Ripsalidopsis

 

Cactus family. The homeland is the tropical rainforests of South America.

Ripsalidopsis are often confused with Schlumberger (or Decembrist). But in fact, these are two different plants of the genus Hatiora Hatiora, the main difference of which, as always, is determined by the structure of the flower. Ripsalidopsis have a radially symmetrical flower corolla structure - in schlumberger, the flower corolla is beveled. In addition, Schlumbergers bloom for Christmas, from which the Decembrists got their name. Ripsalidopsis bloom in spring. Accordingly, the rest period for the schlumberger is in February - March, for the ripsalidopsis from October to January.

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  • Gartner's ripsalidopsis Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (found as Schlumberger's gaertneri) is a large plant with leaf-like stem segments about 6-7 cm, having a wavy edge. The flower is bell-shaped petals pointed at the end, about 4 cm in diameter. The flowers are orange-red.
  • Ripsalidopsis rosea Rhipsalidopsis rosea is more compact than the previous species, segments of the stem 4-5 cm long, with a slightly festooned edge. With delicate pink flowers.
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Care for Ripsalidopsis

Temperature: Ideal conditions for growth and flowering are a little cool, about 18-22 ° C in the warm season, from October to January you need to provide a period of rest at a temperature of 15-17 ° C. Although ripsalidopsis live perfectly in ordinary home conditions all year round, a dormant period is needed, first of all, with an acute lack of light in winter and high temperature (from batteries), growth continues, but the shoots are frail, elongated. Do not forget that this is a forest, but a cactus.

Lighting: Light place, light partial shade in summer, but always shading from direct sunlight. It grows well on the north window. In winter, very good lighting, south or southwest window, without shading.

Watering: With the advent of buds, they water abundantly enough until the end of flowering - the earth should not remain dry for long. With the end of flowering, a decrease in temperature, lack of visible growth - watering is reduced, plants are well dried. Since September, the plant goes into a dormant stage, with a decrease in watering temperature, limited, watered occasionally, preventing the soil from only drying completely into dust.

Fertilizer: Fed from March to June with special fertilizers for cacti, every two weeks. It is impossible to use organic fertilizers for ripsalidopsis, as well as for other cacti.

Humidity: Spraying and occasional warm showers benefit forest cacti. It is especially good to spray in the morning, on hot summer days, but the moisture from the leaves should dry out before the sun's rays hit them.

Transplantation: Transplanted after flowering or in spring at the beginning of growth. The capacity for landing is quite spacious in width, but shallow. Forest cacti prefer soil with a slightly acidic pH reaction of 5.5-6. The mixture is the 1 part of the turf, the 2 part of the sheet, the 1 part of the small gravel, a little brick crumb. Make a 2cm drain on the bottom of the pot.

Reproduction: Seeds and cuttings, which are planted several pieces in one pot. Cuttings having 2-3 segments are dried for 2 days and rooted in moist substrate of leaf earth and sand in equal parts. Cuttings cannot be buried in the ground - it is enough that the lower part of the segment will simply touch the soil.

Seeds retain their germination for several years. They are sown in wide plates with a mixture of sheet earth in half with sand. Grown seedlings are planted in pots of several pieces to make the bushes look more beautiful and bushy.

Problems growing Ripsalidopsis

The plant sheds flowers and segments - if the soil is too waterlogged; if it was overfed with fertilizers or used organic fertilizers; if the air is too hot and dry.
Also, flowers can fall if the plant is rearranged from place to place.

Segments are pale with a reddish tint - if the lighting is too intense, brown spots are also possible - traces of sunburn.

The plant grows poorly and bushes, flowering is delayed or does not occur - if it is too dark indoors, if the rest period was not observed with cool maintenance, if there are not enough nutrients in the soil (i.e. the plant was not transplanted or fed for a long time).

Shoots drooped, the plant looks sluggish and lifeless, blackening at the base of the stem is possible - if it is too cold and damp in winter, the roots rot. Remove the flower from the pot, dust off the old earth and inspect the roots. Damaged, rotten roots must be removed. If a significant part of the roots or all the roots have suffered, then you can cut off the parts that have not yet withered into cuttings. If the roots are slightly damaged, then wash them with hot water (about 55 ° C), sprinkle with charcoal powder and plant in fresh soil. Withstand the temperature regime - in winter 15-17 ° C, in summer 18-20 ° C.

By the way

Propagation of Ripsalidopsis by seeds is quite easy to carry out. To do this, you only need two plants that are not related to each other, you can have a different species or variety. Pollen from the flowers of one plant is collected with a brush and transferred to the flowers of another. Some time after pollination, a fruit is formed at this place - a red berry. The fruit stays on the bush for a long time, and it can be torn off only when it begins to wrinkle, which means that the seeds have ripened.

Personal experience

On the cultivation of Ripsalidopsis Jakonya:

In the literature, they usually write about the dormant period in forest cacti. But I did not have to observe it in normal home conditions. I water as the topsoil dries. I.e. just as all house flowers usually do. He also tolerates a slight drought, but not to say that he loves.

Each rearrangement from place to place delays flowering for several months. Especially if it is also turned with the other side to the light.

In ripsalidopsis, the branches are usually tilted toward the light. If you unfold it, he first picks them up slowly. Then he tilts in the other direction to return to the light. And only after that in a month - the other blooms.