We'll tell you about the Decembrist flower and how to care for it at home. It can be grown both indoors and as a flower for the dacha.
Its unique feature is that it's a type of cactus, though it lacks a single needle. With proper care, it will bloom beautifully and delight the eyes of those around it. Although it's said that the Christmas cactus is easy to care for, it's still worth learning the specifics that will help it stay beautiful and healthy, allowing you to enjoy its unusual blooms.
The Christmas cactus's unique feature is that in a favorable environment, it begins to grow very quickly, filling as much space as possible to prevent competitors from growing in. However, in its pot, there are no competitors; it simply becomes lush, large, and beautiful. If properly cared for, the plant can grow for over 20 years and reach large sizes, while its trunk begins to become woody and unattractive. However, because the Christmas cactus is not particularly fussy and can bloom during the cold season, it has become quite popular for decorating indoor rooms, loggias, and balconies.
Features of flower care
The first step is to find the right location for this flower, as it dislikes direct sunlight, which can be detrimental to its leaves. It's best to find a shaded spot with diffused light, as it naturally grows in tropical forests where there's no open space. Therefore, it's advisable to maintain this condition. If placing the pot on a non-sunny side isn't possible, then it's worth creating artificial shade—simply cover the window with a curtain or film to prevent direct sunlight from reaching the plant.
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In summer, move the pot into the garden and place it under trees so that the dense canopy provides natural shade. Temperature isn't a factor for the Decembrist, so it can easily tolerate both hot and cold weather. The optimal temperature for comfortable growth is generally between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.
To understand the Christmas cactus flower and how to care for it at home, it's important to follow proper watering guidelines. Watering should be done when the topsoil is dry and there's no water in the planter. Because Christmas cactus doesn't tolerate dampness, it begins to deteriorate and can even die completely. Watering should be done slightly more frequently during warmer months, but less frequently during colder periods to avoid overwatering, which will cause the plant to become diseased and prevent it from blooming. It's best to find a location in the house with optimal humidity, as this also affects the plant's normal growth and flowering.
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Proper and timely pruning is crucial, as this allows the plant to bloom more profusely. It's best to begin pruning in the first month of summer, but don't use a knife—it can easily be done by hand. Twist off the leaves where they meet, shaping them into the desired shape. After this, the Decembrist will be a neat and beautiful addition to your windowsill. Before trimming, inspect the plant for any curved or defective leaves, as these are the ones you should remove—they won't help the Decembrist develop a healthy crown.
How can a plant be propagated?
If you want to propagate a Christmas cactus, you should wait until it has finished blooming but hasn't yet formed new buds. This is the optimal time. Choose a soil mixture that contains several types of soil—sand, turf, leaf mold, and peat. All this will promote normal growth and allow the plant to bloom. To properly propagate the plant, break off a cutting from the plant and let it sit for 24 hours to allow a thin film to form around the cutting. Leave a few leaves on the cutting to increase its chance of rooting. Place the cutting in a pot filled with sand until it sprouts, then repot it in well-drained soil.
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How to wake up a Decembrist?
The Christmas cactus flower (we'll provide photos and instructions for caring for it at home) looks beautiful and vibrant, but it's not always possible to see such a result at home. This isn't surprising, as the Christmas cactus is a rather lazy plant that requires a good shake-up. This can be done quite easily; you just need to follow a few rules:
— in October, the plant needs to be placed in a dark and cool place;
- carry out minimal watering;
— do not add any fertilizers or minerals to the plant’s soil during this period.
You need to keep the plant in this mode for two months, and then do the opposite:
- move to a warm and sunny place;
— periodically turn the plant so that each leaf receives an optimal dose of sunlight;
- water more often and fertilize the soil.
In this case, the plant will bloom beautifully and will be able to delight all the inhabitants of the house with its bright flowers or serve flower for the dachaOnce the Christmas cactus has begun to bloom, it should not be moved or relocated, as it is particularly vulnerable at this stage and requires additional care—frequent misting with warm water and thorough watering as the soil dries. This will allow it to produce more new buds, which will then all open together.
Reviews of the Decembrist flower and how to care for it at home are quite positive, as any homeowner can provide proper care for the plant without much effort.
Care for your Decembrist properly, and it will delight you throughout the winter with beautiful, colorful flowers; it will be a beautiful and unusual decoration for your windowsill.