
How to Grow Zygocactus
Zygocactus, with their pretty, flattened-bell flowers, are delights of the winter garden. They’re often called ‘crab cactus’, because of their crab-like segmented stems, or occasionally ‘Christmas cactus’. The latter name doesn’t make a lot of sense in the southern hemisphere where they flower in the middle of the year. Zygocactus bloom in winter because their flowering is initiated by winter’s longer nights (or shorter days). Their flowering can be severely reduced by exposing the plants to additional light during the night (even household lighting).
Zygocactus (more correctly the genus Schlumbergera, but familiarly known as ‘zygos’) are hybrids of succulent plants that grow naturally on trees in their Brazilian homeland. Due to these tree-dwelling origins, they do very well in hanging baskets.
Zygocactus flower in shades of pink, red, purple and orange, with some flowers taking on yellow tones in warm, high light situations.
Dappled sunlight, frost free position, they must have darkness at night during the cooler months in order to flower successfully
Minimal watering as required, allowing the soil to dry out between watering
Well drained soil
Plant Autumn, Autumn. Can be grown in all but the subtropical regions of Australia.