General description and types of cactus, advice on growing, advice on soil selection, transplanting and propagation of Ripsalis indoors, types of cactus. Rhipsalis is a member of the extensive Cactaceae family, which unites 4 subfamilies, with genera included in it. The genus Ripsalisovyh includes about 60 species of representatives. The main habitat is considered to be humid and warm forests in Brazil, where a tropical climate prevails. But also, this representative of cactus is found in African, West Indian and American territories, where seeds were introduced with the help of birds. The plant is a cacti that can grow as in other green inhabitants of forest areas (be an epiphyte), or live on rocky and stony formations (be a lithophyte). At the beginning of the 17th century, the genus was described by Joseph Gertner, who was a physician, botanist and naturalist from Germany. The appearance gave the name to this cactus, since the Greek word "rhips" means - braid, which is so similar to the shoots of ripsalis.
The stalks of the cactus hang beautifully from the trees and rock ledges where it found its refuge. Shoots are highly branched and completely devoid of thorns. Even growing on plants of the same species, the shape of the shoots is very different: rounded, endowed with ribs, having the shape of flat leaf plates or not devoid of leaves, painted in various shades of green. Their appearance is predominantly whorled, succulent (the ability to accumulate moisture in the shoots and live, using it in unfavorable arid conditions). The stems are located wedge-shaped from the base of the cactus to its top. Their length can range from 70 cm to a meter with a width of only a third of a centimeter. Some species differ in that the shoots consist of alternating segments (segments).
Numerous areoles grow on the stems - limited kidney-shaped areas on the shoots of cactus plants, from which spines and hairs develop, buds are released, and then fruits or lateral processes-children are formed. In the areoles of Ripsalis, small delicate-looking flowers are located, which are similar to the buds of bells. Their color range can be very diverse - rich red, with yellow, whitish or pinkish. The "wicker" cactus blooms from spring to summer. After the end of the flowering process, the cactus bears fruit with small berries of a small size, they, like flowers, are variously colored, numerous seeds grow inside that have sticky outgrowth and with their help the plant can solve the problem of its settlement in suitable for growing territories, sticking to the birds …
A distinctive feature of the "braid" is that there are many aerial roots on the stems and this helps to absorb moisture directly from the atmosphere. They also help deliver nutrients to the cactus, from everything they can reach - tree bark, puddles of rainwater, etc. And although the species of Ripsalis is rather fragile, it is so tenacious that, due to any damage to its numerous shoots, it quickly releases many new branches.
Because of its highly branching stems, it is customary to grow Ripsalis indoors as an ampelous plant in hanging pots (pots). Although there are plenty of species, only a few representatives of this "green waterfall" are cultivated in the conditions of apartments.
Recommendations for indoor cultivation of Ripsalis
The plant is quite unpretentious and does not require any difficult growing conditions, but some tips should still be followed.
- Illumination. Although the plant is a cactus, it cannot grow at all in a brightly lit place. Illumination should be soft and diffused. Best of all, when the sun's rays fall on the bush at sunset or sunrise, they are not so scorching and give a sufficient degree of light. Therefore, a pot of ripsalis is installed on the window sills of east or west orientation windows. On the windows of the northern side of the room, the plant will also not be bad, since the shadow is not terrible for him, but you should not wait for flowering. If the cactus is located on the south-facing windows, then at lunchtime you will have to shade it from the rays that can cause burns on the stems. As soon as possible, the pot of ripsalis should be taken out into fresh air, this will have a very beneficial effect on the plant. It is only worth remembering that the dining rays of the sun do not fall on the bush.
- Content temperature. For the successful growth of a cactus, it is necessary to maintain moderate heat levels. In the spring and summer months, a range of 18-23 degrees is suitable for this, and with the arrival of cold weather, it is worth sticking to low temperatures - 12-16 degrees. It is important that the thermometer does not drop to less than 10 degrees, as this will be detrimental to the ripsalis.
- Air humidity for ripsalis. Forest cacti are very sensitive to indoor humidity indicators, but this species compares favorably with the fact that it is not so pretentious and tolerates the dry air of residential apartments or offices well. When the indicators approach 20-degree marks and above, it is necessary to carry out frequent spraying of plant shoots. To do this, use soft settled water at room temperature. To increase the humidity in the air, it is also recommended to put a pot with a cactus in special deep trays (boxes), on the bottom of which there is a material that holds the poured water (for example, small expanded clay, pebbles or chopped sphagnum moss). Evaporating moisture will saturate the environment with vapors. It is important to ensure that the bottom of the Ripsalis pot does not touch the water poured into the pan.
