We will not be mistaken if we say that most indoor plants are dormant in winter and complement the overall picture of nature’s rest during this period. Fortunately, the Decembrist flower is a happy exception to the rule. But you also need to be able to care for him.
The real name of this plant, as well as the genus of the same name, is Schlumbergera. And Decembrist belongs to the Cactus family, and is an epiphytic form, and some species even belong to succulents. That is why the opinion that this crop can survive without water and fertilizing for a long time has good reason.
However, the fact that Decembrist belongs to epiphytes and cacti does not mean that you can stop caring for the plant altogether, and it will continue to bloom annually and for a long time. Without proper care, flowering may not occur. Moreover, this culture blooms at a strictly defined time. This is why it got its name, which in our latitudes has even become more popular than the biological one.
There are also several other, less common names for the Decembrist flower. Among them are “Christmas cactus”, “December”, “Rozhdestvennik”. Decembrist received its biological name thanks to the French botanist Frederic Schlumberger, who once grafted the plant onto a classic prickly cactus called Pereskia spinosa. As a result, the Decembrist not only did not die, but also bloomed magnificently - this was how the epiphyte was proven to belong specifically to the Cactus family, and the genus is often found in the literature under the name Zygocactus. By the way, in its historical homeland, the Decembrist is considered a plant symbol of the New Year.
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The timing of flowering for different species of the Schlumbergera genus may vary - therefore, it is better to check information about exactly when a particular plant will bloom by looking at the accompanying tag, or check with the seller. But most often the plant blooms in the cold season.
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The main and most reliable sign associated with the Decembrist flower is that by its bloom you can track weather changes. Thus, the appearance of buds on the Decembrist usually foreshadows the imminent onset of frost. If the plant suddenly dropped its buds, and the care conditions were not violated, then with a high degree of probability we can say that warming is coming outside the window.
Basic growing rules
Christmas tree is an epiphytic cactus, which in most cases prefers to develop on another plant, using the juice from its bark as moisture. In the wild, it grows on trees, but at home it can be grown in pots filled with a suitable substrate that ensures rapid drainage of water.
Important! Rozhdestvennik is one of those plants that it is better not to disturb during the budding period.
Unless absolutely necessary, you should not even turn the pot , otherwise the formation of flowers may stop, and they will no longer be as beautiful as they should be.
The basic rules for growing such an unusual plant include the following requirements:
- the lighting should be bright and diffused, which can be achieved by placing pots on east or west windows (when growing on the south side, the windows will have to be shaded in the afternoon);
- temperature indicators within the range of +18...+40°C, not forgetting that the most comfortable temperature in summer will be in the range of +18...+22°C, and in winter - +14...+16°C;
- the ideal air humidity for the plant is 75% or higher, which is achieved by regularly spraying the Christmas tree with a spray bottle (in summer - 1-2 times a week, and in winter - once a month);
- soil fertilization is carried out only from March to September, but at this time the frequency of fertilizing should not be less than once every two weeks (fertilizers for zygocacti are suitable for the role of nutritional composition);
- transplantation is carried out depending on the age of the plant: young Decembrists can change their “place of residence” once every three years, adults - no more than once every 5-6 years;
- the crown of the plant only needs to be partially formed: excess shoots can be pinched off by hand;
- in the fight against pests and diseases, it is worth paying attention to drugs against scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, late blight, phytium, fusarium, since it is from them that the plant suffers most often.
Fresh air is no less important for this cactus, so in the summer it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room or even take the pot out to the balcony.
Ripsalidopsis and Schlumbergera or does Decembrist bloom in spring
Sometimes Decembrist owners claim that their pet blooms in March-April, showing photographs as evidence. If you look closely at the plant in the image, it most often turns out that instead of Schlumbergera, another epiphytic cactus, Ripsalidopsis, which looks very much like Decembrist, has bloomed its bright red flowers in the pot. It is also called the Easter star, since the peak of its flowering is observed in April.
Although even among the Decembrists you can now find more than one variety. As a rule, the following flowers bloom on our windowsills:
- Schlumbergera truncated (truncatus) and
- Another hybrid is Schlumbergera bucklei.
