✅ How to feed the Decembrist flower at home for abundant flowering

Decembrist (schlumbergera or Christmas tree) is a common indoor flower, the buds of which are formed on fresh growths, that is, on the tips of the shoots. To get lush flowering of the plant, it is necessary to stimulate the growth of these shoots with the help of fertilizers. Let's talk about how to feed the Decembrist flower so that it feels good and blooms luxuriously.

How to feed the Decembrist for lush flowering 1.1 Fertilizing the plant with folk remedies 1.2 Mineral supplements for the Decembrist 1.3 Using special preparations 2. What to feed the Decembrist in the fall

Photo by O. Nikonorova: you can achieve lush flowering of the Decembrist plant with the help of fertilizers.

Why do you need to feed a flower at home?

The use of root and foliar fertilizers ensures proper growth and abundant flowering of Schlumbergera. Against the background of a deficiency of nutrients, the speed of flower development slows down and it may die. To stimulate the process of laying flower buds, it is important to promptly fertilize the soil in which the crop grows.

Feeding the Decembrist at home will be required in the following cases:

Poor flowering or lack of buds on the bushes. In this situation, it is reasonable to stimulate the culture with balanced fertilizers for the Decembrist, which contain phosphorus and potassium.
Severe shedding of leaf segments. Flower growers recommend applying Decembrist fertilizer directly under the root system, and also spraying the green mass with a solution for epiphytic cacti.
Transplanting a plant into new soil. Feeding is applied 5 weeks after the procedure.

Banana peel infusion

This fruit contains a lot of potassium, which needs to be fed to the Decembrist in November for the formation of buds and in December during flowering. In addition, bananas contain manganese, phosphorus, sodium and iron.

A solution is prepared from the skins of ripe bananas. Pour 2 skins with a liter of water at room temperature and infuse for 24 hours. During this time, not only minerals, but also organic substances will be released from the banana skin, resulting in a very nutritious infusion. They water the Christmas tree at the root.

What time to apply fertilizer

When determining the timing of fertilizing, it is worth taking into account the period of plant development. It is recommended to apply fertilizers for the Decembrist from the 20th of March to November. In spring and summer, it is advisable to use fertilizers that contain nitrogen. This fertilizer promotes the growth and strengthening of green mass.

How to feed Decembrist for abundant flowering? In the last week of October, you need to add a phosphorus-potassium preparation. Using this fertilizer allows you to achieve lush and long-lasting flowering.

In late autumn, buds begin to form. During this period, you can fertilize the soil in which the flower grows with diluted mullein, chicken or pigeon droppings, or wood ash.

When is the best time to feed Decembrist

The period of active growth in Schlumbergera begins in March. It is from this month in the spring that you need to fertilize. For those who grow plants in a greenhouse, it is advisable to do this weekly; in a city apartment, the Christmas cactus is fertilized a little less often - twice a month.

Before flowering

In spring and summer, the flower actively increases its green mass, so nitrogen fertilizing will be appropriate at this time of year. Fertilizer is applied until the beginning of November, and then a month-long break is taken, giving the Decembrist the opportunity to prepare for flowering. In autumn, it is better to move the flower closer to the glass, or place it on a glassed-in balcony.

Lower temperatures will promote the formation of flower buds. Why does it happen that the Decembrist blooms not in spring, but in late autumn? The fact is that his homeland is in a different hemisphere with opposite seasonality. When spring comes there, autumn comes to us and vice versa.

During bud formation

In November-December, the flower ends its dormant period and begins to form buds. During this period, Schlumbergera requires phosphorus-potassium supplements. Due to this, the buds are “hardened”. The addition of phosphorus and potassium allows the plant to form a large number of flowers.

The Decembrist needs additional nutrition during this period so that the buds do not fall off, but remain in their places and soon turn into beautiful flowers. Initially, in nature, the color of the buds was only white and red. As a result of selection, varieties with lilac, violet, salmon, and yellow flowers appeared. There are also varieties with two-tone colors.

On a note! Some bred hybrids bloom a month earlier than their counterparts.

During flowering

Decembrist blooms once a year and lasts about a month. The plant blooms closer to Christmas according to the old style. Depending on the variety, this period may shift slightly forward or backward. To prevent the Decembrist from blooming too quickly, it is better to maintain the temperature in the range from 15 to 20 degrees. At higher temperatures, flowers dry out faster.

In addition, during this period, Schlumbergera needs regular watering; due to dry soil, the plant may drop its flowers prematurely. However, overmoistening should not be allowed. In nature, Decembrist grows as an epiphytic plant; its roots do not tolerate stagnant water. Adding phosphorus and potassium during this period will prolong flowering and allow the plant to accumulate nutrients for further growth.

How to fertilize Decembrist for growth and flowering

The Christmas tree needs special feeding that is gentle on the root system, therefore, when using ready-made fertilizer for indoor flowers, the concentration should be reduced by 2 times.

But most often, home remedies are used to feed this plant and improve the composition of the soil. For example, you can feed the Christmas tree with aspirin. A crushed aspirin tablet is diluted in 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is used in the fall to moisten the soil.

Below we will tell you how to feed the Decembrist flower at home.

Boric acid

The recommended concentration of the product for spraying green mass is 0.1%. Using Decembrist fertilizer allows you to stimulate shoot growth. In addition, the use of boric acid helps to increase the number of buds. The plant is sprayed twice - during budding and during flowering.

