Cactus family. Epiphyllum refers to leafy cacti that have a bush-like shape and gradually woody stems. Its homeland is Central America and northern South America. There are 19 species in nature, most of them are epiphytes or lithophytes. Representatives of the genus Epiphyllum were first described in 1812 by Adrian Haworth. The name uses the Greek words epi - "on top" and phyllum - "leaf," it was assumed that flowers form at the ends of the leaves. In fact, what we consider a leaf is a modified shoot, leaves as such are absent in most species. Stems are of two types - primary (first order) cylindrical or wide trihedral, from them come stems of the second order, usually flattened. Secondary stems are wide and flat, rather fleshy about 3-5 mm thick, with a lobed edge (wide waves with more or less pronounced dissection). The flowers are large, 8-16 cm in diameter, white, pink, red, with numerous petals. Forms edible fruits of red color. Inside, white pulp and black small (1-2 mm) seeds.
Species of Epiphyllum
The sharp-leaved epiphyllum epiphyllum oxypetalum, or "Queen of the Night," is a particularly popular species, forming large, strongly fragrant flowers that bloom only for one night. The stems are erect, ascending, spreading, abundantly branching, the bases of the stems are rounded, flattened laterally, woody. Secondary shoots are flat, elliptically pointed, up to 30 cm long and 10-12 cm wide, thin, the edges of the leaves are wavy. Flowers are white or carmine red, reach 30 cm in length and 12-15 cm in diameter, very fragrant. Fruits are oblong, large about 10 cm in diameter, purple-red. The species is easy to care for, grows quickly, blooms in late spring or early summer. Synonyms: Phyllocactus acidolepestaceae, Cereus broadleaf, Epifullum broadleaf, Phyllocactus broadleaf, Phyllocactus grandis.
The serrated Epiphyllum crenatum, one of the main species involved in the formation of popular hybrids, is widely cultivated around the world. It is also a semi-epiphytic cactus, has an erect stem that branches copiously, the primary stems are rounded, gradually becoming woody at the base. Secondary stems are flat, greyish-green, up to 60 cm long, up to 6-10 cm wide, rigid, sometimes with hairs or small setae. Needle-free areoles. The flowers are white 18-25 cm long and 12-20 cm wide, open at night, but remain open for several days, fragrant. Fruits are elongated-rounded or spherical, pointed. Synonyms: Echinocereus serrated, Phyllocactus serrated.
Epiphyllum Lau Epiphyllum laui - this species was discovered relatively recently, in 1975, discovered in Mexico, leads a predominantly lithophytic lifestyle - grows in crevices of rocks, fossilized lava eruptions. The stems are basally branching (mainly from the base of the bush). Secondary leaves are flattened linear, town-like segments 5-7 cm wide, with convex veins, slightly wavy. In areoles, spines from 1 to 5, 3-5 mm long, hairy, yellow-brown in color. The flowers are white funnel-shaped 15-16 cm long, 14-16 cm wide, open in the evening and remain fully unfolded for two days. Fruits are oblong, 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, carmine red. As a domestic plant, it is very rare, difficult in culture, often infected with viral diseases. The difficulty of growing is that this species of Epiphyllum does not like heat, requires mandatory coolness in winter. In nature, it grows at an altitude of 1800-2000 m above sea level, the temperature at night drops to + 2- + 5 ° C. This species did not participate in hybridization (unpromising).
The epiphyllum is angular Epiphyllum anguliger - the stems are abundantly branching, the primary stems are rounded at the base, more often woody, their apical parts and secondary stems are flat, 20-30 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, deeply dissected, and the segments are sometimes almost rectangular with a blunt or slightly rounded end. The areoles have small white setae. In nature, clings to tree trunks, throwing out aerial roots . Houses, too, often form aerial roots. Flowers are white, 8-20 cm long, 6-7 cm wide, open by night, very fragrant. Fruits are ovoid, brown, greenish or yellowish, up to 3-4 cm in diameter. The original species blooms in adulthood (when the bush is already large enough). There are many varieties that differ in the color of flowers, lemon-yellow shades, pink or lavender, rarely found in home collections in Russia.
Epiphyllum low Epiphyllum pumilum - has erect, ascending stems, later they droop, flatten, form very long lashes - up to 5 m long and abundantly branching. The main stem is lignified at the base, rounded, the secondary stems and apical parts of the primary stems are flat, elongated-lanceolate, 15-50 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, pointed, with a serrated or finely wavy edge. The flowers are white, pink, 10-15 cm long, nocturnal and fragrant. Fruits are ovoid, 2.5 cm thick. It usually blooms in summer or early autumn. This species is notable because the flowers are much smaller than those of other species, and the shoots often have shorter segments. Quite a heat-loving species - in nature it grows in the plains of Guatemala, where there is high humidity and humus-rich soil. Wintering at 15 ° C is enough for him.