Take a look at the photo, it is noticeable that the plants differ in the shape of the stem segments. In ripsalidopsis their edges are smoothed and rounded, in S. buckleya they are more pronounced, and in S. truncata they are sharply jagged.
And in this photo we note the difference not only in the appearance of the segments, but also in the structure of the flower.
On the left is ripsalidopsis, in the center is Sh. truncated, on the right is Sh. boucleia.
If in both species of Schlumbergera there is bilateral symmetry of the flower, it is slightly truncated, then in Ripsalidopsis the inflorescence is radially symmetrical and has the appearance of a pointed star.
Summarizing what has been said, we can draw the following conclusion: in November – January, Schlumbergera bouclei (the so-called “grandmother’s Decembrist”) blooms, in December-February it passes the baton to Schlumbergera truncated, and in the spring we admire the flowering of ripsalidopsis.
| Rhipsalidopsis |
Someone will object: how can we evaluate the flowering of zygocacti, which we see in garden centers throughout the year, including at the height of summer? It’s very simple: this is the result of modern equipment in greenhouses, in which you can create any conditions for forcing and lush flowering at the right time of year.
How to determine the Decembrist's need for water
When growing Decembrist, do not forget that it is a cactus, which means it perfectly accumulates moisture in its tissues. At the same time, there are a number of signs of excessive consumption of these reserves, which indicate the need for watering.
The most notable of them include:
- the formation of additional aerial roots, with the help of which the Decembrist absorbs moisture from the environment;
- drying out of the soil in the pot by more than 3–4 cm during the flowering period and up to half the volume of the container during the dormant period;
- the appearance of wrinkles on the stems;
- paleness and thinning of the leaves of the flower (characteristic of a systematic lack of moisture in the substrate).
If you are faced with all these manifestations, and there is confidence in a long-term and systematic moisture deficit, then a single watering will not be enough. The best results will be obtained by adding liquid in small doses, but over a longer period of time: for example, 5-6 times over two days.
Find out how to water geraniums correctly and with what for abundant flowering at home.
Is it possible to keep a Christmas tree at home?
Good omens The flower loves children very much, protects them from the negativity of the environment, and helps them develop spiritually. A very good omen is the flowering of the Decembrist in late autumn and winter: ... Christmas tree
(at his usual time) means that everything is fine in the family and
home
, there is no need to worry about anything.
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What water to use
Tap water is not the best solution for watering Christmas trees, since they are very sensitive to the temperature of the liquid and its composition. In this case, it is advisable to prepare rain, melt or well-filtered water that will not form sediment on the walls or bottom of the pot. In extreme cases, you can use tap water, but only after settling for several days.
For organic nutrition with the addition of fertilizers, settled aquarium water and mineral supplements are ideal. In any case, the liquid temperature should be within +22…+25°C, since at lower values it will not be possible to avoid rotting of the Christmas tree root system.
How to properly water a plant at home
The regularity and abundance of watering Decembrist when grown at home depends on several factors - first of all, the season of the year and the stage of development of the cactus. Let's consider the requirements for each period.
Did you know? From an astrological point of view, Christmas Day combines the energy of two planets - Mercury and the Moon, which should awaken in people kindness and a desire to care for their neighbors. That is why the plant is recommended to be placed in the houses of dictators, egoists and people prone to unexpected bursts of rage and rudeness.
Depending on the season
As you know, the flowering period of the Christmas tree occurs precisely in the winter months, so it is not surprising that it is at this time that it is often required to water and feed it. The period of appearance of buds, which should not be exposed to liquid, deserves special attention.
Water for winter irrigation must be infused or even boiled, especially if it contains a large amount of lime impurities. Hard water cannot be used, otherwise it will be very difficult to prevent rotting of the root system.
In winter, it is advisable to water the Christmas tree at the same time, without changing its usual growing conditions: you should not move the pot to another window sill, much less move it deeper into the room. The regularity of watering from late autumn to early February is approximately once every 1–2 weeks, but it all depends on the drying out of the soil and other signs of lack of moisture.