Wood ash

Wood ash can be dissolved in water or added to the soil in dry form. To prepare the solution at home, dissolve 4 tbsp in 2 liters of water. l. wood ash. The components are mixed and infused for 4 hours. Potassium fertilizer for Decembrist is used during the budding period and in the first week of flowering.

Sugar

Glucose is a source of energy and building material for plant cells. For better absorption of sugar fertilizer, it is recommended to apply it to the soil together with the Baikal M preparation. If you ignore this advice, the added sugar will cause mold to appear in the soil.

To prepare the solution, you will need to dissolve 4 tbsp in 2 liters of water. l. Sahara. It is necessary to feed the plant every month, except for the dormant period.

Bred mullein

Many flower growers are interested in what to fertilize the Decembrist plant so that it blooms? Experts recommend adding diluted mullein, pigeon or chicken droppings to the soil. Preparing the solution is quite simple. Mix 200 g of mullein or dung in 1 liter of water. Water the plant generously with the resulting liquid.

Hydrogen peroxide

By saturating the soil with oxygen, you can strengthen the root system and achieve long and lush flowering. To prepare the fertilizer, dilute 2 tbsp in 2 liters of water. l. hydrogen peroxide. The resulting solution is applied under the root system of the Decembrist every 10 days from April to November.

Apple infusion

To prepare an apple infusion for feeding the Decembrist, you need to cut several fresh sour apples into small slices and add water. The liquid is infused for 48 hours, after which it is used to water flowers from March to November.

Brewed tea

Using brewed tea allows you not only to increase the number of buds on Schlumbergera bushes, but also to achieve flowering even for those plants that have refused to bloom for many years. Preparing fertilizer is not difficult. You will need to brew black tea with boiling water and let it steep for about 60 minutes. After the specified period of time, you can use Decembrist fertilizer for flowering for watering (1-2 times a week).

Is it necessary to feed Decembrist

Does the Decembrist really need feeding? What happens if you don't apply fertilizer? Like other house flowers, Schlumbergera lives in a limited pot space, so the soil inevitably becomes depleted over time. With a lack of nutrients, the plant begins to develop worse, lags in growth, and stops blooming. Due to the fact that Decembrist is a succulent, it requires special fertilizers that will not harm the root system.

The stronger the plant, the more readily it will bloom. In the case of Decembrist, feeding is stopped only in the fall, some time before flowering. In September, the flower is given a period of rest, reducing watering and providing it with a cool room to maintain. The last feeding should occur in November, and already in December buds appear on the flower.

On a note! You cannot move the Decembrist plant from place to place, turn it the other side towards the light or touch it in any way from the moment the buds appear, otherwise the plant will drop them.

Signs of improper feeding

When deciding to feed the Christmas tree, you should take into account the needs of the plant in order to choose the right product and dosage. The following signs indicate improper feeding of the Decembrist:

the appearance of yellow spots on leaf blades - most often such a nuisance occurs against the background of an excess of phosphorus;
leaf burns, death of green mass, which signals excess boron;
the absence of flowering indicates a supersaturation of the soil with nitrogen.

Boric acid

Boric acid stimulates the flowering of indoor “dwellers”. With this product, plants are sprayed rather than watered. To treat Decembrists, 1 g of boric acid must be diluted with 1 liter of water. Spraying is recommended in the morning or evening. And all so that under the influence of the sun drops of the solution do not burn the leaves of the plant.

It is best to apply foliar feeding with this product during the period when the first buds appear and repeat every 14 days until flowering is complete.

General care recommendations

Experienced flower growers are happy to share recommendations for caring for Decembrist flowers with beginners.

The Christmas tree prefers bright but diffuse lighting. On hot days, it is important to take care of shading the flower.
The temperature in the room where the Schlumbergera pots are placed should not be allowed to drop significantly. If the temperature drops to + 5°C, the plants die.
During flowering, it is necessary to move containers with Decembrist away from central heating.
In the summer months, it is recommended to take Schlumbergera out into the garden, choosing shaded areas. In the fresh air, the flower grows most actively.
In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced. It is not recommended to fertilize at this time.

Decembrist is an amazing plant that will delight you with abundant and bright flowering in the cold season. In order for the plant to grow healthy and the flowering period to last as long as possible, you should provide the bushes with proper care and take care of systematic feeding of the Decembrist at home. Using the recipes indicated in the article, even a novice gardener can cope with this task.

Complex fertilizers from the store

The easiest way to care for green pets:

go to the store and buy a product for feeding flowering indoor plants;
read the instructions for use of the selected product;
do as indicated in the instructions.

Advantages of complex mineral products:

quickly absorbed;
without smell;
precisely calculated composition;
safe;
do not leave stains.

There is only one significant drawback - in case of an overdose, there is a danger of burns and allergic reactions.

Flower growers warn: you need to use 1.5-2 times less product than indicated on the package.

Organic fertilizers include: manure, bird droppings, silt, humus. The persistent unpleasant odor of these fertilizers outweighs all their obvious advantages. Rarely does anyone use such fertilizers at home.

Pests and diseases

Fungal diseases. Often the following diseases are terrible for the Decembrist: fusarosis, phytium and late blight. Infection of a plant occurs through wounds or through the soil, then the root system is affected. Diseases can be recognized by falling leaves and Decembrist wilting.

Solution: use fungicides and other special preparations for treatment.

Spider mite. Insects can be recognized by small dots that are red, yellowish or rust-colored.

Solution: treat the plant with special preparations that are designed to eliminate mites.

Mealybug. A sign of the disease is white lumps on the plant that resemble cotton wool.

Solution: in addition to special preparations, control watering and do not overwater the plant.