Decembrist flower: growing, planting and care at home, reproduction

Decembrist is a flower that belongs to the genus of cacti. It is native to the rainforests of southeastern Brazil. There, this culture grows at an altitude of 900-2800 meters above sea level. The culture came to European countries in 1816. It was brought in by collector Alan Cunningham. Today this flower is grown by many people. To get a strong and he althy plant, it is important to provide it with the right care.

Description of the plant

The Decembrist flower is a tropical epiphyte living on tree branches. Usually this culture grows in the form of a strongly branching shrub that has flat jointed shoots.

This plant is characterized by zygomorphic terminal flowers with a long tube. It can have any color - orange, white, red, pink or pale purple. The flowering of the Decembrists begins at the height of the tropical summer, which occurs in November or December. Moreover, this process ends at the end of January.

Initially, only 2 types of Decembrists became widespread - with white and red flowers. However, thanks to the efforts of breeders, their number has increased. Today, the most popular types of Decembrists include the following:

Rousseliana - this culture is characterized by lush flowering and has a tendency to branch. The size of the shoots reaches 1 meter. The tubular flowers resemble bells with long stamens.
Truncated is a sprawling shrub that is distinguished by long shoots of a light green hue. The flowers are characterized by a multi-tiered structure. They have pointed petals and a whole cascade of stamens. In this case, the color is different - from white to lilac.
Buckley - a shrub that does not exceed 40 centimeters in height and is distinguished by fleshy shoots of a dark green hue. The size of the flowers is 8 centimeters. At the same time, their shade depends on the variety.

Today, hundreds of Decembrist hybrids are known. They are combined in a series. At the same time, the differences between plants often concern only the shades and sizes of flowers. The crop growing conditions remain the same.

Growing conditions

In order for the cultivation of the Decembrist to be successful, it is important to provide him with suitable conditions:

Lighting - the flower does not tolerate direct sunlight. However, this does not mean that it can be kept in the dark. In order for the culture to develop normally, it needs diffused lighting. The pot is best placed on the east or north windowsill. In the summer, it can be taken out to the balcony or taken to the country.However, even in such conditions, the Decembrist needs a shadow.
Soil - the flower needs a loose substrate that passes moisture and air well. Experienced flower growers usually use a mixture of indoor plant substrate and coarse sand to grow a crop. These components must be mixed in equal parts. Also, peat must be added to the composition. As a useful top dressing, charcoal should be added to the container. It is recommended to place a drainage layer at the bottom.
Humidity - the Decembrist is of tropical origin, because he needs high humidity. Therefore, a container with a plant is often placed in the kitchen or in the bathroom. To maintain optimal water balance, you can use a humidifier. It is also recommended to spray the flower regularly.
Temperature - the flower does not perceive the effects of high temperature well. The optimal parameters for growing crops are + 15-25 degrees. Before flowering, they should be reduced to + 13-15 degrees.However, overcooling the flower is also not recommended. A prolonged decrease in temperature can lead to the death of the crop.

How to choose the right potty

To get a strong and he althy plant, it is recommended to choose the right planting container and nutrient substrate. The Decembrist has a compact root system, so it is necessary to give preference to low pots with a large diameter. In specialized stores, you should buy clay, plastic, ceramic containers. Be sure to ensure that the container has drainage holes.

Planting methods

It is necessary to plant a young plant in a new container in the spring. In this case, it is recommended to transfer the flower into a pot of a larger diameter. It is strictly forbidden to carry out the procedure during the flowering period. It is recommended that you do the following:

form a drainage layer;
partially fill a new container with soil;
transplant the crop along with a clod of earth;
plentifully water the soil.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionTo get a new plant, you can plant seed material and root shoots. It is also permissible to use small fragments of the stem, leaves and cuttings for propagation.

Sprout

Planting cuttings for a new crop is considered a long and painstaking process that should be done in late spring or early summer. It is recommended to do the following:

Select the desired segment on the shoot of the main crop.
Break the escape. It must contain aerial roots.
Finish the cut with charcoal.
Prepare the rootstock. For this, it is recommended to use pereskia vines or prickly pear stems.
Split the prepared stem.
Sharpen the bottom of the wedge-shaped shoot.
Fix the shoot into the split stem of the rootstock.
Fix the structure. This can be done with tape or string.

Experts advise to graft several shoots at once. This will make it possible to choose the most powerful and he althy shoot. It is permissible to remove the material that was used for fixation only after the shoot and scion have completely grown together.

Stem cut

For planting stem segments, it is recommended to do the following:

Choose an escape. It is important that the process does not have mechanical damage and does not show signs of disease.
Separate the selected fragment and place it in a container with clean water. It should have room temperature.
Systematically add the right amount of water and grow the root system.
After the roots get stronger, root the young plant.

