Epiphyllum

Epiphyllum belongs to the cactus family. It is an epiphytic cactus. This flower in natural conditions can be found in the tropics of America and Mexico. But the fact is that epiphyllums do not quite accurately relate to phyllocactus (leafy cacti) and this is because they have a shrub growth form, their base is lignified, and the stem is leaf-shaped. At the same time, phyllocactus are called hybrids, of which there are a large number, created on the basis of epiphyllums with species of closely related genera. Such plants are Heliocereus, Nopalxochia, Selcnicereus, and others.

The first description of this genus was made by Adrian Haworth, and this happened in 1812. He gave the plant a name, consisting of Greek words which mean epi - "above" and phyllum - "leaf". Thus, Adrian, as it were, emphasized that this plant forms flowers right on the leaves. However, these were not leaves, but stems (modified).

The fleshy, leafy stems of this flower are jagged and have thorns at their edges. These leaves are formed in the grooves of the shoots under the areoles and look like small scales. The fragrant funnel-shaped flowers are large and have a rather long flower tube.

The flowers of this plant can have different colors, namely: cream, pink, white, yellow, red with different shades. There are no blue flowers. And this plant is popularly called "cactus-orchid".

Epiphyllum can bear fruit even at home, but for this it requires cross-pollination. Its fruits are quite large, similar in size to a plum. Their surface often has thorns, and they are also painted yellow-green or purple (depending on what color the flower itself). These fruits can be eaten, their flesh has a sweetish strawberry-pineapple flavor.

The main types of epiphyllum

Epiphyllum serrated (Epiphyllum crenatum)

This flower is a semi-epiphytic cactus. The height of the bush reaches an average of 100 centimeters. It also has leaf-shaped and very thick lateral stems, the maximum length of which is 0.7 m, and their width is 4-10 centimeters. There are no needles on the areoles, and this type of epiphyllum blooms only at night.

Epiphyllum sour-petal (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

This flower can reach a height of 3 meters. Its rod-shaped stems are very long, and they woody from below. Quite wide (up to 10 cm) flat stems have large notches at the edges. The white flowers are very fragrant and are up to 20 cm long. They also have a tube on the surface of which there are scattered scales. This flower has red fruits.There are also many hybrids that differ in flower color and size.

Epiphyllum laui Kimnach

This lithophytic as well as epiphytic cactus is fast growing. Its lateral shoots are 1 or 2 cm in diameter, and they are 5 to 7 cm wide. The flower has 1 to 5 brownish-yellow, hair-like needles, which reach 3–5 mm in length. The opening of flowers usually occurs in the evening, and they wither after about 2 days.

Epiphyllum angular (Epiphyllum anguliger)

This plant is bushy and has woody stems that branch strongly. The part that is located below is round, but there is also a triangular (in cross section). Lanceolate lateral stems are carved along the edge, and their width is from 4 to 8 cm, length is up to 1 meter. Areoles have 1 or 2 white setae. Fragrant flowers are very large (10 to 15 cm).

Hooker's Epiphyllum (Epiphyllum hookeri)

This cactus has hard, arched stems (drooping are rare). The diameter of these stems is 10 centimeters. Areoles are spaced 5 cm apart. The white flowers are quite large.

Epiphyllum phyllanthus

These cacti have stems, the length of which is from 50 to 100 cm. And the length of leaf-shaped (secondary) stems is from 25 to 50 cm. There are pubescent areoles. The flowers are large enough and range in diameter from 4 to 18 cm.

Epiphyllum Thomas (Epiphyllum thomasianum)

This cactus is bushy and has long (up to 4 meters) drooping stems, as well as pubescent areoles.

Epiphyllum: growing and care at home

Location and lighting

In order for the plant to bloom very abundantly and effectively, it needs a sufficiently large amount of light, but it must be diffused. It is best to place it near the windows located in the western or eastern part of the room. If it is located in the northern part of the room, then the flowering of the epiffilum will be rather scarce, and if in the southern part, it will need shading from midday sunlight. In the warm season, experienced florists are advised to rearrange the flower outside and choose a sufficiently bright place for it, which will be protected from direct sunlight.

