Everything you need to know about Zygocactus transplant
Zygocactus or Christmas tree is one of the most popular houseplants that can often be found on window sills. Due to its unpretentious nature, the flower is able to grow in almost any conditions and please with abundant flowering every winter. However, over time, the bush becomes larger than its pot and scoops out all the nutrients from the soil, which affects not only its appearance, but also its flowering. In this regard, it is important to periodically renew the soil and increase the size of the flowerpot so that the flower does not lose its beautiful decorative appearance. When is it better to start a zygocactus transplant, how often to carry it out, and what kind of soil it needs, we'll talk about this today.
Transfer times and frequency
As with most indoor plants, the optimal time to transplant Decembrist - the end of flowering, but in the zygocactus it does not occur in the middle of the spring period, but a little earlier, in February (although there are cases when the plant blooms until March).
With the last buds flowering, the bush prepares for retirement, which lasts about two months, and then it's time to transplant it.
The frequency of transplants depends on the age of the flower:
- young zygocactus need an annual change of pot and soil;
- adult specimens do not need to be disturbed so often - it is enough to reload them every three years.
The choice of soil for zygocactus
A Christmas tree needs a nutritious and loose soil that "breathes" well and allows water to pass through. Heavy garden soil (without admixture of loosening components) is not suitable for the plant: as a representative of succulents, the flower does not tolerate stagnant moisture, and such soil retains liquid and dries out for a long time.
The most suitable soil option for zygocactus Is a mixture based on peat and perlite.
The Decembrist also grows well in a substrate that consisted of the following components in equal proportions:
- leafy land;
- sand;
- peat;
- sod soil.
Transplant features
To prevent root decay, drainage must be laid on the bottom of the flowerpot. A pot for a zygocactus should be chosen shallow, but wide enough, since the root system of the flower is not very large and grows in width, and in a too spacious container, flowering can take a long time. In addition, a large volume of soil dries out longer, which means there is a risk of root system disease from waterlogging.