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Decembrist: care and reproduction
“Decembrist” is a thornless cactus. Afraid of the sun’s rays and loves water. Popularly known as grandmother’s flower, zygocactus and schlumberger. “Decembrist” refers to epiphytic cacti.
Features of growing a winter cactus
It blooms in the cold season, mainly in December, for which it got its name.
The main care for “Decembrist” is abundant and timely watering
At the same time, “Decembrist” does not require much maintenance, and the reproduction of this beautiful plant occurs in a vegetative way. However, these are not all the qualities that distinguish it from other plants:
- Grandma’s flower can be grown in two ways: upright and ampelous.
- With proper care, the average life of a zygocactus is 17-18 years.
- In summer, grandmother’s flower must be kept outdoors, in the shade.
- To avoid the death of the offshoots, “Decembrist” must be allocated a place on the windowsill of the northern and western windows.
- You need to transplant the cactus before budding begins.
It is also worth noting that the plant does not tolerate heat well, so you need to know how to water Decembrist in cold weather and heat.
The basics of proper care for “Decembrist”
Experienced gardeners describe proper care with the following points:
- Abundant watering. The plant begins to ache due to lack of water. It is necessary to carry out this procedure with settled water at room temperature once a week.
- Maintaining moisture by spraying the cactus with water using a spray bottle.
- Do not leave the plant on the sunny side.
- Since spring, the cactus is fed with mineral fertilizers for indoor plants. It is worth knowing that the dose should be 2 times less than stated on the package. In the summer, “Decembrist” needs to be fed 2 times a month, and in the fall they stop feeding altogether.
- In early summer, if necessary, you can cut off excess shoots. It is better not to use sharp objects for this purpose, it is enough to carefully unscrew them.
- A cactus pot needs a low but wide one.
It is worth noting that every 5-6 years the cactus must be transplanted into a new pot. A slightly acidic soil with little drainage is ideal.
Reproduction of “Decembrist” at home
Reproduction of “Decembrist” occurs in a vegetative way. To do this is simple, following simple instructions.
- Unscrew 2-3 extreme links at the longest shoot.
- Dry the tear off, leaving the scion to dry in a cool place.
- Plant in a damp pot of soil.
- Cover with a glass jar for a greenhouse effect.
- Place the pot in the shade, ventilate the sprout daily.
The ideal rooting temperature is 17-20 degrees.
Applying your knowledge correctly, you can get a zygocactus that will delight the eye every winter. “Decembrist” looks especially beautiful with the ampel growing method.