Rhipsalidopsis
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Rhipsalidopsis description
Shoots are composed of segments-segments with ribbing or flattened, they grow in length up to four to six cm, in breadth - up to three cm, branch and have a light green color. But, if bright sunlight falls on the stems, they can turn reddish in color. The edges of the segments have smooth and almost invisible projections. But the tips of the segments also have spines resembling thick bristles. At the ends of the segments, the formation of flowers occurs, opening up to a wide extent (up to four cm in diameter). One to three flowers grow from one areola. In different varietal species, the color of the flowers can be different, the colors are from pink to white, and even to dark red. At the end of flowering, quite soft berries appear on the bush.
This culture looks very similar to the Schlumberger plant. But there are also differences between them.
According to the morphology of the segments, the plant under consideration has smooth protrusions along the edges, and the Schlumberger has segments, the edges of which are jagged.
The type of flowers - Ripsalidopsis has flowers with an even corolla, and they also retain symmetry in the radial plane, while Schlumberger is distinguished by beveled corollas.
The flowering of our plant occurs in the spring season, and the Schlumberger - in the winter.
Rhipsalidopsis growing and care at home
Illumination level.
The plant requires a good level of illumination, and diffused. It is advisable to place the culture on the east or west windowsill. In the spring and summer season, you can transfer the flower to outdoor conditions, and do not forget that it is necessary to shade it from the direct scorching sun.
Temperature conditions.
In the summer season, moderate temperature conditions are required in the range of eighteen to twenty degrees. In February-March days, in order to plant the buds, a cool temperature regime is required, about ten to twelve degrees.
Moisture level.
The culture requires increased air humidity. For this reason, it is recommended to regularly spray the flower with non-hard water at room temperature conditions. To increase the humidity of the air, wet moss or expanded clay is placed in the pallet, but at the same time make sure that the bottom of the pot does not come into contact with water. If the winter season is cool, then spraying with Ripsalidopsis is not carried out.
Watering.
In the spring and summer season, abundant watering is carried out. Water after drying of the surface soil layer. When autumn comes, watering is gradually reduced. In winter, the introduction of liquid should be in moderation, especially if the winter season is frosty.
Fertilization.
When the bush is actively growing, it is fed once every fourteen days. For this purpose, minerals with the lowest amount of nitrogen are used, in addition, you can purchase mixtures that are specifically designed for cactus plants.
Soil mix.
A suitable soil substrate should be light, have a low acidity level (the acid-base balance should be maintained within five or six), and air should also penetrate well through it.To prepare a soil mixture, sod, deciduous and humus soil, sand and peat are combined in a ratio of 1: 6: 4: 2: 2, respectively.
Transplanting.
Transplanting is carried out after the flowering of the plant. Young cacti are transplanted once a year, adults - once every two to three years.
Rhipsalidopsis reproduction
Reproduction methods: grafting, grafting, seed method.
Reproduction is very easy with stem cuttings. For this purpose, two or three segments are separated from the shoot in a circular motion, they are left in outdoor conditions for two to three days so that they dry out. A stalk is installed in a container filled with a moist soil mixture, and it does not deepen, but simply leans against any support. The appearance of roots in the cuttings will occur quite soon, and it can already be planted in the soil substrate.
Grafting of this culture is carried out on the stem of "Pereskia prickly", grafting is carried out in the summer. At the pereskia, the apical branching part with all the leaves is cut off, so that only a bare stem remains. Its tip is gently split. For the scion, a shoot is taken, which consists of two or three segments, its tip needs to be sharpened so that it becomes wedge-shaped. With a sharp tip, the shoot is inserted into the split place. After that, the graft is secured with a thorn, a long thorn or a needle. Then it is wrapped, for this purpose a thread or a plaster is taken. Then the container is placed in a room with temperature conditions within eighteen to twenty degrees. The scion will grow together in fifteen days, after which growth will begin. Next, the bandage is removed, after the branches or leaves appear at the bottom, they must be cut off immediately. This vegetation has a very abundant flowering.
To cultivate a cactus of this species is quite simple by seed method. To get them, you need 2 adult plants, unrelated to each other (different varieties or varieties are used). You need to take the pollen from the flowers of one cactus with a brush and transfer it to another. At the end of flowering, the fruit will appear in the form of a reddish berry. The ripening of the berry takes quite a long time, and only after shrinking it can be plucked.
The germination capacity of the seeds is maintained for several years. Sowing of grains is carried out in a wide container, a soil substrate is poured into it, which consists of leafy soil and sand, taken in equal proportions. The grown plants are transplanted in separate containers. Moreover, it is advisable to plant several plants at once in one container in order to get the most lush bouquet.
Harmful insects and diseases
Rhipsalidopsis can be attacked by mealybugs, false scutes, spider mites and scabies.
Diseases can be caused by bacteria or fungus.
At first, the appearance of rot can occur only on one small area of the cactus, at this time a slippery and wet speck forms. Further, the appearance of similar spots occurs on other parts of the plant.
Antibacterial drugs in this situation do not have a positive effect. Therefore, the affected part is carefully cut off. If the appearance of rot has occurred at the base of the stem, then first the healthy parts are separated, and then take root.
For the most part, the plant can be affected by phytium, fusarium or late blight (a disease of a fungal nature).
Fusarium can infect Ripsalidopsis through holes left by harmful insects, as well as through wounds. Cactus treatment is carried out with fungicidal preparations that contain active ingredients - benomyl and chlorthalonil.
Late blight or phytium can occur due to the fact that the soil mixture is infected, and in frequent cases the root collar becomes ill. It is easy enough to recognize that a cactus is sick.Withering occurs, but the soil is moistened. The coloration may turn paler or gray. It is required to treat the plant with a fungicidal agent that is intended against fungal diseases.
Problems that may arise when growing Ripsalidopsis.
Flowers or segments fall off - the liquid in the soil mixture has stagnated; the plant was overfed; cold temperature or dry air; dragging a cactus from one place to another.
The culture grows slowly and does not bloom - poor lighting; the plant is incorrectly kept during the dormant period; need to be fed.
The blanching of the segments, the appearance of red color and specks of brownish color - very saturated light, direct sun burned the cactus.
Withering of the plant, the shoots wilting, the base of the stem turns black - the liquid has stagnated in the soil mixture (especially in the winter season, if the culture is kept cool).
After the buds begin to appear and before the cactus finishes blooming, the container is not rearranged or rotated. Otherwise, it will provoke the fact that the buds begin to fall off. It is advisable to make a mark on the pot to control the direction of the vegetation.
Varieties
Rhipsalidopsis "Gartner" (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri).
An epiphytic plant, an evergreen cactus in the form of a bush, grows up to fifteen to twenty cm. The vegetation is hanging or creeping. Shoots are flattened, shiny, branched, painted in a dark green color, contain a large number of flattened segments that reach four to seven cm in length, in cross section - from two to two and a half cm.The edges of the segments have three to five rounded projections with areoles with pubescence and one or two brownish-yellow setae. The plant begins to bloom in April or May days. At this moment, at the tips of the segments, a large number of flowers begin to bloom, growing up to four to eight cm, they have a short tube and bright red petals.
Rhipsalidopsis "Pink" (Rhipsalidopsis rosea).
A small size evergreen plant in the form of a bush. Shoots are composed of small ribbed or flattened segments, the edges of which are presented in the form of denticles. Pink flowers grow up to 5 cm across.