttings from 2-3 segments, little dried.

Transplant : Transplant later flowering, at the end of winter, annually. The root system is superficial, so the pot must be wide, but not deep at all.

Pests : It is affected by scarlet spider mite (in a dry atmosphere, leaves and stems are braided with cobwebs), scabbards (brown plaques appear on the leaves and stems, leaving sticky excretions).

With a slight infection, the plant is allowed to help finish with a soap solution and a warm wash.

In case of severe damage, spraying with an insecticide solution is recommended.

Schlumberger (zigokaktus) / schlumbergera (zygocactus)