Temperature

In spring and summer, this flower feels great at temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees. From November to February, the plant has a period of relative dormancy, and therefore it must be placed in a cooler place (from 10 to 15 degrees).

Air humidity

He does not need increased air humidity, but it should be borne in mind that if the room is too hot, then it must be regularly humidified from a spray bottle. To do this, use settled and rather soft water.

Watering

Epiphyllum in spring and summer should be watered abundantly enough, since their homeland is humid forests. Watering should be done after the top layer of the earth dries out a little. It should be noted that the soil in the pot should always be moist. Water the epiphyllum with settled, soft and slightly cool water.

In winter, when the dormant period begins for the flower, it should be watered less frequently. Watering stops altogether if the plant is moved to a very cold room for wintering. With the onset of the spring period, they begin to water it a little more often, and during the formation of buds - abundantly.

Top dressing

In spring and summer, the flower must be fed once every 2 weeks and fertilizer for cacti is used for this. During the formation of buds, it is fed with a mullein diluted in water in a ratio of 1: 4. Even when the epiphyllum fades, you can continue to feed it with mullein until the end of the summer period (2 times a month). You can also alternately introduce mullein and fertilizer with a high nitrogen content into the soil.

Priming

This flower prefers fertile soil. So, you can make up the soil mixture yourself.To do this, mix fibrous sod and leafy soil with crushed charcoal and sand in a ratio of 1: 4: 1: 1. Ready-made cactus soil is also suitable. You can also mix coarse sand with a leaf mixture (semi-rotten) in a ratio of 4: 1. Make sure that the acidity of the soil is approximately equal to pH 5-6. Any dredge for epiphyllum should not contain lime.

Transfer

Transplanting is carried out only if necessary, and it is preferable to carry it out after flowering ends. Do not forget that the flower pot must be small for the plant - this is necessary for abundant flowering. Due to the fact that his roots are weak, the pot should be chosen shallow, porous and necessarily wide. After you transplant the flower, it must be placed in a semi-shaded place, and watering must be done very carefully.

Flowering period

When a flower begins to grow actively (usually in the last weeks of winter), buds are laid on the thickened areoles. Do not rearrange the pot at this time to prevent the plant from dropping its buds. Flowering, as a rule, begins in the spring, and after blooming, the flowers fall after 5 days. During the flowering period, the epiphyllum needs good watering, moisture and feeding. If you take good care of it, then it will bloom again in the fall.

Only 1 flower can appear from 1 areola. Therefore, in adult plants, old stems must be systematically removed. It is also recommended to remove the triangular shoots, which sometimes appear, since buds are formed on them extremely rarely.

Reproduction of epiphyllum

Epiphyllum cactus can be propagated by dividing the bush, stem cuttings, and seeds. So, small cacti with needles appear from the seeds, but over time the thorns disappear, and thickened leaf-shaped stems appear. In order for the seeds to germinate, they need a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. The first flowering occurs already at 4 or 5 years.

Cuttings are cut exclusively from flat shoots, and their length should be 10-15 cm. After the base of the cutting is pointed (triangular) and dried, it is "put" in an empty small container so that it is directed vertically downward. He must stay there for 2 or 3 days. For planting, you will need pots with a diameter of 7 cm, which must be filled with an earth mixture of the following composition: sand is mixed with sod and deciduous soil in a ratio of 1: 4: 5. The top layer equal to 2 cm should consist of washed river sand. Prepared cuttings are planted to a centimeter depth and not watered for 1 day, and during this time they are removed to a shaded place.

Details about the reproduction of the epiphyllum

Diseases and pests of the epiphyllum

The plant is susceptible to diseases such as the viral mosaic of epiphyllums. Many small spots of light color appear on the plant (on the stem), and the buds also fall off, and the tips of the shoots dry out. It is difficult to fight this virus, therefore it is recommended to get rid of the diseased plant.

Also on the epiphyllum can settle scabbard, mealybug and aphid... And if it is on the street, then a slug. And a ring-shaped corky expanding spot may appear on the flower, and this is often due to a fungal infection, for example, due to fusarium.