Novice gardeners may be surprised to find that there are many strange and mysterious plants. For example, there is a cactus that does not have needles and does not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight. In addition, he loves plentiful watering and good top dressing. Popularly, this plant is known as the Decembrist, and scientifically it is called Schlumberger. In this review, we will consider in detail what a Decembrist flower is, how to propagate this plant at home.
Growing Features
So what is the feature? It should be noted that zigocactus is not similar to most houseplants, which are usually grown on window sills. The thing is that the vegetative period of this plant begins just when the rest of the crops rest before the onset of spring, namely in winter. If you want to enjoy the beautiful flowers of the Decembrist on New Year's Eve, then you will definitely need to know about how it grows at home.
The main methods of reproduction
Let's dwell on this in more detail. In total, there are two simple methods for the propagation of Decembrists. Both of them do not require certain theoretical knowledge and practical skills. To grow these plants does not require special soil from African deserts, special clay or pots. If you used to grow indoor plants on the windowsill, then you will not have any problems with the Decembrist.
There are two main options for propagating such an unpretentious plant:
- Cherenkovanie - the most simple and affordable method of reproduction;
- vaccination is a more complicated method.
For the first time, you need to select the most affordable and easy ways. This will help to quickly achieve the desired result.
The easiest way
How to propagate a Decembrist flower? What you need to know about this? If you believe the reviews of experienced gardeners, then the simplest method of propagating Decembrist at home is cuttings. This process in itself is quite easy, although it takes a lot of time. But if you have nowhere to rush, you can safely begin this work. With this method of planting, Decembrists will delight you with their flowering every year. The life span of the plant is incredibly long - it can reach from 30 to 50 years.
Cherenkov method
So, let's figure out how to propagate a Decembrist indoor flower. It should be understood that cactus will have to be grown in a special way. If you have previously been breeding such varieties, then there should not be any problems. However, there are some peculiarities that must be taken into account before preparing the shoots.
When is it better to cut?
This aspect should be given special significance. How to propagate Decembrist at home? Due to the rather specific flowering time of this plant, many beginning gardeners have a completely logical question: when is it better to separate the cuttings from it? In fact, the Decembrist is unpretentious. It is a very hardy and tenacious flower. Therefore, it is realistic to cut it at any time of the year. Strong shoots from the shoots can be grown in March, and in July, and in February, and in April. It doesn’t matter how the plant propagates, what the weather will be outside at this time. Many flower growers prefer to simply pinch off the branches of the plant, knowing that in any case it will be perfectly rooted.
But still, experts give some recommendations on how to propagate the Decembrist flower at home. In their opinion, the best time would be from April to May. It is then that the growing season of the old plant ends.
How to choose the right stalk?
So what do you need to know about this? Of great importance in the question of how to properly propagate the Decembrist is the choice of cuttings. It is important to choose a sprout that will show the best viability. To do this, it is not necessary to have a doctorate in botany. This is a very simple matter. As a stalk, you can use any shoot that consists of three segments. Carefully inspect the plant and choose the one that looks the most healthy and strong. It is also good if he will have air roots. They are useful for subsequent rooting.
If you want to get a magnificent and beautiful Decembrist bush, then it is worth picking several cuttings at once. It would also be nice to rejuvenate the mother plant a little. In this case, you should choose sprouts from the most dense places of the crown. Most likely, in that place he will start fresh and new shoots, which, in turn, will bloom over time.
How to cut the cuttings?
What needs to be done to get a beautiful and magnificent flower Decembrist? How to propagate this plant by cuttings? To prepare an escape for landing, do not use sharp cutting objects. The knife and blade can only spoil the planting material. Before planting, the cuttings of the Decembrist should be taken with your fingers, pressed a little, and then twisted around its axis until they come off. The main thing is to act carefully and slowly so as not to damage the culture itself and the stalk. Try to hold the mother flower with your other hand. Break off the cuttings in such a way that no wounds remain on the plant trunk. If the damage was not done, you will need to cover them with potting soil or charcoal.
