Rhipsalidopsis

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. America.

Description. Rhipsalidopsis is an epiphytic forest cactus. The stems are segmented, dark green, drooping, abundantly branched. The segments are oblong-oval, young segments are almost flat, up to 4 cm long and lighter than the old ones. Flowers appear abundantly at the ends of the shoots, in a variety of colors - pink, orange, lilac, white, with pointed long petals and yellow stamens, open in the daytime. The buds reach 7.5 cm in diameter, each one remains open and attractive for about 5 days, closing at night. If the flowers are pollinated, the cacti form round, red fruits with dark, small seeds.

Height. The stems reach 60 cm in length and grow slowly.

Care at home

When it blooms 

Flowering time is spring. If the plant is kept cool at a temperature of about 18° C, flowering will last for about 2 months. With proper care, re-blooming in the fall is possible. 

Reproduction

It is often propagated vegetatively - by stem cuttings 8-10 cm long in early summer. The cuttings are not cut with a sharp knife, but twisted upwards. The cut site should be dried for 3-4 hours before planting to avoid rotting. Root the cuttings in wet peat with sand, deepening them to a depth of about 2-3 cm. Cover the young seedlings with a polyethylene cap or glass to retain moisture. Rooting lasts 3-6 weeks. Even individual stem segments can be used as cuttings, which are immersed in the ground to about 1/3 of the height.

It is possible to obtain rhipsalidopsis from seeds - they are sown on the surface of the soil and lightly pressed into the surface, without covering the top with soil.

How to transplant

Transplantation is carried out in spring, after flowering, every 2-3 years. The cactus prefers a slightly cramped pot - in such conditions the plants will bloom better. Never transplant flowering specimens.

Diseases and pests 

Withered, limp stems are a sign of dry soil. Too much light during flowering will cause the plant to turn yellow, and the rhipsalidopsis will not bloom the following season. The buds fall off when conditions change. Rhipsalidopsis does not bloom due to too long a daylight period - more than 14 hours. Overwatering the soil can quickly lead to root rot, and the cactus can lose individual segments of the stems. Always remove excess water from the tray. If you keep it cool during flowering, the bush will drop its buds.

Pests include mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, and scale insects.

Soil for growing rhipsalidopsis 

Well-drained soil consisting of peat, humus, pine bark, coarse river sand, perlite. The content of the drainage part can reach 50 percent of the total volume of the mixture.

Growing

After flowering, cacti enter a dormant period that lasts about a month. Keep the flower cool during this time, reduce watering to a minimum, and stop fertilizing until new growth appears in the spring. Regularly carry out formative pruning - shorten the stems to form a compact, dense shape in the spring. After flowering begins, do not change the conditions. Changes in lighting and temperature, moving the cactus to a new location will force the plant to shed its buds. For flowering to occur, daylight hours should be short - only 8 - 10 hours. In spring and summer, take the pots outside. Remove wilting buds in a timely manner.

How to water

Keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet, during active growth. During flowering, the soil should dry out between waterings to a depth of about 3 cm. After flowering, reduce the frequency of watering until new shoots appear in the spring - provide a rest period. In autumn and winter, dry the soil to 1/3 of the depth, and if the ripsalidopsis is kept in cool conditions, simply protect the soil from drying out completely. Use softened bottled or rainwater for watering. Remove excess moisture from the tray a few minutes after watering.

Feeding 

Every 2 weeks with fertilizers for cacti, high in calcium and potassium, in half the concentration. During the dormant period, cacti are not fed. Rhipsalidopsis reacts very responsively to feeding.

Containment temperature

Representatives of the species do not like extreme heat and begin to suffer at temperatures above 25° C. During the dormant period, which begins immediately after flowering, the temperature should be around 10° C.

Lighting

In late autumn and throughout the winter, ripsalidopsis is kept in direct sunlight. In spring and summer, direct sunlight should only fall on the shoots in the morning and evening hours. For flower buds to appear, it is necessary to organize a short daylight period - cover the plants with an opaque cap for 14 - 16 hours a day. When grown in a well-lit place, the stems of the cactus can acquire a bronze or burgundy hue.

Spraying

Moderate air humidity of about 50-60% is suitable for indoor conditions. Place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles or use a room humidifier if the air humidity drops below this level. The bushes need good air circulation. Keep Rhipsalidopsis away from heating devices.

How to distinguish schlumbergera from rhipsalidopsis

Despite the external similarity of the bushes, the plants differ in the shape of flowers and leaf segments, as well as in the timing of flowering. Most Schlumbergeras have leaf segments that are more elongated in length with small, sharp projections along the edges. Ripsaldydropsis has segments with less pronounced veining and rounded edges. Rhipsalidopsis flowers are symmetrical, while in Schlumbergera they have only 1 axis of symmetry. Schlumbergera blooms earlier, while rhipsalidopsis blooms later, in the spring.

Purpose

A very brightly flowering plant that looks great in hanging baskets. 

Note

Be careful when handling the shoots - stem segments break off easily. Plants can live indoors for many years without much difficulty if they are well cared for.

Varieties:

Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri or  Schlumbergera  gaertneri

An abundantly branching epiphytic forest cactus with flat, green, segmented shoots. Each segment reaches 4 - 6 cm in length. The areoles are covered with light yellowish or brown pubescence. With age, the stems become woody - covered with brown bark and become round in cross-section. The flowers are predominantly red or pink, 4 - 7 cm in diameter, appear on the tops of hanging shoots, solitary or in small inflorescences of 2 - 3 buds.