Species Epiphyllums are used to create hybrids, both interspecific and with other representatives of the cactus family, for example, from the genus Hylocereus Hylocereus, and among them there are wild hybrids formed in nature on their own, some scientists distinguish them into an independent genus Phyllocactus phyllocactus.
Epiphyllum - home care
Epiphyllum is easy to grow at home, most species are adapted to the temperature regime of apartments, tolerate the heating season well, grow vigorously and bloom easily. The greatest success in growing and faster obtaining flowering is achieved by the happy owners of winter gardens and greenhouses - if there is a cool dormant period for 3-4 months, a lot of space, scattered light, fresh air, epiphyllums form lush bushes and bloom very abundantly, at the ends of each shoot. Do not forget that epiphyllums are by nature epiphytes, semi-epiphytes or lithophytes, which means that they do not fit ordinary garden land, but need to make up the appropriate soil.
Expert opinion, Vladimir Melnikov (cactus collector): "Epiphyllums are plants of tropical rainforests. I.e. on almost any window they will feel good. East is the best option. Watering plentiful. Feeding is mandatory, or replant every year after flowering. But wintering is mandatory. At least 2 months at 15 ° C without watering. And so there can be no problems with him. Nice, grateful cactus. And the flowers are awesome. Now in Europe there are a lot of hybrids. Although these plants take up a lot of space, their flowers are very beautiful. By the way, do not forget that the flowers of the epiphillum appear mainly only on new shoots."
Temperature: in summer, ordinary room or like outside. You can take it to the garden or to the balcony when the night temperature does not drop below 12 ° C. Epiphyllums do not tolerate greenhouse conditions, they cannot be left on a closed balcony, with slot ventilation, they cannot tolerate temperatures above 28 ° C. From September to February, it is advisable to provide a dormant period at a temperature of 15-16 ° C, winter-flowering cacti need a cool dormant period from September to the end of November, a temperature minimum for most species and hybrids of 12 ° C (briefly up to + 8 ° C with complete dryness). With the formation of buds or after 2-3 months of cool content, the pots must be transferred to a warm place where the temperature is about 18-22 ° C. With the end of flowering, it is advisable (but not necessary) to give the plants a little more respite - a month in coolness (16-18 ° C), without feeding with limited watering.
Lighting: Epiphyllum requires scattered sunlight, at home this means that you need to adapt to seasonal weather changes: from March (late February in the southern regions) to August you need shading from 11 to 16 hours from direct sun. From September (in the southern regions of October) to January-February, shading may not be needed - in central Russia in winter the sun is rare and not scorching.
- if you have sunny windows (southern and western orientation), the pot should not be placed directly on the windowsill, but next to the window, a maximum of 1.5 m from the window
- if you have windows of northern orientation - the pot needs to be hung directly on the window, no shading is needed
- if you have moderately light windows (east, northwest) - this is the best option, you can hang a pot by the glass or next to the window
- if the windows are sunny, but shaded from the street by trees or neighboring houses, you can safely put the pot on the sunny window from September to early spring
The general rule: epiphyllum needs enough light of low intensity, this is a cactus, it is not shade-loving, it is shade-tolerant (feel the difference and get flowering). If you are dark and cannot move closer to the light, you can hang daylight lamps or LEDs for 7-10 W nearby (from 1 to 3 lamps depending on the size of the bush). In winter, it takes 4 hours of direct sun in the morning or evening if the room is warm and the cactus continues to grow.
Watering: in warm times and during flowering, watering is plentiful - the soil should be moist all the time in the depth of the pot, but have time to dry out in the upper part to the depth of the finger. In the cold period (including during a cold snap in summer or spring, when the heating is turned off), watering is stricter, with good drying of the soil. After the top layer of the earth dries, you need to wait another 7-10 days before the next irrigation.
Feeding: after transplantation in 1.5-2 months, during the period of active growth (in spring and summer), you can feed every two weeks with complex fertilizer for cacti, when kept all year round in a warm room and very good lighting, especially if flowering falls on winter time, feed once a month. Never exceed the dosage of fertilizers, do not use organic dressing or dressing for deciduous plants. Do not feed during rest in the absence of growth!
Air humidity: Epiphyllum loves moist air, 40-50% are ideal for it. This means that when the temperature is above 25 ° C, periodic spraying is required. You can also give cacti a warm shower (about 45 ° C) to wash off dust and stimulate growth. By the way, a single watering with hot water after the resting season (temperature about 60 ° C) also stimulates growth. In winter, spraying is necessary if the room is heated. If plants are left until autumn on a glazed balcony, as well as on cold or rainy days in summer, spraying is not necessary.
