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The Zygocactus



Schlumbergera truncata

Light

The Zygocactus enjoys bright, indirect light and should avoid direct sunlight. It can stay in a window with a filtered curtain to provide some shade from light.


Watering

The Seasonal Thanksgiving / Christmas / Easter cactus needs thorough waterings when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. This plant prefers to be on the moist side, unlike the traditional cactus plant. With thorough waterings, the Zygocactus also requires good drainage holes and well raining soil. It is best to incorporate peat moss or perlite to help promote well draining soil. While the Zygocactus is blooming, it will require more frequent waterings as the plant is using its energy to provide blooms, it will need to be replenished.


Temperature & Humidity

As you can imagine, a seasonal plant that is popular around the fall, winter, and spring holidays might enjoy cooler weather. While it cannot adjust to very low temperatures, it does prefer temps between 60 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit and will do just fine in a cooler room of the house. However, it is best to avoid any drafts around the Zygocactus. Higher humidity is best for this plant and it may enjoy a place in your kitchen or bathroom where it can get frequent humidity.


Off Season Care

After the Holiday Cactus has bloomed and the blooms begin to die, it is best to deadhead, or remove, the spent blooms. Doing so will help the Cactus to focus its energy on growing and making new blooms. To further the life of the Holiday Cactus, you can prune the leaves in Springtime and by pruning the leaves it will grow new ends. With the pruned leaves, you may wish to propagate what has been taken off. You can do so by using a pruned piece of 2-3 leaves. You will want to let them rest in a cool, dry place for a few days to callous. Once the stems have calloused, you may use rooting hormone and plant them into moist peat moss. You may develop new roots in the next few weeks. While propagation can be fun, it is not always successful. Do not be discouraged if not all of the stems develop roots.

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