Schlumbergera truncate, also commonly known as zygocactus, Christmas or claw cactus is a plant that can be kept for many years with minimum care for maximum enjoyment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The natural habitat of this epiphytic cactus is moist, tropical forests where they grow in pockets of leaf debris in the clefts of tree branches.
The culture of this cactus is simplicity in itself.
They like a rich, free-draining soil and are best grown in a shady position ideally under a tree as this position provides them with protection from full sun but allows them to take advantage of any rain which they love.
These unusual, but very decorative plants, have short, flattened jointed stems with elongated, minuscule areoles on the top from which flowers and new joints develop.
Each areole can produce a single or pair of blooms which can last for several days.
The pink to deep red flowers of Schlumbergera truncata have attractive reflexed petals and are borne on the tips of the drooping stems.
There are many hybrid varieties which vary in flower colour from white to purple. A red and a white flowering hybrid planted together in the same container looks amazing.
For the best flowering displays these plants require a rest period in early autumn and another after flowering in spring.
During the active growing period, water at the roots but it must drain freely. Remember these are epiphytic plants. During the non-active stage keep the soil on the dry side.
Schlumbergeras may be left in the same pot for years, unless the plants outgrow the container, as they resent being moved from one position to another, thus they thrive best in a permanent place.
For additional plants, cuttings are made by making a clean, diagonal cut at a joint about 15cms from the tip of the stem. Leave for a couple of days to dry and callus over before potting into a coarse propagation mix. Keep moist after potting.
Although they grow easily from cuttings and do well on their own roots, they can also be grafted onto cacti with stiff, flat upright stems.
An interesting graft is to insert scions of S. truncate into slits made 7cm apart around the upper edge of an Opuntia
When grown as house plants, flowers may fall if placed in a draughty position or moved around. Don’t leave them in a room with night lights as this may affect flowering.
Sedums
Sedums are very popular at the moment and two easy to grow trailing plants are Sedum morganianum, the donkey’s tail and S. rubrotinctum the jelly bean plant.
Sedum morganianum has trailing stems with small, overlapping cylindrical pale green leaves. Sedum rubrotinctum produces clusters of egg-shaped leaves at the tips of branches. Leaves may colour red during hot, dry spells.
Sedums need full sunlight as insufficient can dull their colouration and cause the stems to become straggly. Generally they don’t need feeding.
Diary
October 27: Devonport Garden Club’s Open Garden Trail featuring five gardens. Times 10am-5pm. Cost $5 per garden or $15 for five. Details contact Robert 0409 246 239 or Kay 0407 849 449.
November 10, 11: Launceston Horticultural Society’s Late Spring Show of roses, iris and rhododendrons features a magnificent display of hybrid sweet peas grown by Bob Cherry.
November 17, 18: Longford Garden Club celebrates its 50th Spring Show and Longford Blooms with open gardens.
November 17, 18: Longford Blooms featuring eight open gardens in Longford from 10am-4pm. Tickets $5 per person per day available from outside Longford Antique Shop, William Street.
November 18: Woolmers Rose Festival.
