Holiday rozhdestvennik (Zigokaktus)

Holiday rozhdestvennik or Zigokaktus, care, photo and description

Holiday rozhdestvennik or Zigokaktus, care, photo and description

Zigokaktus, rozhdestvennik, Decembrist, Schlumberger – all the name of the same well-known to all plants that bloom at Christmas. This is representative of epiphytic cactus living in the rainforests of Brazil.

This bush of medium length with a long and wide shoots. Branches are at the edges of the teeth, in the winter the plant begins to bloom: there are beautiful large flowers in white, red or pink. Usually the flowering period falls on the Christmas holidays, which is why the name of the domestic Schlumberger – rozhdestvennik or Decembrists. This is an unusual time for flowering is associated with the period of flowering in their homeland. In Brazil, at that time the height of summer.

Zigokaktus belongs to the genus Schlumberger (Schlumbergera), this unusual cactus that does not have thorns and grows on trees. Externally very similar to Zigokaktus rhipsalidopsis, the main difference is in bloom.

Rhipsalidopsis or “paskhalnik” blooms in spring, and Zigokaktus – winter. Flower shape also differs significantly: the petals in a flower rozhdestvennika have a rounded shape, and paskhalnika star-shaped with sharp edges.

Species Zigokaktus there are so many, they are easy to hybridize with each other and create a lot of new hybrids. Some species can bloom for months. Many beautiful flowers adorn the whole bush, and bright color attracts attention. Red, white, pink, yellow with a lot of shades of flowers grow on the edges of the branches.

First, Zigokaktus grown only as a basket plant in hanging pots, but there were new ornamental species over time (dwarf, erect, and others)

Rozhdestvennik may long to please their owners (under 20 years). The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, undemanding, easy to care for.

Caring for Schlumberger

Placing rozhdestvennik need in a room where a lot of light or outdoors, but most importantly away from direct solar radiation. The fact is that in their home in the tropical forests of Brazil Zigokaktus accustomed to shady forests and lots of light.

Large temperature fluctuations rozhdestvennik suffers heavily. In summer the plant can be left on the balcony or in the yard, and in the winter bring into the house. The optimum temperature for growth of 18-20 degrees Schlumberger. The minimum temperature that the plants can survive – 5 degrees above zero. In winter, the temperature in the apartment must not fall below 10 degrees.

The peculiarity of tropical plants is that a large amount of moisture they absorb from the air, so the air is necessary to additionally humidify indoors.

Watering should be implemented in the event that the soil has dried out sufficiently. Watering should be a lot, but can not fill. To excess moisture is not delayed and did not start rotting of the root system on the bottom of the pot must be installed drain from stones.

Transplant need an adult Zigokaktus, but be very careful with the fragile roots and branches. The pot must be chosen not deep but wide, beautifully decembrist will look in suspended pots.

In preparing the soil or purchase it is necessary to draw attention to the fact that the land is well pass the air and was nutritious.

Decembrist Blossoms very impressive: the entire bush dotted with flowers that bloom one after each other for a month. In our latitudes, the flowering period falls on the winter – December, January.

Propagate the plant can use the cuttings separated from the main shoots. Thereafter, they are dried a little and transplanted into another pot.

Pests little intimidating to Zigokaktus, but the plant may get sick. As a result of the fungus Fusarium can occur, or phytophthora. This often happens if Schlumberger branches damaged.

Leave a Reply