Are you looking for something to brighten up your patio or balcony? Then be sure to check out the colourful Zygocactus. They’re one of the toughest plants around and they burst into spectacular bloom from May to June.
Zygocactus - it’s a strange name, but is it a real cactus? Well yes it is, but it’s not your typical spiny desert variety. They come from the jungles of Brazil where it’s moist and humid. And they’re epiphytes, so in the wild they grow in trees rather than on the ground.
They make terrific pot plants and with their unusual pendulous form they look fabulous in hanging baskets too. You’ll find them in all sorts of colours - from pink, lavender, red, orange, yellow to white… you name it.
The best spot to can grow one is outside where there’s good filtered light. If you want to enjoy their colour indoors, you can bring them inside, but just for a few days or so.
To feed them, all they need is a little slow release fertiliser in spring. They don’t generally require a lot of water so try to let them dry out a bit between drinks.
If you want to propagate one yourself – it’s easy. Just break off one of the leaf segments and leave it lying around for a few weeks. You’ll see them starting to develop little aerial roots. When they do, just pop them into some potting mix and you’re away. Put a few in the one pot and you’ll get a far more instant effect.