To get a beautiful culture that has a lush crown, flower growers recommend planting several shoots in one container at once. It is important to consider that it is forbidden to use chlorinated water for irrigation, as this can cause the death of planting material.

Seeds

Growing a new crop by seed is considered a rather complicated method, which is usually used by breeders. To use this option at home, experts advise using ready-made planting material. Self-collected seeds are characterized by low germination and require special treatment.

In order for the planting material to germinate, it is recommended to follow these rules:

ensure the greenhouse effect;
observe the temperature regime;
systematically moisten the soil.

To propagate a flower, it is recommended to do the following:

Warm up the seed. It takes 2 days to do this.
Soak seeds in growth stimulator.
Decontaminate grains.
Choose a container for planting and nutrient substrate.
Disinfect the container.
Disinfect the soil.
Spread the seeds over the surface of the earth without sprinkling them with earth.
Moisten the surface of the soil. This should be done with a spray bottle.
Create a greenhouse effect. In this case, the container must be systematically ventilated.
Dive young seedlings. This should be done at the stage of formation of several leaves.

This growing method is time consuming. This process can take more than 7 months. At the same time, experts do not recommend using this method at home.

Leaves

This method of planting a Decembrist is considered not very popular. However, sometimes it is still used. To get good results, it is recommended to do the following:

Choose strong and he althy leaves.
Dry the cut. This must be done for several days. In this case, the leaves must be kept in a dark and cool place.
Prepare the container and substrate for planting.
Deepen the bottom of the sheet.
Create a greenhouse effect and systematically moisten the soil.
When a strong root system is formed, you can transplant the crop into a new pot.

Shank

Planting cuttings is considered the most popular Decembrist propagation method. It is best to do this in the spring. To do this, follow these steps:

Select planting material. There must be at least 4 segments on the handle.
Prepare a temporary pot and nutrient substrate.
Plant the crop horizontally in moist soil.
Create a greenhouse effect. This requires the use of a plastic bottle or bag.
Systematically ventilate the structure and moisten the soil.
Transplant the crop into a permanent flowerpot. This is required after the appearance of several new leaves.

Care instructions

To get a strong and he althy plant, it is important to follow the rules of agricultural technology. The frequency of watering depends on the stage of development of the culture. To moisten the soil, it is worth using settled water at room temperature. From October to January, the period of budding and flowering begins, and therefore the plant needs abundant watering. At the same time, it is important to avoid moisture stagnation in the pan.

Also, the Decembrist needs regular fertilization. To do this, it is worth using a complex preparation for cacti. It is recommended to carry out top dressing according to the following scheme:

From February to March there is a dormant period. At this time, you only need to slightly moisten the soil. To prevent the substrate from drying out, it is recommended to place moss and expanded clay in the pan. Feeding the Decembrist during this period is not recommended.
From April to the end of summer, the culture begins a period of active vegetation.During this period, the plant needs systematic moderate watering. At the same time, ammonia can be added to the water. For 1 liter of liquid, 1 small spoonful of the substance should be used. Fertilizers should be applied at intervals of 2 weeks. In this case, you need to use the NPK complex. The dosage in this case should be halved.
In September, the culture is preparing for active flowering. At this stage, watering should be limited. At the same time, the moss in the pan should be moistened in order to maintain optimal humidity parameters. When buds appear, it is recommended to increase the amount of watering and start fertilizing.

Despite the fact that the Decembrist is characterized by slow development, it needs to be replanted periodically. If, upon purchase, roots stick out from the drainage holes, transplantation is carried out immediately. If the roots are not visible, this can be done at the age of 5.

It is best to carry out the procedure at the end of flowering. The plant has a developed root system, so it is worth using a wide, shallow pot. If the container is too loose, the roots will grow too actively, which will negatively affect flowering.

When transplanting an adult culture, the pot first needs to be filled with drainage by a third. The remaining space should be compacted soil. To move a flower from an old pot to a new one, you need to thoroughly clean the roots of the old substrate. After that, you need to carefully sprinkle the roots with earth and water a little. As the ground settles, a small amount of new substrate can be added.

A young plant does not need pruning. In this case, it is enough to remove the buds that have faded. After flowering is completed, it is required to form a crown of adult bushes. To do this, it is recommended to carefully remove sluggish shoots and buds with your hands.

Decembrist is a sought-after crop, which is grown by many flower growers. For this process to be successful, it is important to strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology and provide the flower with high-quality and complete care. It includes timely watering, fertilizing, pruning.