Preparation of cuttings in soil and water
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. The shoots received from the mother plant should be slightly dried before further manipulations. There is another way - cuttings are dipped for a while in the liquid. This option is simple in itself, since the shoot needs only to be placed in a glass with soft and clear water. The main thing is to ensure that the liquid does not contain a large amount of chlorine, otherwise the plant will die. This method of growing is considered longer, because you have to wait a while until the plant has a branched root system. At the same time, water will need to be added, but not changed. Also try to ensure that the roots do not begin to rot. This can ruin all plans.
If you are going to plant the culture in the ground, then first it should be put in a container and left in a dry, dark place. As a result, a transparent film should appear on the shoot detachment area. She shows that the plant is ready for transplanting.
Planting soil
This aspect should be given special significance. How to propagate Decembrist at home? Much here depends on the chosen soil. You can, of course, just go to the flower shop and purchase special soil for growing cacti. So you will have the opportunity to choose the material with optimal acidity - from 5.0 to 6.5 pH. Soil can be prepared independently. This will save money. To do this, just take the following components:
- high-quality sheet earth - six parts;
- humus land - four parts;
- sand - two parts;
- peat - two parts;
- good turf land is one piece.
Florists with extensive experience recommend growing Decembrists in pure peat, but from a scientific point of view this is only partially true. Soil enriched with peat will benefit the Decembrist. In it, he will grow well and take root. However, over time, this soil loses its nutritional properties. The plant and water actually suck out all the useful trace elements from it. Therefore, for the planting of zigocactus, it is better to limit yourself to using a soil mixture.
When planting the cuttings, it is also important to remember good drainage. Expanded clay should be put at the bottom of the pot in which the flower will grow. Also make sure that the soil is light and breathable.
Further care
Now you know how to propagate the Decembrist flower at home. Plant health will subsequently depend on proper care. After planting, make sure that the cuttings are well rooted. Small containers are best suited as containers for young shoots of culture. The Decembrist will be uncomfortable in a large spacious pot. At first, a young plant is best kept in partial shade. The temperature should be about 12-15 degrees, you can slightly higher. The main thing is that it does not exceed 20 degrees.
In order for the flower to take root well, you can make additional shelter from polyethylene or a plastic cover. The coating should not touch the plant. The Decembrist with this method of cultivation should be aired every day. The final rooting will occur only after 3-4 weeks. After new young leaves appear on the shoot, it can be transplanted into the main pot, where it will constantly grow.
Scion method
What is its feature? As mentioned earlier, there are two main methods of how to propagate a Decembrist flower. We examined in detail the cuttings. There is also a vaccination method. However, this option is not suitable for a beginner, since it is rather complicated. For experienced gardeners, the graft will not cause any special difficulties. For vaccination you will need a plant on which the Decembrist will sit down. Usually, prickly pear or prickly perennial is used for this purpose . The upper part of the plant is completely cut and cleaned of leaves. It will also need to be slightly split at the top. For the scion you will need a small process of the Decembrist. The lower part of the handle is sharpened slightly with a knife, and then placed in the prepared slot. For final fixation, a needle is put in place of the joint and lightly wrapped with a band-aid.
Scion usually takes two to four weeks. While the plant will adapt to new conditions, it is important to maintain a temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius. It will be possible to remove the needle and the patch only after the plant launches new shoots. Be sure to remove from the culture on which you plant all the side leaves. Only in this way will she be able to provide the stalk grafted with you with necessary nutrients. This method does not always allow you to get a good result, since it is quite difficult to propagate the Decembrist flower by the scion method.
Conclusion
In this review, we examined in detail how to propagate Decembrist at home with leaves and cuttings. The recommendations given in the article will allow you to get a magnificent and abundant flowering of Decembrist in the first winter after planting.