How to prune a Decembrist at home, is it possible to do this and when is it permissible to break off branches after flowering?

The home flower Schlumbergera also has another name - the Decembrist. He got this name because the flowering period falls on the cold season - the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. The plant is unpretentious, so it can be planted at home, in the office, and in stores, because it does not require special care.

The homeland of this unusual flower, which belongs to the Cactus family, is the tropical rainforests of Brazil. The plant has a strong root, which clings to the roots of trees, thereby ensuring comfortable growth. Despite the fact that the Decembrist is a cactus, they have little in common.

Unlike a cactus, which can not be watered for a long time, Schlumberger needs constant watering and is more capricious than the family to which it belongs. In terms of temperature, the plant is absolutely unpretentious - can withstand from +5 to +40 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, it is better to provide comfortable conditions and a constant temperature, especially in the period before flowering.

Is it permissible to cut the shoots?

Can this flower be pruned? Not only possible, but necessary! Pruning can be done in March - early April, when the plant begins to grow actively. Also a good cropping period is summer. In any case, pruning is better before or after flowering, but not during.

Note! It is impossible to cut the flower during flowering, otherwise all the flowers will fall and there will also be no second flowering season.

What is it for?

Cutting off the old shoots, you get a much more abundant flowering plant, since the buds appear exclusively on new shoots. New stems will be stronger and more capable of carrying a large number of flowers. Also pruning is carried out in order to form a beautiful bush. You can do this on your own - someone likes symmetry, someone wants a different shape, it all depends on your imagination.

In addition to improving flowering and flower shape, if circumcised, then zygocactus will live longer. Some types of plants can bloom from 20 years or longer, if timely plucking and caring properly.

As Schlumbergera grows, her lower branches will become longer and sag. If there is no desire to carry out circumcision, you can hang a flower on a cache-pot.

When can I break off branches after flowering?

Depending on the variety, Schlumbergera can bloom up to two times per season from two weeks to a month or a little more. In order not to interrupt possible flowering, it is better to wait until the end of spring, when the Decembrist will most likely not start up buds. Now the flower is ready for pruning.

After flowering, Schlumberger need to wait a month before proceeding with pruning. The fact is that this is a “dormant period” for the plant, so you can’t pinch and trim it. Do not be afraid if at this time the plant loses some of its leaves and flowers, this is normal.

How to do it at home?

If your flower has grown to the desired size, its lower stems hang down very much, you can start plucking.
Important! Never use scissors! Trimming should be done only by hand.
First you need to decide on the form.
Next, choose a location on the flower branch.
It is necessary to pinch the lower stem segment between the index finger and thumb of one hand, and the upper one to separate with a rotational movement.
In this way, we separate one or two segments of each stem.

Many, upon seeing this unusual flower, want to plant the same at home. To do this, it is not necessary to buy it or, as a professional florist, to grow from seeds, you can use the cuttings method (for how to propagate a Decembrist flower at home, read here, and from this article you will learn how to plant a Decembrist by the shoot and in other ways ) Some stems that have been trimmed are in good condition, they can be put in water and pour a special tool that promotes growth. After this, the stalk can be planted in a pot.

If you properly care for the plant, but it still does not bloom, then the possible causes of this phenomenon:

from September - October you did not observe the temperature regime of + 15 degrees Celsius;
did not fertilize the plant, which led to a lack of nutrients, in particular, phosphorus and potassium (about how to feed the Decembrist and how to care for it to bloom, read here);
excessive light, dry air, or drafts;
the size of the pot also matters - make sure that it is not both small and not too large;
perhaps the plant is too young, usually Schlumbergera blooms in the second year of life;
"pinch" of the shoots was not carried out in time.

After analyzing the features of caring for the Schlumberger, you can understand what was done wrong, and to correct the mistakes next season.

So, you can get a lot of advantages from cropping. You can create a shape for the plant at your discretion and at the same time increase the abundance of flowering. Despite the fact that caring for Schlumberger seems simple, it has its own nuances that must be observed in order for the plant to be strong and pleasing to the eye.