Decembrist home flower (Shlumbergera buckleyi): care and cultivation

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Decembrist , or Shlumbergera Buckley (Shlumbergera buckleyi) , an epiphytic plant of the cactus family (Cactaceae) , a common indoor flower, characterized by beautiful long flowering in winter.

  • Family: cactus .
  • Homeland of the Decembrist flower: South America
  • Rhizome: the root system is weak, superficial.
  • Stem: flat segmented segments.
  • Leaves: absent.
  • Fruit: berry.
  • Reproductive capacity: propagated by cuttings and grafting.
  • Illumination: light penumbra or diffused light.
  • Watering: moderate, plentiful during flowering, limited during dormancy.
  • Content temperature: 18-30 °C.
  • Flowering time: December-January.

Description of the Decembrist flower

Decembrist flowers – epiphytic, or forest cacti , up to 30-40 cm high, naturally growing on the roots and trunks of tropical trees in the humid forests of Brazil. Their branched, hanging down flat green stems are divided into separate segments, similar to leaves, up to 6 cm long, with round protrusions along the edges.

Decembrist in the photo

Decembrist flowers are long-tubular, multi-tiered, almost symmetrical, with a spectacularly hanging bunch of long stamens, in nature they are pollinated by hummingbirds. Emerge from the alveoli at the tops of the shoots in the middle of summer, which on the South American continent corresponds to winter in the Northern Hemisphere. That is why the Decembrist home flower blooms with us in December, for which he got his name. Its natural color is red or white, but during cultivation numerous varieties of pink, white, yellow, purple, crimson shades have been created.

The root system of this type of cactus has a number of features due to their habitat in nature. Since in the upper tiers of the tropical forests of Brazil, in the homeland of the Decembrist flower, there is no significant layer of soil, its roots are weak, they quickly die under adverse conditions, but they also recover just as quickly. The plant is characterized by the presence of “search” roots, which, if necessary, develop into a full-fledged root system in a short time, as well as aerial roots that can capture moisture directly from the air.

Another characteristic feature of the Decembrist flower, which distinguishes it from other cacti, is the ability to grow rapidly, since in nature, once in a favorable environment, the bush seeks to occupy as much space as possible, preventing competitors from entering. This also explains its abundant flowering and fruiting, as well as the ease of vegetative propagation – stem segments take root almost instantly.

With good care, the Decembrist flower is very durable, it can grow up to 20 years, although with age the stems lose their decorative effect and become woody. It is grown in pots or as an ampelous form, in hanging planters. Abundant and long flowering in the coldest winter months, compact size and relative unpretentiousness make the plant very popular in indoor culture.

How to care for a Decembrist flower at home

In order for the plant to develop well and bloom regularly, it is necessary to create conditions close to natural for it. At home, these forest cacti live in a humid, warm atmosphere of tropical forests, in diffused light, covered by tree crowns, and at almost the same temperature. Therefore, unlike most succulents , Decembrist indoor flowers do not tolerate direct sunlight, dry air and temperature changes. In spring and summer, they feel great in partial shade, on the eastern and even northern windows, and it is better to transfer the flowering plant to the southern window, closed from direct sunlight with a thin curtain. To prevent asymmetrical shape of the bush, the pot can be rotated from time to time, providing uniform lighting. They do this only during the growth of shoots, a flowering plant, when moving and changing light conditions, can drop flowers and buds.

The intensity of watering depends on the season. During budding and flowering, it is plentiful, providing constant moisture to the earthy coma, then, from April to September, it is moderate, as the surface layer dries. Watered with settled water at room temperature, even in the hot summer months, cold water should not be used. During the dormant period, watering is sharply limited.

They start feeding the plant from March, once every 30 days, with flower mineral fertilizers, using half of the rate indicated on the package. The nitrogen content should be medium, high doses of this element cause root rot in all types of succulents. In the summer, during the active growth of the stems, top dressing is carried out every 2 weeks, from September until the beginning of budding, they are completely excluded.

Maintaining high humidity is an indispensable condition for quality care. Decembrist flowers are sprayed with warm soft water, or the pot is placed on a pallet with wet pebbles. It is useful to wash off the dust under a warm shower, covering it with an earthen film to prevent waterlogging of the roots. In autumn and winter, spraying is carried out with caution, however, excessive dryness of the air can lead to bud drop.

Pruning and transplanting a Decembrist flower

Pruning is another important element of care. Indoor Decembrist flowers, formed correctly, bloom more abundantly, have an attractive appearance and live longer. Pruning begins in June, it is done only by hand, without the use of a knife. Unscrew the growth points of the shoots, giving the bush the desired shape, remove or shorten the shoots directed inward, elongated, elongated or curved.

Decembrist flower transplantation is carried out after flowering, in the last days of February. The frequency for young specimens is 1 year, adults – 3-4 years. Large bushes can be transplanted every 4-5 years. Since the roots of the Decembrist are superficial, the pot for him should be wide and low, one-third filled with drainage. You can use a commercially available soil for cacti, or prepare a mixture yourself, for example, from turf, leaf soil and sand in proportions of 1: 2: 1, or leaf, turf soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 2. In any case, the substrate should be slightly acidic, for better water permeability, brick chips can be added to it, and a little crushed coal for disinfection.

Decembrist flower diseases

The Decembrist flower is rarely affected by pests and diseases. The main cause of diseases is usually care errors, especially waterlogging, which causes rotting of the roots and abscission of the segments. Of the pests, sometimes a spider mite attacks, for the fight against which special preparations are used ( Fitoverm , Actellik , etc.) or a mealybug, which is destroyed by insecticides.

Flowering and dormant periods

Spectacular and prolonged flowering in winter is the main advantage of the Decembrist flower. How to care for it to encourage annual budding and flowering? The answer is simple – it is necessary to create conditions for a full period of rest. If the temperature is above 23 ° C in autumn, increased growth of shoots begins, and buds do not form. Their active laying takes place at 17-20 ° C and a short daylight hours, inherent in the autumn months. Note that a lower temperature, from 10 to 15 ° C, leads to the formation of buds at any light day, which can be successfully used for forcing by a predetermined date. Below 10 °C flower buds are not formed.

The dormant period lasts about 2 months, during this time the plant is not fed and hardly watered. It is transferred to heat only after the appearance of buds, immediately placing it in a permanent place, any rearrangements and turns can provoke the fall of flowers and buds. The bush is provided with a temperature of about 20-22 ° C during the day and 15-20 ° C at night, they protect it from direct sun, they begin to water it intensively. After the end of flowering, a dormant period again begins with low (10-15 ° C) temperatures and limited watering. At the end of winter, the plant starts to grow, if necessary, it is transplanted into fresh soil, transferred to a warm room with a temperature of 18 – 25 ° C, regularly watered and fed. Compliance with these recommendations will allow the Decembrist to bloom annually and provide its decorative appearance for many years.

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