Contentsor white flowers. It is a zigokaktus - a plant of a sort of epiphytic cacti. In our country he is often called the Decembrist - by the time of flowering, or the Schlyumberger, and in European countries - the Christmas flower.
Description of the plant
In nature, zygocactus is found in the tropical forests of Brazil. There it grows on the branches of trees, like other epiphytes. Their root system is superficial, weak. The branches of Schlumberger are flat, segmented with notches along the edges. Spines this type of cacti does not have. The flowers are tubular, tiered, located at the ends of the stems. The color of the flowers is white, pink, light red. There are orange and light purple varieties.
The plant got into Europe two hundred years ago thanks to a botanist collector and quickly gained popularity due to the winter bloom that was so lush and so rare in the northern hemisphere.
How to properly care for the zygocactus
The plant is unpretentious, but for abundant flowering you need to follow a number of rules and know the periods of the life cycle in which care for them varies. There are four such periods:
- End of winter and spring. Rest timeDuring this period, the flower needs bright or diffused light, low temperature - + 12-15 ° C, moderate air humidity and rare glazes.
- Summer. The time of active growth. Dim light, high humidity, frequent watering and spraying. The temperature should be increased to + 17-22 ° C.
- Autumn. During the rest period, it is better to set the plant to the northeast or northwest window, again lower the air temperature to + 12-15 ° С, reduce watering and reduce humidity.
- Beginning and middle of winter. During the flowering period, the temperature should be raised to + 17-22 ° C, increase the humidity and watering.
During flowering spraying should be carried out carefully, not allowing water to enter the flowers. Move the flower to another place is undesirable.
How to Replant the Flower
Correctly Replant the zigokaktus at the end of winter, after it blooms.
Young plants are transplanted every year, adults a few years later.
When choosing a new pot for the Decembrist, stop at the wide and shallow one, as its roots develop not deep down, but in breadth.
The soil for it should be light, breathable, slightly acidic. Drainage is poured into the bottom of the pot at about a third the depth — brick dust, fine expanded clay. You can add charcoal powder. It will make the substrate even easier and decontaminate. Pour some fresh soil over the drainage, remove the plant with a small clod of earth, gently shake off the excess and place it in a new place. Roots need to gently straighten. Then a little bit of fresh earth is poured in and compacted. After landing, the Decembrist is watered and sprayed.
Observing the rules of caring for zygocactus at home can achieve the same heavy flowering as in the photo below: 
Heavily expanded Decembrist can be easily formed. Just pinch off excess shoots or shorten them, twisting segments with your hands. This should be done carefully.
A competently formed bush will be evenly illuminated, less sick with various rot and amicable bloom.
Reproduction Decembrist
At home, zigocactus is easily propagated by vegetative means. It is better to do this before the beginning of the period of active growth - in the late spring or early summer. To get the cuttings, you need to gently unscrew with one hand part of the stem with 2-3 segments, holding the rest of the other hand.
Cut a zigokaktus only with your hands, without the aid of scissors.
The resulting cuttings are dried for two or three days, then placed in a small container with wet sand, slightly buried. Planted stalk cover glass or film, creating a mini-greenhouse. Before the roots appear, seedlings are placed in a bright warm place, avoiding direct sunlight. Greenhouse with cuttings regularly air and moisten the sand. Rooted cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place.
Pay attention to the correct planting of zygocactus cuttings in the photo: 
Why the Decembrist does not bloom
At this time, he gains strength and lays flower buds. If the Decembrist did not pick up the buds by November, it means that there was too high a temperature or excessive watering during the rest period.
If you follow these simple rules for care, Zigocactus every winter will delight you with a festive scattering of flowers.