How to combine fertilizers and watering
Like any other plant, Decembrist needs a sufficient amount of nutrients, which must be added to the soil during the growing season: from the end of May to September. At this time, you can use half the usual dose of cactus fertilizer with a small amount of nitrogen and a significant content of phosphorus and potassium. The regularity of fertilizing in the summer is 1–2 times a month.
With the arrival of autumn, special formulations for flowering plants will be a more useful option, but it is recommended to apply them to the soil no more than 2 times during the entire autumn period. Some gardeners generally do not recommend feeding the Christmas tree just before flowering, but this option is only possible if before September the plant has already received enough potassium and phosphorus necessary to strengthen the buds.
After using the selected nutritional composition, the flower must be watered, which will facilitate rapid transport to the roots and better absorption of all nutrients.
Find out what and how to feed indoor plants at home.
In some cases, mineral fertilizers must first be dissolved in water, which must be indicated on the packaging: in such a situation, additional watering is no longer required.
Signs of improper watering
The root system of the Christmas tree is very susceptible to any negative influences of the external environment, so if there is an excess of moisture, the usual appearance of the flower may change. The main violations in the irrigation process are the use of cold water, excessive amounts of liquid applied at low temperatures and the use of high concentrations of soluble fertilizers.
All this leads to disturbances in the normal development of the Decembrist and is expressed in the following symptoms:
- wilting, sometimes yellowing of leaves;
- the tarnish is usually bright green in color;
- falling of buds and ovaries;
- blackening of the above-ground part of the trunk and its softening.
If you take such a plant out of a pot, you will notice rotten areas on the roots. In case of slight damage to the rhizome, replanting the Christmas tree into new soil will help correct the situation (if using an old pot, it is better to disinfect it).
Description
Decembrist
grows in tropical forests where there is lush and dense vegetation. His homeland is Brazil. It is a unique tropical variety of cacti, which has significant differences from the standards in our usual understanding.
This plant has an original appearance. Its shoots are flat and completely free of thorns, which are so characteristic of ordinary cacti. Beautiful inflorescences are densely located on its branches. There are characteristic serrations along the edges of the leaves.
The trailing stems usually bear stunning flowers in shades of orange, pink, lilac, white, violet and red.
Its petals reach about 8 cm in length. The buds tend to open slowly, and for this reason the plant can please the eyes of its owners throughout the winter.
Interestingly, its sepals and petals are the same color. They have such a similar structure that it is almost impossible to distinguish them.
Useful care tips
High-quality watering is not the only thing you should pay attention to when caring for the Decembrist. In addition to this, there are several more important growing rules that will help even a novice gardener grow a healthy and strong Christmas tree that regularly delights with its flowering.
First of all, the list of recommendations should include:
- protection from pests, especially if the zygocactus spends some time outdoors (at the first signs of insect activity, the plant should be treated with any local insecticide, repeating the procedure after 6–7 days);
- control of soil moisture and the presence of water in the saucer, which may well cause rotting of the root system;
- combating late blight by re-growing plants from cuttings (if there are several flowers in the room, then an attempt to save one Decembrist may result in the problem spreading to other plants);
- reducing the amount of watering with a simultaneous increase in the frequency of fertilizing during the budding period;
- providing the plant with rest before and during budding (at this time you cannot take Decembrist shoots);
- extension of the flowering period by maintaining reduced temperatures in the room (not higher than +16…+18°C);
- the presence of optimal lighting, without exposing the plant to direct sunlight, which can leave burns on the leaves.
In general, caring for a Christmas tree is no more difficult than caring for other indoor plants, so absolutely everyone can grow Decembrist, and simple recommendations from experienced gardeners will help you avoid minor mistakes.
Common problems
*If you find brown spots on the leaves, the plant is affected by scale insects.
*If the plant stubbornly refuses to bloom, the room temperature is probably below 10 degrees.
*If Decembrist
dropped the upper segments of the shoots or the buds themselves - most likely the plant is experiencing drought or vice versa, waterlogging of the soil, as well as a change of location during the plant’s ovary. This can also happen if the plant is attacked by pests.
*If you find pale and sluggish shoots on a plant, then the likely cause is irregular watering, too much sun and pests.
*You saw light spots on the shoots of the plant - the plant is infected or there is an excess of light.