- Watering the cactus. Since this is a representative of the green inhabitants of the tropics, he loves very much when the soil in the pot is sufficiently moist. Therefore, during the period of active growth, bud formation, flowering (all spring and summer), it is worth watering Ripsalis abundantly and regularly. The signal for watering the plant is a slight drying out of the soil in the pot. With a decrease in temperature indicators, watering is significantly reduced, and when carrying out humidification, they adhere to caution and accuracy. During this period, you can add cactus only once a month. But it is important to remember that a strong overdrying of an earthen coma or its bay will negatively affect the state of the cactus. For humidification, only soft water is used, free from any impurities and salts. It can be collected rain or melted snow, and you can also settle, filter or boil tap water.
- Top dressing for ripsalis. To maintain the plant during the period of bud formation and their dissolution, as well as when building new shoots, periodic feeding should be carried out with two weekly regularity. Special fertilizers for cacti and succulents with a mineral complex are suitable. Usually the dosage is half, and it is important that the solution contains a minimum nitrogen content, since its excess can contribute to decay of the root system of Ripsalis. The optimal values of NPK (nitrogen-fluorine-potassium) are in proportions of 9-18-24, respectively. As soon as the plant goes into winter dormancy at low temperatures, feeding is stopped.
- Transplanting and soil selection. If the cactus is a seedling, then the soil and pot are changed annually, when the ripsalis matures, then such an operation must be carried out with a two or three year break, and large plants even later. You should choose a wide and not deep container, since the root system of the braided succulent, like all cacti, is superficial. You can use hanging flowerpots. The plant must be transplanted very carefully, since its stems and roots are very fragile. A good drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot (any porous material that retains moisture - expanded clay or pebbles).
The soil for transplanting should have a slightly acidic or neutral reaction, be sufficiently loose and breathable. You can use ready-made commercial soil for cacti and succulents. The soil mixture is also composed independently of the following components:
- leafy land, turf, peat land, river sand (all parts are equal);
- garden soil, humus soil, peat and coarse sand (in proportions 1: 1: 1: 1);
- leafy earth, humus earth, peat soil (all parts are equal), chopped sphagnum moss and charcoal, detailed into the middle parts, are also added there.
Ripsalis propagation tips
This forest cactus can be propagated both by cuttings and seed material.
Cooked Ripsalis stalks root fairly well. The breeding operation can be carried out at any time of the year. The parts of the stem selected for planting must be unscrewed from the shoot with a rotational movement. On a piece for grafting, there should be 2-3 segments, for some time the torn off stem needs to be dried. Then they put it, leaning on a support, or lean against the wall of the bowl on the substrate, it is not necessary to bury it in the ground. The soil mixture should contain equal parts of peat and sand. The rooting temperature is maintained at approximately 23-25 degrees. From above, the container with the handle is covered with a plastic bag or glass. Cuttings must be periodically ventilated and moistened in the pot. Within a week, root shoots already appear and the plant is planted in a larger pot and soil that is suitable for permanent growth. The seeds, as soon as they ripen, must be collected and scattered over the surface of the peat-sandy substrate. They have almost 100% germination rate. It is important not to overdry the soil after planting. But still, this method is used very rarely.
Difficulties in growing ripsalis and pests
The most common damage to the plant occurs with a mealybug, scabbard and rarely a spider mite. If the plant is infected, then these pests immediately manifest themselves as a sticky bloom on the stems, stem plates or leaves - they can begin to turn yellow and deform, become lethargic. For pest control, spraying with soapy or oily solutions is used. After that, it is necessary to carry out an insecticide treatment to consolidate the effect.
Cultivation problems can be expressed in the following:
- dumping of segments or flowers indicates low temperatures of the content of ripsalis, overdried earthy coma, rearrangement of the pot during budding, decay of roots;
- a slowdown in the growth of a cactus or its depressed state indicate insufficient fertilization with nutrients and minerals;
- chlorosis in a succulent can begin with a lack of lighting.
