How to propagate Decembrist at home: using cuttings and a leaf in water

Flowers

During winter, when all flowers are dormant, windowsills are graced by blooming Christmas cacti. This plant has an attractive appearance and beautiful, vibrant flowers. It is also often called a "cancer neck" due to its unusually shaped leaves.

Few people know that the Christmas cactus belongs to the genus of epiphytic cacti, and is properly called Schlumbergera. However, caring for it is slightly different from caring for prickly plants. To ensure beautiful blooms indoors, it requires proper care. take proper care and propagate. The flower itself is a long-lived plant and can live for more than 20 years.

Features of indoor Decembrist

The plant has a short, woody stem and segmented leaves consisting of elongated sections with wavy or serrated edges, as well as fleshy, bright green leaves. The flowers are funnel-shaped and come in a variety of colors. Buds form at the ends of the segmented leaves.

The Decembrist cactus is native to South America, where it blooms in summer. Hybrids of this species are grown indoors, beginning to bloom in mid-December and, if all recommendations are followed, can bloom twice a year. Furthermore, more and more hybrids with bicolored buds are appearing each year. The plant itself is quite large and reaches a considerable height. In its natural habitat, the flower grows on trees, so its leaves and flowers point downward.

The Christmas cactus has three subspecies: Schlumbergera truncatum, Gaertneri, and Buckleyi. The truncatum is distinguished by its long, segmented leaves and flowers with outward-curved edges. The Gaertneri subspecies has bright orange buds with pointed petals. Schlumbergera buckleyi captivates with its purple blooms and segments with protruding edges.

Propagation of Decembrist by cuttings at home

There are several ways to propagate the Decembrist:

cuttings;
seeds;
by grafting parts onto a plant.

You can use either method, but the first one is considered the simplest. Even beginners can use this method.

Preparing cuttings for propagation, rooting

Once the shoot has been selected, gently pinch it off with your hands and twist it using a circular motion. Hold it with your other hand to avoid damaging it. It is strongly recommended not to cut the cutting with scissors or a knife, as it can easily be damaged.

The resulting young plant is placed in a dry, dark place. This is necessary to allow a film to form on the spot where the baby plant was removed. The appearance of the film indicates the Decembrist is ready for planting. Additionally, it can be sprinkled with crushed charcoal to prevent the entry of microorganisms.

Rooting is done in water or a substrate. To do this, the cutting is planted in a small container with soil, half-immersed. The cuttings are covered with a cup or bag and grown on a windowsill until rooting occurs. After about a month, the plant will have rooted, and it can be transplanted to its permanent container when it has three to four large leaves.

Planting cuttings in the ground

Before planting, make sure the soil is prepared. You can buy ready-made soil at the store. Choose soil for cacti with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

However, you can prepare the soil yourself. You'll need turf, peat, sand, humus, and leaf mold in a ratio of 1:2:2:4:6. Some gardeners grow plants exclusively in peat, as it accelerates the growth and flowering of Christmas cactus. It's crucial that the soil be well-aerated and light. The planting pot should also have drainage holes.

Once the soil has been prepared, you need to select a planting container. It should be small, as the plant has a simple root system, and a pot that is too large can promote root rot.

Place a thick layer of drainage material at the bottom of the container, then cover it with potting soil. Make a small hole in the drainage material and plant the young plant. If you've taken several cuttings, make several holes as well. If you don't have a permanent pot yet, you can plant the cuttings in cups or jars temporarily.

Growing in water

Decembrist cacti can also be propagated by cuttings, which are grown in water rather than in the substrate. To do this, fill a container with warm water and immerse the cuttings only halfway. Over time, the water evaporates, so it needs to be topped up periodically.

Some gardeners note that the water may turn yellow and contain sediment over time. This means the water has deteriorated and needs to be changed. To do this, pour out the liquid, wash the container, and gently rinse the young plant before immersing it in the water again.

After a few weeks, the Christmas cactus begins to root, and thin white roots appear on its stem. This is when it can be transplanted into the substrate in its permanent location.

Features of reproduction of Decembrist by leaf

First, it's important to determine the propagation time. The most favorable times are considered to be early April and late May, when the plant has finished blooming and is dormant. However, experts say that the flower can be propagated by leaf at any time of year, and it will grow just as well. It's important to ensure this occurs after flowering, so that repotting doesn't affect the adult Decembrist.