Flight connections
Transplantation as needed - adult plants, young - annually. Transplanted after flowering or in spring from late February to May at any time. Do not transplant if buds appear on the shoots! Do not replant purchased flowering plants.
Which pot to choose
Young epiphyllums have erect stems, and for the first year or two they grow in a bush, you can plant in an ordinary pot. Over time, the shoots lengthen and hang. You can transplant the plant into a hanging planter, or leave it in a regular pot of a suitable size, but install a support in it. In any case, the landing container is spacious and shallow, taking into account the lower drainage. Epiphyllum does not tolerate too spacious pots - if there is a lot of undeveloped land left, it is easy to pour and destroy the plant.
Soil
Soil for epiphyllum: light, rich in humus, well drained, pH 5.8-6.5. You can use the following components:
- 3 of coconut fiber (or substrate)
- 1 agroperlite
- 1 part of the universal soil (garden land or from a pack - Terra Vita Living land)
- 0.1 part of bone meal (in the fertilizer department)
Another recipe for soil suitable for forest epiphytic cacti:
- 2 parts of sheet earth
- 1 part of coconut substrate
- 1/3 parts of well-rotted compost (manure lying 2-3 years)
- 1 vermiculitis
- 1 fine gravel chips (3-5 mm)
After preparing the earth mixture, at the bottom of the pot, increase the holes for water runoff, pour the drainage from foam or coarse expanded clay, now you can plant.
Reproduction
Epiphyllum is propagated by cuttings, a wide part of a modified shoot, or seeds. For vegetative reproduction, you can cut off any piece (tip) of the "leaf," but preferably from 5 to 10 cm. Usually cuttings are easily rooted at any time of the year, if there is enough light (you can under the lamps). If the stalk is cut from a very wide part, it must be narrowed at the base, cut off from the sides so that a strip 3-5 cm wide remains. Root in the soil mixture: sheet earth (or universal soil) and vermiculite in equal parts. The soil must be sterilized. The handle must be placed on a sheet of paper and left to dry at room temperature for 1-2 days. Then stick into slightly moistened soil to a depth of about 5 mm, fix it by tying it to a peg. For rooting it is important: constantly moderately wet soil, without dampness and drying, and enough light. Roots form within 2-3 weeks. You will learn about successful rooting when the leaf begins to grow.
Forum Discussion: Epiphyllum
Epiphyllum seeds reproduce like any other cacti: we make a mixture of leaf earth (or universal soil) and vermiculite in equal parts. Pour into a wide area, 6-7 cm high, lay out the seeds on the surface in rows or in any order, leave 1.5-2 cm between them. The seeds must be sprinkled with a thin layer of earth, no more than 5 mm. Moisten the soil from the spray gun and put the plate in a warm place. Seeds germinate at 24-25 ° C. Crops need to be covered with film or glass so that the soil does not dry out, but ventilate 2-3 times a day. As soon as seedlings appear, put them in a very bright place or under lamps for 12-14 hours of daylight. You can dive 1.5-2 months after the emergence of seedlings.
Why the epiphyllum doesn't bloom
For the epiphyllum to bloom, he needs a pronounced seasonality: a change in climate from wet and warm to dry and cool. Although sometimes daily temperature fluctuations of 8-10 ° C are enough if the plant stands on a balcony or in the garden.
The second important factor is good lighting. For flowering, you need from 1 to 4 hours of non-scorching sun, that is, in the morning or in the evening. But it is important that there is no heat on the window during the sunny period. So, western windows, especially with closed vents, can be more dangerous than southern ones - in spring and summer in the evening it is already very hot and stuffy in the room, the leaves of the cacti turn red, or acquire a purple tint.
From personal experience, Lilac: "I had an epiphillum, old for over 20 years. In the parent's house, he stood on the northwest window, near which a tall tree grew. The room was 15-18 degrees in winter. Sometimes stems with ice froze to the glass . In summer, all plants were carried out into the fresh air. Every year in April he bloomed for 4-6 weeks! At the same time, it was rearranged on the table, a meter from the window . Grew up in a small clay pot, transplanted once. The soil mixture did itself."
Veta: "My epiphillum did not bloom for about 15 years, while they lived on the ground floor, where it is always dark. The summer spent on an unlocked loggia did not help either. Lopukhi grew, stuck out in all directions, but did not bloom. This year it bloomed in a new apartment. Changed: a) lighting - the side is also eastern, but already on the 16th floor, b) wintering on the loggia at a temperature of 10-14 ° C, c) sprayed with epine a couple of times in the spring. Now the fruits are hanging."