Ripsalis species
- Rhipsalis Barchella (Rhipsalis burchelliii). The plant is an epiphyte, the length of the primary shoots is 60 cm, the terminal (terminal) shoots are approximately 6 cm with a width of no more than 2 mm.
- Rhipsalis hairy (Rhipsalis capilliformis). A cactus with drooping stems and growing like an epiphyte on trees. Its shoots are soft, thin and very branched. Flowers are small in size, whitish.
- Rhipsalis Gobeliana (Rhipsalis goebeliana). The plant leads an epiphytic lifestyle. The stems are distinguished by the presence of segments of two types. Primary ones, which are rounded at the base, but become flattened towards the apex. The terminal segments vary in length from 8 cm to 13 cm with a width of one and a half to 3 cm.
- Curly Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis crispata). This cactus grows in the form of a bush, has stem segments in the form of leaf plates with sufficient width. The segment sizes are from 6 cm to 10 cm in length and 2–4 cm in width.
- Rhipsalis lindbergiana (Rhipsalis lindbergiana). Epiphytic cactus with beautifully hanging shoots. Primary segments can grow up to a meter in length with a diameter of 3 mm to half a centimeter. The apical segments are shorter and have a rounded cross-section.
- Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides. The plant chooses branches and tree trunks for its growth. Cactus shoots are compared to sticks of fir trees. Primary shoots are round in diameter and reach 10–20 cm in length. Terminal segments from 1 cm to 1.5 cm, the same rounded.
- Rhipsalis prismatica. A cactus with a cylindrical trunk measuring 12-15 cm in length. The shoots of this variety of Ripsalis branch very densely and they grow from the top of the trunk. These stems are distinguished by the presence of 4–5 facets. The color of the buds is whitish.
- Rhipsalis empty (Rhipsalis cassutha). A plant leading an epiphytic way of existence. Its shoots consist of thin segments, hanging in shape and growing in length up to 3 m. Separate segments can be either 10 cm or half a meter. It has small nondescript flowers.
- Rhipsalis fascicular (Rhipsalis faciculata). An epiphyte cactus that can grow to a height of half a meter. The stem of the plant grows straight up or hangs down and has multiple branches. The shade of the shoots is light bluish-green, they consist of multiple segments, fleshy in appearance with a cylindrical shape. Their length varies from 6 cm to 10 cm, with a width of 6 mm. Areoles are very small, pubescent, without spines, with long setae. With the arrival of summer, white-green flowers begin to grow from the areolas on the sides of the segments. The buds are funnel-shaped, measuring a centimeter long and 5-7 cm in diameter, characterized by a short tube. After flowering, round white fruits appear, in which there are seeds, which are surrounded by pulp with the consistency of mucus.
- Rhipsalis fluffy (Rhipsalis floccosa). An epiphytic cactus with shoots hanging down, the segments of which are characterized by a rounded section, measuring 25 cm in length and 5–6 mm in diameter.
- Rhipsalis pachyptera (Rhipsalis pachyptera). The plant has extensive branching. At first, the stems grow upward, but later they begin to hang downward. They can grow up to a meter long. The shoots are painted in dark emerald shades and have a red edge. The shape of the segments is in the form of an ellipse or circle, with a relief. White flowers measure one and a half centimeters in length.
- Rhipsalis clavata (Rhipsalis clavata). An epiphytic plant that, when young, grows straight up, but over time, its shoots begin to hang. The stems can grow up to 1 m in length. Segments are 5 cm long and 2-3 mm wide.
- Rhipsalis elliptic (Rhipsalis eliptica). A cactus that grows like an epiphyte, the shoots of which can reach up to 2 m in length. Stem segments vary in length from 6 to 15 cm, with a width of 2.5 cm to 6 cm. Areoles have slight pubescence.
- Rhipsalis pilocarpa (Rhipsalis pilocarpa). This cactus grows on the trunks and branches of trees. Its stems are more rigid and powerful than other species. The branching is weak, the shoots are covered with short yellow hairs. Under good conditions, the flowering process will be repeated every six months or quarterly. The flowers are large and yellowish in color. The outer fluffiness of the buds is provided by multiple petals and stamens.
- Rhipsalis cereuscula (Rhipsalis cereuscula). Cactus shoots appear to be thin sticks.
Learn more about Ripsalis in this video:
