Ripsalis

This culture is a prominent representative of the Cactus family. Rhipsalis has a synonym and is often referred to as a twig. Such a plant grows in the form of small shrubs, and includes about fifty varieties. This plant is epiphytic. In nature, it can be found in tropical conditions with high levels of air humidity. Typically, ripsalis grows in countries such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and the southern and northern parts of the United States. On the surface of the soil, such plants are less common, but in rocky terrain, as well as on the trunks of various trees, Ripsalis grows very willingly. Some varieties of this plant can be grown at home.

Ripsalis: photos

Briefly about the growing conditions for ripsalis

Ripsalis blooms, as a rule, in the last month of winter or in the first spring. If this culture is grown correctly, and all the basic recommendations for plant care are followed, then the flowering of Ripsalis can occur not once, but several times a year.

Ripsalis shows good results in a light shade, as well as with a large amount of diffused light. It is best to place the plant pot on an east or west exposure window. At the same time, aggressive direct sunlight, which appears at noon, should not fall on the plant.

In spring, as well as in summer, the temperature should be maintained within +20 +26 degrees. As for winter, at this time the temperature should be lowered and reach about +16 degrees. Moreover, this indicator in winter should not be lower than ten degrees.

Water the Ripsalis plant regularly. This is done after the soil has dried by a third.

In order for Ripsalis to develop well and gain in growth, it is necessary to maintain the humidity of the environment at a high level. It is best to use a special device that increases this indicator in the room. In addition, you can pour expanded clay or pebbles into a bowl, and pour water on top. A pot with a plant is placed on such a container.

Nutrient application starts in March and ends in October. As a rule, this procedure is carried out a couple of times in thirty days. To this end, it is best to use a complex of mineral-based fertilizers that are designed for species such as cacti and succulents. It is allowed to use other dressings in the complex, but the fertilizer concentration must be halved. This plant, from October to March itself, does not require feeding.

In winter, after flowering has ended, ripsalis has a dormant period. It usually lasts from one to one and a half months.

At a young age, plants are replanted annually. And as for adult ripsalis, then for them this procedure is carried out less often, about once every four to five years. The plant is transplanted by transshipment.

This culture propagates with the help of cuttings, seeds, and also by dividing the shrub.

Ripsalis can be attacked by scale insects and spider mites. Due to improper care, the plant can develop chlorosis.

Ripsalis: photos

Characteristics of ripsalis

This culture is epiphytic and grows in the form of a compact bush. Branches quite intensively, has aerial roots. The green part is covered with fluff. It should be noted that thorns are absent in all varieties.

The stems have a drooping orientation, they can have different shapes: round, flat, or with ribbing. The flowers are miniature, there is a corolla, which can be pink, yellow. There are also corollas with white and orange coloration. Flowers are located both in the upper part of the shoot and throughout the stem. The fruits are shaped like a berry. Fruits can have different colors: pinkish, snow-white and even black.

Ripsalis cactus: photo

Ripsalis: home care

Growing a Ripsalis cactus at home is not difficult at all, since Ripsalis is not a very whimsical culture. However, for successful cultivation, it is necessary to create the conditions in which Ripsalis is used to growing in nature. The illumination level of the room, as well as the temperature regime, should be optimal for ripsalis. In addition, it is important to water and fertilize the plant on time.

In summer and spring, the ambient temperature should vary from +19 to +25 degrees. In winter, the plant is in a dormant period, it is gaining energy for further active growth. During this period, the temperature drops to about +16 degrees. If for a short time the temperature for some reason drops to +10 degrees, this is not critical for Ripsalis. But the presence of a plant for a long time at such a temperature can destroy the Ripsalis. If there is no way to move the flower pot during the rest period to a cool room, then you can leave it in the room.

Ripsalis succulent in nature prefers shaded areas of the tropics. For this reason, the direct sunlight should not be allowed to hit the plants. For this reason, placing a pot of ripsalis on a south-facing windowsill is only possible as a last resort. The best option would be a west or east window. In this case, in the afternoon, you still have to shade the plant from aggressive rays. If you want, you can place the flower not on the windowsill, but in the depths of the room, or put the pot on the windowsill with a north orientation. At the same time, it is worth knowing that ripsalis will grow and develop in such conditions slowly, and you can not wait for flowering.

The soil in a pot with succulent ripsalis should be watered when the earth dries up by one third. You can use a pencil to check this. It is placed in the soil so that the tip reaches the bottom of the container. Next, the pencil is pulled out, on the adhered earth you can understand how wet the soil is.

If during the dormant period you moved the plant to cool conditions, then you need to water it much less often. If you left the Ripsalis in the same place in winter, then watering is carried out as usual. In particular, do not forget about watering if the air becomes too dry due to heating devices. In this case, the moisture level of the soil is checked using a wooden stick or pencil. The plant is watered after the soil dries up by one third.

Watering the ripsalis plant is best done with water that has stood for at least two days. Filtered water will do as well. It should not be cold, the best option is room temperature. Do not forget that over-watering, as well as a lack of moisture, can adversely affect the condition of the plant.

In its natural habitat, this plant grows in tropical areas where the humidity level is quite high.For this reason, it is necessary to provide plants with the necessary conditions similar to natural ones. To increase this indicator, you can use a special technique that increases the humidity of the air. You can systematically spray the air in the room with water using a spray bottle. In addition, it is recommended to place the container with a flower on a bowl with moistened pebbles. Expanded clay is also suitable for the same purpose. From time to time, you can douse the plant with a warm shower. So, you will clean the flower of dust, and also improve the general condition of the ripsalis.

During the growing season, which falls on the period from March to October, additional feeding is necessary. This is done twice a month. For this purpose, it is best to use fertilizer in combination with the content of mineral elements. Special liquid cactus feed is best suited. If you use a universal feed, then the concentration should be halved from that indicated on the label.

When applying fertilizers, it is worth remembering that too much nitrogen can have a very bad effect on the condition of the plant. During the dormant period (October - March), top dressing is not applied. This applies to the plant if you moved it to a cool place for the winter. If the flower remains to overwinter in the same place, then fertilizing is carried out in the same mode as in other seasons. The amount of nutrients remains the same.

How to transplant Ripsalis?

While the plant is still young, it is transplanted every year. A plant that has already grown is transplanted once every three years. A plant "aged" is transplanted every four to five years. The root system is quite tender, it is located in the top layer of the soil. For this reason, for transplanting Ripsalis, you need to buy a wide and not too tall flowerpot. The transplant should be carried out carefully, with the help of transshipment. The clod of earth that is located with the root system should be tried to be preserved as completely as possible.

A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting container; it should be about one fourth of the total volume of the pot. Expanded clay is well suited for this. This measure is necessary so that the liquid in the root system of the plant does not stagnate. After that, the ripsalis is transplanted into a new container by transshipment. The empty space should be filled with soil, the pH reaction of which should be at a neutral or weak level. The soil mixture should consist of leafy soil, turf soil, peat and river sand. All listed ingredients must be in the same amount. You can prepare another version of the soil by mixing sand (one part), leafy soil (two parts) and turf soil (four parts). To disinfect the soil, you need to add a little charcoal to the soil mixture. So you protect your plant from diseases that may occur in the root system.

Typically, this crop begins to bloom in late winter or early spring. It also happens that the flowering of ripsalis does not occur, which greatly upsets the flower growers. If this is your case, then pay attention to the growing conditions of the plant, whether all recommendations are followed. Is the sun's rays, fertilizing, watering enough for the plant? There are also cases when the plant discards the already formed inflorescences. As a rule, this problem arises when putrefactive processes appear in the root system. It can also be a symptom of overdried soil and moving the pot to a new place.

Ripsalis flower: photo

Reproduction of ripsalis at home

Using cuttings

This method is quite simple and is suitable even for novice florists. To this end, you need to choose a middle-aged plant and break off a small piece from the shoot. After this, the cutting is recommended to be left in the fresh air so that it dries properly.

No water is used to root the stalk. For this purpose, the section is immediately placed in a moist soil mixture, which includes peat and river sand. The quantity is equal. The best rooting result is usually observed at a temperature of about +25 degrees. To make the process go faster, you need to create a mini-greenhouse. For this, the planting must be covered with polyethylene, which is capable of transmitting light. Every day you need to remove the insulation so that the cuttings are ventilated. In addition, condensation that accumulates on the polyethylene must be removed regularly.

By dividing the plant

This procedure is quite convenient to carry out during plant transplantation. In this case, you need to be careful, because the root system of the Ripsalis cactus is quite delicate, and it is very easy to damage it. Planting containers are prepared in advance. A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of each pot. In this case, the soil is used in the same way as during plant transplantation. After transplanting, it is imperative that the plants be thoroughly shed with water. At first, plants that have not yet matured need to be protected from the scorching sun rays.

Seed method

This method of reproduction of ripsalis is practically not used by flower growers. But if you have time and patience, then you can propagate ripsalis and seeds.

For this purpose, crops are carried out in a not too large container. The substrate must be suitable for cacti. Crops need to be watered systematically, the soil should always be slightly moistened. Seedlings are formed, as a rule, quite amicably. When the sprouts have grown enough and become strong, they can be dived into separate containers. Further, the plants need to be kept at a temperature of about +24 degrees.

Ripsalis flower: photo

About harmful insects and diseases of ripsalis

Ripsalis diseases

Chlorosis is quite dangerous for Ripsalis. If the plant "caught" such a disease, then the leaf plates begin to turn yellow, their size becomes too small. Leaves begin to fall off ahead of time. Flowers also vary in size and shape. Ripsalis roots can also be affected by this disease, this can destroy the plant. In order not to face such a problem, it is necessary to observe the correct lighting mode. There should not be too little light, but too much will not be good either. Keep an eye on the pH level in the soil, it should be about five units. Often this problem appears if tap water is used for irrigation. In it, as a rule, acidity is higher than normal and can be equal to seven units.

If you are faced with such a problem as chlorosis, then you need to periodically water the plants with a weak solution of lemon acid. If you try such a solution, then it should only slightly acidify. From time to time, you need to make dressings that contain a chelated form of iron. It is in this form that the absorption of iron occurs more actively. Such dressing should be applied by foliar method, that is, "on the sheet".

Ripsalis pests

The greatest danger to this culture is the scale insect and spider mite. If you find adult scale insects on a plant with the naked eye, then they must be removed with a stick and cotton wool smeared with soapy water or alcohol. The fact is that already matured scale insects are not afraid of chemicals due to their strong shell. The same goes for their eggs. After the adults are removed, you need to thoroughly rinse the plant with a warm shower. Ripsalis should dry completely after that. Further, it is imperative to carry out treatment with insecticides. This is done by spraying. To do this, you can use Fitoverm, Aktellik or Aktara. There are other similar products in garden stores. If the plant contains too many harmful insects, then prepare for repeated processing.After a single treatment, most likely the problem will not be resolved.

As for the spider mite, this pest occurs when the indoor air is dry. Ripsalis is quite picky about high levels of air humidity. For this reason, this condition must be observed so that the spider mite does not annoy your plant. Upon detection of this pest, it is necessary to correct the situation with humidity and increase it to the desired level. First, you can douse the plant with a warm shower, after which you need to spray the air near the flower from a spray bottle every day.

If the air humidity is high, then such a pest as a spider mite simply cannot survive. But if there are too many mites on the plant, then just an increase in humidity is not enough. In this situation, the plant is also poured with a warm shower, and then treatment is carried out by spraying with acaricide. Most often, for this purpose, flower growers use Kleshchevit, Aktellik, Apollo, Aktara.

Ripsalis: video

Rhipsalis: types of cactus

Ripsalis Cereuscula

This type of Ripsalis cactus is quite popular among flower lovers. Shoots of Ripsalis Cereusculus are not too long, thin. They grow in different directions. This applies to the stems of the second level. As for the main shoots, they are quite elongated, in shape they resemble an arc. Ripsalis Cereuskala flowers are white, they grow a couple of centimeters in length. It is worth noting that Ripsalis Cereuskal blooms very rarely at home. Even if all the conditions are met, healthy Ripsalis cereusculum still has very few flowers.

Ripsalis Cereuskula: photo

Ripsalis Pilocarpa

The shoots of Ripsalis Pilocarp have a more rigid structure than the one that we described above. The stems are quite strong, the branching is not too intense. In addition, it has a light yellow fluff on the surface. If all the conditions for growing are observed, then flowering can even occur three times in one year. The flowers of Ripsalis Pilocarp have a bright pleasant aroma and are colored in a light yellow shade. Ripsalis Pilocarp flowers contain a large number of petals, making the flowers look very luxuriant. In size, the flower reaches from two to three centimeters. If the pollination process takes place, then after a while the fruits will appear. They resemble a ball in shape, and they are painted in a rich crimson tone. They also look quite decorative.