After this, it's time to consider the choice of cutting. An ideal cutting should be free of any damage, not wilted, and composed of at least three parts. For this purpose, select a cutting with roots already present. To obtain a larger plant in the future, several cuttings are necessary. Experienced gardeners also recommend selecting cuttings from areas where they are actively growing, as more cuttings will emerge in their place.

Advice!

It is best to select babies at the base of the stem of the mother flower, as this will cause the least harm.

After the cutting is separated, it is necessary to sprinkle the place of separation on the mother plant with charcoal in order to prevent the entry of microorganisms.

Other methods for propagating houseplants at home

In addition to cuttings, propagation by seeds and grafting are also used. These methods are rarely used, as they are quite complex and beyond the capabilities of some gardeners.

Seeds

Seed propagation is primarily used to preserve a pure plant culture, but it's quite labor-intensive indoors. The most labor-intensive part is collecting the seeds themselves. Since seeds are formed through pollination, several identical plants must be present in the room for pollination to occur.

A small capsule forms where the flower once stood, containing the seeds. They take about six months to mature, after which they can be used for sowing. After collecting the seeds, they are washed in potassium permanganate and allowed to dry. They are sown in a small container with the substrate in a linear pattern. After the seeds germinate, they can be transplanted into a permanent pot. Young plants need to be pruned every three months.

Graft

To graft, you need to select the plant to be grafted. This could be a prickly pear or a prickly pereskia. Cut off the top 10-15 cm of the selected plant's stem and remove any leaves. Then, make a shallow, diagonal cut on the top of the stem.

On the Christmas cactus, a leaf is selected from several parts. The lower part is slightly narrowed with a knife and inserted into the previously cut stem. The grafting site must be supported with a needle and secured with adhesive tape. The grafting takes place several weeks later.

For this, it's crucial to ensure the plant's room temperature remains at 18-20 degrees Celsius. Once the flower begins to grow vigorously, the bandage can be removed to allow the plant sufficient strength. This grafted Christmas cactus will bloom this coming winter.

Caring for a young Decembrist at home

To ensure the flower enjoys its beauty, it needs plenty of light, moisture, and warmth. Since the Christmas cactus is inactive during warm weather, it can be placed on a north-facing window. In winter, it should be placed on a south-facing window where it receives more light. Experts recommend moving the cactus monthly, exposing it to different sides of the light to ensure even growth.

Watering should be regular, increasing during the flowering period. Only warm, filtered water should be used, as cold running water can cause root rot. Fertilize monthly during the flowering period and twice during the dormant period.

To maintain high moisture levels, spray the Decembrist with warm water and shower it every 7-10 days. When showering, cover the soil to prevent root rot.

Potential growing problems and solutions

Immediately after repotting, a young Christmas cactus may experience some growth problems. The most common is wilting of the entire flower. This is most often due to a disease that may have developed when the cutting was separated from the mother plant. It can also be caused by root rot, which often occurs due to overwatering and improperly selected soil.

Stem loosening can be caused by watering with cold running water and overfertilizing. To resolve this issue, remove the plant from the pot, trim off the damaged areas, and replant in new soil. If the entire root system is destroyed, take cuttings for propagation.

Gardeners often complain that Christmas cacti aren't blooming. This can be due not only to inadequate care but also to the onset of dormancy. This occurs when the plant doesn't have time to rest before bud formation. During the dormancy period, which lasts from September to early winter, stop watering and fertilizing, and move the pot to a cool, dark place. In late fall, return the pot to a warm location and gradually resume all care.

Many gardeners, especially beginners, may be alarmed by the sudden leaf drop of their Christmas cactus due to mite infestation (insecticides are used for treatment). Leaf drop can also be caused by the plant being exposed to drafts, sudden temperature fluctuations, dry air, or insufficient fertilization. In such cases, it is crucial to determine the cause of the problem and address it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to propagate Decembrist by cuttings?

Reproduction can be carried out at any time of the year, but the end of spring is considered the most favorable.

What size should the cutting be?

On average, a cutting should consist of 2-4 parts.

What kind of soil mixture is suitable for the plant?

To prepare the soil, use turf, humus, leaf mold, peat, and sand. The soil should also be permeable to water and air.

How long does it take for a rooted flower to bloom?

Flowering of a young plant can be achieved after 3-4 months.

What diseases and pests can affect the flower?

The most common pests affecting Christmas cacti are spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Bacterial and fungal diseases are also common due to inadequate or improper care.

The Christmas cactus is an unusual flower that delights with its blooms in winter. Propagating this plant is easy. Cuttings are the most common method, accessible even to novice gardeners.