Its name was received in honor of the famous collector of cacti, the Frenchman Frederic Schlumberger. The name zigokaktus (Latin Zygocactus K. Schum.) Comes from the Greek word "zigon", which translates as "rocker". The association with the yoke occurs when branching this epiphyte: the stems of the zigokaktusa branch always always in two.
To the Schlumberger family belong epiphytic cacti having joint shoots. At the tip of the shoots apical isals are located, from which appear long-tubular, red, often asymmetric flowers. This distinguishes the slumberberger from the blossoming Ripsalis. In the latter, the flowers are stellate or funnel-shaped, located along the entire length of the segment. Since the peculiarities of the structure of the flower determine belonging to the genus, and not the shape of the stem, the flower growers increasingly prefer to use the name Schlumberger (Sch. Truncata) in their everyday life.
Schlumberbergs are epiphytic plants, the home of which is Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, the whoremberger is distributed throughout the forests of the oceanic coast. It grows on trees, their roots, and blossoms during the southern summer. Therefore, in indoor conditions, plants prefer to bloom at a time when in South America summer, and in the northern hemisphere winter. Flowers and shapes are very diverse, and constantly replenished with new hybrids. Colors can be traditional (white and red) or vary in a wide range (salmon, red-orange, lavender, peach, yellow). Plants are grown both singly and in groups. Ampel forms can grow in hanging baskets.
Rules of care of a plant
Lighting. House flowers are well tolerated and bright scattered light, and penumbra. With a lack of daylight, you can observe a stunted appearance, slow growth and even yellowing of the stems along the edge, the so-called chlorosis. For a plentiful flowering, a whisker needs a lot of light. The plant grows well on the windows of the eastern, western and northern sides. It should be noted that on southern windows in especially hot hours it is necessary to pritenyat plant.
With regard to temperature, zygocactus is not fastidious. For good flowering, a temperature in the range of 16-18 ° C is recommended. During the period from August to September, the growth of the plant stops, and the kidneys are laid, therefore, it is desirable, at this time, to maintain the temperature 10-12 ° C, in no case lowering below 10 ° C. Low temperature stops the bookmark of flower buds. Plants with buds that have formed, which will blossom at the end of December, should be kept at 18-20 ° C. The flowering period can be artificially prolonged. To do this, lower the temperature during flowering. If you need to get a late flowering in January - February, the plant should be kept at 10 ° C. After flowering, the whistler has a rest period. Remember that in this period of time you should use a cool room with an air temperature of no higher than 10 ° C, water it seldom, but do not allow the substrate to dry out.
Watering. During flowering and in summer, the flowers of the whiskerberger should be watered abundantly. Since August, watering is reduced, and in October with the appearance of buds again increase. After flowering, the plant is rarely watered. It is necessary to use warm and soft water and to prevent neither drying out, nor overmoistening of the earth coma. Schlumberger requires high humidity. Periodically sprinkle it with warm water. And to increase the humidity, it is recommended to use a pallet filled with moist peat or pebbles. In the autumn-winter period at low temperatures of air it is necessary to spend sprays carefully. Remember that the dryness of the air provokes the plant dropping buds.
Top dressing. To fertilize the whores, they need to use mineral fertilizers, diluting them in half. Fertilizers containing nitrogen should be used cautiously: excess nitrogen is dangerous for succulents, as it leads to decay of plant roots. The optimum proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 9:18:24. During the flowering period, the breadwinner needs to be fed 2 times a month, and during the rest period, the feeding should be stopped. Schlumberger prefers a breathable and light substrate, with a pH of 5-6. Its components are: soddy, deciduous and humus lands, sand and peat in the ratio 1: 6: 4: 2: 2. In depleted soil, the plant blooms weaker or does not bloom at all.
Transfer. To transplant these indoor flowers follows immediately after flowering. Young plants need to be transplanted once a year, adults - every 2-3 years, large plants - every 4-5 years. The ideal time for transplanting a cactus is a rest period. Remember that a belated transplant inhibits the formation and maturation of the segments, and the flowering next year depends on this. After the transferred transplant, provide a resting place to the travelers.
Reproduction. Schlumberger - flowers that are propagated with grafts and stem cuttings. The procedure for reproduction by stem cuttings is performed immediately after the flowering period. To do this, separate the stem from 3-4 segments, sprinkle the cut with charcoal, and dry it a little. Root is recommended in a moistened mixture of peat and sand. Inoculations should be performed in the summer. And the locigmerger is planted on the stalks of prickly pears or spiny thorns. First, in the transference, the branched apical part with the leaves should be removed, leaving the denuded stem. This stem needs to be split before the graft is fitted. As a scion, it is necessary to take a shoot with 2-3 segments, taper wedge and carefully insert it into the cleft on the stalk of the pereka. The graft should be secured with a thorn, a thorn or a needle and wrapped with a plaster. The container with the cuttings of the rootstock should not be covered. The growth occurs at 18-20 ° C for two weeks. Then the bandage should be removed and all leaves and shoots removed, which appeared below the level of vaccination. Schlumberger, grafted on pereskii, grows, acquiring the form of a tree with a rather magnificent crown. Plants grafted in April, can blossom in the same winter.
Features of care. Do not move and even rotate the cactus from the moment of budding and until the end of flowering, it will lead to the fall of the buds.