Ripsalis Pilocarpa: photos

Ripsalis Pachiptera

Among the ripsalis, which have leaf-shaped stems, this one is the most common. The stems of Pachipter's Ripsalis are large, sometimes reaching several centimeters in width. The stems have a glossy surface and a dark green color with a reddish tint. Flowers are formed at the edges of such leaves. They are painted in a pale yellowish tone. In size, Pachipter's ripsalis reach about one and a half centimeters. Quite a large number of stamens are contained.

Ripsalis Pachiptera: photos

Hairy ripsalis

Hairy Rhipsalis, as a rule, is grown in ampelous form. It is an epiphyte. The stems are quite flexible and slender, green in color. The bush grows quite densely, has a cascading shape. In their length, the stems can grow one to one and a half meters. Bloom comes from time to time. The flowers of the hairy ripsalis are miniature, there are many of them. The colors are rather pale. An adult shrub looks very beautiful and decorative.

Ripsalis hairy: photo

Ripsalis Kassuta

Ripsalis Kassuta is also called barren ripsalis. The shoots are quite thin, in their length they can reach about 3 meters. Ripsalis Kassuth flowers are not too large. The fruits, after they have reached their full maturity, resemble gooseberries in shape and appearance.

Ripsalis Kassuta: photos

Ripsalis Barchela

Ripsalis Barchela is a succulent plant.Feels good at home. Shoots of Ripsalis Barchez can grow up to sixty centimeters.

Rhipsalis: photo of a cactus

Ripsalis Lindbergh

Primary shoots in their length can grow up to one meter, in width they reach a maximum of half a centimeter. The flowers are miniature, have a light pinkish color.

Ripsalis: photos

Curly ripsalis

The bush grows quite luxuriantly, the stems have a falling direction. Such shoots have flat segments, they are elongated. From time to time, small flowers are formed on them, which are painted in a cream shade.

Ripsalis: photos

Elliptical ripsalis

The shoots are elongated, contain long elements. In total, each stem is about one and a half meters long. And the elements on it are about ten centimeters long. The flowers are miniature, slightly pubescent.

Ripsalis: photos

Fluffy ripsalis

It is a relatively large plant with round stems. After a while, the shoots acquire a lignified structure. Along the entire shoot, small flowers are periodically formed, which are painted in a white tone. When pollinated, fruits are formed that are in the shape of a ball and are painted in white.

Ripsalis: photos

Elongated ripsalis

This is an ampelous variety of this culture. Includes large items. In their shape, they resemble oak leaf plates.

Ripsalis: photos

Ripsalis Roussel

From time to time, fruits appear along the shoots of this variety, which are painted in a deep pink color.

Ripsalis: photos

Gnarled ripsalis

The stems resemble sticks in shape, the branching is quite intense. The cross section is round. Shoots contain a large number of short lengths. The flowers are large enough, painted white. They form only at the top of the stems.

Ripsalis: photos

Strange Ripsalis

This type is also called a paradox. This plant has an extraordinary appearance that can surprise even the most sophisticated indoor plant lovers. The ribs of this plant are quite elongated, they include elements that alternate with intervals of a flat shape.

Ripsalis: photos

Mesembriantemic Ripsalis

Rhipsalis mesembriantemy looks very decorative. On the main shoots, the second order of stems is located. They are very close to each other. Ripsalis mesembriantemovy blooms, as a rule, in winter. Flowers of Ripsalis mesembryanthemum are formed between the stems of the 2nd order. The flowers are shaped like stars, painted in a snow-white color. In size they reach no more than one and a half centimeters.

Ripsalis mesembriantemic: photo

Rolling ripsalis

The shoots of this variety are directed downward, have a falling shape. In their length, they grow by about half a meter. The stems are no more than half a centimeter in diameter. The section is in the form of a cylinder. At the top, there are five to twelve elements. Flowers are miniature, painted in a pale yellow tone. They reach about ten millimeters in diameter.

Ripsalis: photos