Zygocactus Care How to Grow Zygo Cactus as House Plants

Zygocactus is an attractive looking plant that grows all over Australia. It just needs to be placed in cooler areas to grow and flower well. This plant flowers during autumn and winter. It is a winter plant that has pretty and attractive looking flattened bell like flowers at the tip of its stem. Its botanical name is Schlumbergera and even though these plants belong to the cactus family, they are not desert plants. The branches of Zygocactus are spineless and flattened and they produce asymmetrical flowers. The Zygocactus best use as a patio, hanging basket plants, conservatory plants or can be grown as indoor plants for a short time.
When do Zygocactus flower?
The Zygocactus plants will bloom during the winter as the flowering of the plant is influenced by shorter days or long winter nights. It is important that these plants are not exposed to a lot of light, even household lights, as the flower of the plant will be totally reduced. They need to be set in a frost free position. The colours of the flowers range from pink, red, lavender, orange, yellow and white. Zygocactus loves cool temperatures, but are adverse to freezing conditions.
How to propagate and grow Zygocactus in hanging baskets?
It is not a bad idea to grow Zygocactus in hanging baskets. In order to grow them in hanging baskets, you need to first grow the plant from its cutting. In the cutting method, you should break off a leaf segment and leave it on its own for a few days till you see aerial roots developed. This process might take a few days to several weeks, depending on the climate and light. Once the roots are developed, you can plant the cuttings in a pot that is filled with well drained potting mixture. The cuttings will start to grow soon under favourable conditions. This is when you should transplant the Zygo cactus cuttings in hanging baskets. If you are looking for a quick effect, then you should place several cuttings in a hanging basket at the one time. You should make sure that the hanging basket is filled with best quality potting mix. Planting it in hanging baskets will allow the stems to arch down from the plant’s crown and they will feel like they are growing in their natural habitat.
Care for Zygocactus
The Zygocactus are easy plants to grow indoors or in patio areas. They do not need much attention. One of the main problems of Zygocactus care is overwatering of the plant. It just needs a good drink and make sure that you water the plant only when the top soil has gone dry. Too much water can rot the plant. As they are epiphytic plants, you should make sure that they get only minimal fertilising. Feed them with a gentle fertiliser during the growing season. An organic fertiliser that is less on nitrogen is ideal. They should be placed in areas where there is no direct sunlight. Zygocactus must only be planted in a well draining container and soil. When you see flower buds forming on the plant, you should increase the light and humidity. Prune the Zygocactus a month after it has bloomed, this way the plant will develop new branches. It is essential to repot the plant every 2 to 3 years.

Anthurium Andraeanum – Facts About Growing & Caring For Flamingo Flower

Anthurium Andraeanum, painted tongue, or flamingo flower is a popular house plant with long lasting red or orange flowers. These plants are easy to grow and care for. They are highly durable when grown in ideal conditions. The plant can even survive the adverse situations for more than a year. The leaves of the plant are large and heart shaped and the flower bracts are also heart shaped. Flowers are produced on modified leaves which act as a flower stalk. Each flower has a central spike which is yellow or pinkish in colour. This plant can be grown in pots in areas with a milder climate. They thrive as indoor plants as the temperature required for proper growth is 16-22 degrees C. The flowers are popularly used for the cut flower trade.

Growing Conditions

You can grow flamingo flower plants in any spot that receives a good amount of bright indirect sunlight. Never expose the plant to full sun. The plant requires a warm environment. Areas with daytime temperature 25 to 32 degree Celsius are ideal. They cannot thrive well at temperatures below 15⁰ C. Temperature above 40ºC can damage the foliage. To keep the plant healthy the plant should be grown in a well drained potting mix with equal parts of peat moss, perlite and pine bark. The plant needs good humidity and without proper humidity the sheen of the foliage will be lost. These plants are ideal for indoor areas like kitchen, bathrooms, etc. The plant needs to be watered regularly. However, avoid over watering these plants as it can cause the leaves to turn yellow. Mulching the plant using peat moss improves growth.

Fertilising

Anthurium requires only a moderate amount of fertiliser. You can select organic slow releasing granular fertiliser which can be provided every year at the beginning of the growing season or any balanced fertiliser diluted ¼ strength once every month.

Pests and Diseases

Mealy bugs, aphids and scale insects are the common pests attacking anthuriums. To prevent the attack of these pests, spray the plants with insecticidal soap. The fungal disease rhizoctinia occurs due to high humidity and poor drainage conditions in potted indoor plants. Avoid over watering to prevent this fungal attack. Remove the spent flower bracts as they turn brown. This will keep the plant healthy and encourage flowering. The plant needs repotting every 2-3 years. Take care to avoid any damage to the fragile roots while re-potting.

Propagation

You can propagate the flamingo flowers easily by dividing the plant while you are re-potting them. Make sure that each root division contains at least two rhizomes.

You can also grow the plants from fresh and moist seeds. To start the plant from seeds, sow the seeds in pots which are at least 4”. After sowing the seeds, cover the pot using a mason jar or a used coke bottle to maintain the required humidity. If the temperature is ideal, the germination of the seed will occur within 20-30 days.

All parts of flamingo flower plant are poisonous and should be handled carefully. When ingested it can cause stomach disorders and the sap of the plant can cause irritation of the skin.