Rhipsalis
Cactus family (Cactaceae) - forest epiphytic cactus, naturally growing on the trees, at least - on the cliffs. His birthplace - West-India, South America. Translated from the Greek word rhips - wicker, which is long stems of the cacti.
Morphology
Even the same kind of Rhipsalis stems come in different forms - ribbed, round, flattened leaf-like and various shades of green. They are usually devoid of thorns, abundantly branched, often hanging from trees and rocky ledges. Have the form whorled branching, succulent shoots yellowish - green, wedge which range from the base to the apex. The stems have aerial roots, able potoschat moisture directly from the air. In numerous areoles appear small delicate flowers shaped like bells - white, pink, yellow or bright red. These brightly colored and varied in Rhipsalis fruit in the form of small berries with many small black seeds that have sticky outgrowth.
Types
Barceló Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis burchellii) - epiphytic cactus, length of the primary stems up to 60 cm, the length of the terminal stems about 6 cm with a diameter of 1-2 mm.
Trichomanes Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis capilliformis) - epifetny ampelnoe cactus with soft, thin, branching stems. The flowers are small, whitish.
Gobeliana Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis goebeliana) - epiphytic cactus stem segments having two varieties. Primary basis in the round, then flatten. The length of the terminal segments of 8-13 cm, width - 1,5-3 cm.
Kinky Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis crispata) - bushy cactus stem segments broad, leaf-shaped. Their length is 6-10 cm, width - 2-4 cm.
Lindbergh Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis lindbergiana) - epiphytic cactus with long drooping stems. The length of the stem of the primary segments - up to 1 m, the diameter of 3-5 mm. Secondary segments are shorter, they are rounded in cross-section.
Mezembriantemovidny Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides) - epiphytic cactus stems resemble spruce sticks. Primary stem segments in the cross section rounded, 10-20 cm long. Length secondary segments 1-1.5 cm in cross-section they are also rounded.
Rounded Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis teres) - strongly branching plant with cylindrical, erect at first, later drooping shoots up to half a meter and a thickness not exceeding 5 mm. The flowers are small, yellowish.
Prismatic Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis prismatica) - branching plant with sturdy cylindrical inner barrel length of 12-15 cm from the top of which runs shoots with 4-5 faces. Flowers are white.
Pustoplodny Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis cassutha) - epiphytic cactus with slender, jointed, hangs stems up to 3 m in length, the individual segments - up to 10-50 cm. Flowers are small, inconspicuous.
Bunchy Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis fasciculata) - epiphytic cactus, up to 40-50 cm, erect or drooping branched stems, pale bluish-green color. Cylindrical fleshy stems are composed of numerous segments of 8-10 cm and a width of about b mm, pubescent with small areoles without spines, but with long bristles. In the early summer of lateral areoles appear numerous funnel-day flowers about 1 cm long and 5-7 cm in diameter, with a short tube, greenish-white. Small globular white fruits are filled with seeds embedded in the lining of the pulp.
Fluffy Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis floccosa) - epiphytic cactus with long stems hang. Stem segments of circular cross-section, a length of 25 cm and a diameter of 5-6 mm.
Tolstokryly Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis pachyptera) - branching plant, beginning with the standing, later drooping shoots up to 1 m. Shoots dark green with red edges, elliptical or circular, in relief. The flowers are small, to 1.5 cm in length, are white.
Bossy Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis clavata) - epiphytic cacti, at a young age with erect stems. Do they hang overgrown specimens. The length of the stems can reach 1 m. Length of stem segments of 5 cm in diameter - 2-3 mm.
Elliptic Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis eliptica) - epiphytic cactus, stem length reaches 1-2 m. Length of stem segments from 6 to 15 cm, and their width is 2.5-6 cm. Areoles slightly pubescent.
Pilokarpa Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis pilocarpa) - epiphytic cactus stems which are more powerful and tough, not very branched and covered with short yellowish hairs. In suitable conditions, blooms 2-3 times a year. At the same time pretty blooms abundantly large yellowish flowers. Flowers have many petals and stamens, from what seem to be fluffy.
Tsereuskula Rhipsalis (Rhipsalis cereuscula) - epiphytic cactus stems consist of thin fleshy and short segments that are well branched. It seems that the plant is as if from thin sticks. May take shape as ampelnoe and take tree-like view, but then it must be tied. At room conditions blooms very rarely.
Plant care
Lighting. Rhipsalis grow better in a bright room. They need a diffuse light, but can grow in partial shade. During warmer months, you can make the balcony.
High. Spring-summer optimum temperature of 18-20 ºС. In winter, it is desirable to include Rhipsalis in cool conditions, but at a temperature of not lower than 10 ºС.
Humidity. Rhipsalis is not too picky about the humidity, bad moves in the winter dry air in the apartment, but in the heat of the plant, it is desirable to spray.
Watering. During the period of growth and flowering watered regularly during the rest - a little and often. Roots Rhipsalis sensitive to an excess of moisture and can readily rot.
Feeding. Periodically, 1-2 times a month fed fertilizer for cacti in a period of growth. Fertilizer diluted to half the rules specified in the instructions. Excess nitrogen is contraindicated for wood of cactus.
Transplantation. Transplant necessary, adult plants after 3-4 years. Best suited shallow hanging pots. Stems from Rhipsalis brittle, transplant need careful not to damage the stems and weak root system.
Soil. It is important that the mixture is fluffy. Using soil slightly acid or neutral. Suitable mixture of turf, leaf soil and sand. Or you can mix the usual truck farm soil, peat and coarse sand. Or ready-mix for cacti. At the bottom is poured drainage.
Reproduction. Propagated Rhipsalis without any problems cuttings with 2-3 segments. Cuttings break off (not cut) from the parent plant, a little dried and placed in a light, slightly moist soil or sand. Rooting occurs fairly quickly.
Diseases and pests. Affected red flat mite (symptoms: leaves stanoev sluggish in rusty spots appear when dry air), scale insects (symptoms: on leaves and stems appear brown plaque, leaving a sticky discharge).
Plant can help finish a soap solution, and washing the warm spray aktellik (1-2 ml per liter of water). When excess moisture begins to rot the stem base.
Possible difficulties
- rhipsalis often discards of segments and buds - such symptoms are at supercooling plants at peresushke earthen clod, change the location of the plants, decaying root system;
- root system is not too strong rhipsalis and easily rot.