I have had this plant for several years and it has always done really well. Now it seems that only one half of the plant seems to shriveling up and dropping leaves. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated
what kind of soil do you have it in? does that container have drainage? the bad area definitely looks like it needs watering - and now! maybe you've been watering the other side a bit more thoroughly?
The pot has a drainage hole about the size of a quarter. The soil is a potting soil with the Miracle Grow label. I water it about once a week.
once a week is too often. they prefer thorough watering and then to dry out a bit before more watering (which usually takes at least two weeks for a container that size). i don't know where frisco tx is...is it warm enough there for you to have it outside?? then watering it weekly would make sense as if it's hot it would dry out more quickly. you may not be watering it thoroughly enough, though. the water should run out the bottom. over the long-term, that's not the best soil for these plants. it really should be in something that is very well-draining. like a cactus mix...or a mix of cactus soil and regular soil...or a mix of regular soil and lots of perlite for drainage. when was the last time you repotted it?? it could be the soil is just old. pulling it out will give you a chance to take a look at the roots and see if there is any rotting. you can remove any damaged parts and then pot it up again (in same pot if it's not rootbound, split it in two if it is) and put fresh soil in. any parts that have damaged roots, you can take cuttings from the top part of it and try to root them.
Schlumbergera are actually a little different from other cacti, as they naturally grow epiphytically on tree branches in the rainforests of South America. The potting soil you're using isn't necessarily bad, but keep in mind that the plants need a "dry" season from late Fall to early Spring, at which time you water less frequently than you would the rest of the year. Good drainage is essential, so make sure that the water is draining out of the container after you water. It's important to water thoroughly when you do water, but also ensure that the soil has thoroughly dried before you re-water. Here's some additional info: http://hgic.clemson.edu/pdf/hgic1554.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlumbergera
