Epiphyllum is a succulent perennial plant of the Cactus family. Its homeland is Central America and more southern regions up to the tropical zone. Thanks to the beautiful wavy processes, the epiphyllum was fond of domestic flower growers. For several decades, it exists as a houseplant. From the Greek language the name translates as "leaves above." It can be explained by flat stems, which are more like not real cactus, but real leaves. The same plant can be found under the names "forest cactus" or "phylloctactus".
Botanical Description
Epiphyllum is a succulent perennial with long, flexible shoots of bright green or yellowish color. The stems can be flat or triangular. Often they wilt, so the flower is grown as an ampel plant. Shoots strongly branch and form a rather dense bush. Their base is gradually lignified and covered with a brownish cracking bark.
The edges of the stems are covered with waves of various depths; rare areoles with short spikes are located on them. Spines rather resemble short stiff bristles and do not cause pain. There are no thorns on the old shoots. Also in the areoles, aerial roots can form. With increased humidity, their amount increases.
Large flowers of white, red or pink appear in June. There are varieties blooming in the fall. The buds have a tubular shape and consist of several tiers of lanceolate, pointed petals. The length of one corolla can reach 40 cm and a diameter of 8-16 cm. Beautiful large flowers exude a subtle or rather intense, pleasant aroma. There are species with flowers that open during the day, but most open buds at night and close them at dawn.
As a result of pollination, elongated juicy fruits ripen. They are covered with a thin pink skin. Inside the sweet edible pulp are several black seeds up to 2 mm long. In shape and size, the fruit resembles a large plum. Its flesh tastes like strawberries and pineapple at the same time.
Types of Epiphyllum
The genus of epiphyllum includes several dozen varieties. Some of them are very different from each other.
Epiphyllum angular (anguliger). A bushy plant with lodging dark green stems. Most often they have a flat structure and deep notches on the sides. The path length reaches 1 m with a width of up to 8 cm. There are practically no thorns on the plant; in some areoles, bristly villi are located. In summer, large snow-white flowers with a delicate aroma bloom. Their diameter is 10-15 cm.
Epiphyllum acid-tolerant (hydroxyepetalum). The rod-shaped, flexible stems of the plant reach 3 m in length. The width of the flat wavy leaves of bright green color is 10 cm. At the ends of the shoots in the summer, large night-time white flowers bloom. The length of the tubular rim is 20 cm and the width is 18 cm.
Epiphyllum acute-flaky. A succulent shrub with erect stems consists of flattened light green shoots that are lignified in the lower part. Young soft stems have an oval, pointed shape. Their length reaches 30 cm and a width of 10-12 cm. Snow-white or cream flowers exude an intense pleasant aroma. They open at night.
Epiphyllum is serrated. Epiphytic cactus consists of flat fleshy stems of bluish-green color. Their length does not exceed 70 cm and a width of 10 cm. Embossed notches are present on the leaves. In summer, large tubular flowers bloom with a diameter of 15 cm. They are painted in pink, yellow or white.
Epiphyllum phyllanthus. On flattened fleshy stems up to 1 m high, lateral shoots similar to leaves are formed. Their length is 25-50 cm. Flowers consist of long narrow petals of pink color. The diameter of the opened bud is 15-18 cm.
Epiphyllum Lau. The lithophytic plant quickly grows lateral shoots. The width of the flat fleshy leaves is 5-7 cm. Several yellowish-brown hair-like bristles are visible on the sides in rare areoles. In May, nightly white-yellow flowers bloom.
Breeding methods
Epiphyllum is propagated in three main ways:
- sowing seeds;
- division of the bush;
- cuttings.
Seeds are sown in wet sand or a special soil mixture for succulents. They are buried by 5 mm, covered with glass and kept at + 20 ... + 23 ° C. It is necessary to ventilate the plantings daily and spray them from the spray gun. Within 2-3 weeks, the first faceted stems will appear on the soil surface. With the advent of shoots, the shelter is removed. Only when the plants reach a height of 3-5 cm, they are carefully transplanted separately. Seedlings bloom from the fifth year of life.
Strongly grown epiphyllum bushes can be divided into several parts. The best time to divide is the end of summer, when flowering is complete. The plant is removed from the pot, freed from most of the earthen coma, inspect the rhizome and remove dry or decayed areas. Then the bushes are divided so that each divide has its own roots. Places of slices are dipped in crushed charcoal. Immediately after processing, new bushes are planted in pots.
The best time for rooting cuttings is the second half of spring. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the top of the shoot from an adult plant 10-12 cm long. The cut is made at an angle, then the stalk is dried for 1-2 days in the air and planted in garden soil with the addition of perlite. It is not necessary to deepen the seedling too much; just push it into the moist soil to a depth of 1 cm. It is recommended to sprinkle the surface of the sand with sand. Cuttings are covered with a cap for 1-1.5 weeks. To prevent them from falling over, it is recommended to create a support.
Home Care
Epiphyllums are unpretentious in leaving, however, compliance with some rules is necessary, otherwise the flower will not only not bloom, but also die.
Lighting. Epiphyllum needs long daylight hours and bright lighting. Without this, hoping for flowering is not worth it. However, in summer sultry noon, it is recommended to shade the plant shoots from direct sunlight or to ventilate the room more often. Cactus feels good outdoors. At the same time, it must be protected from drafts.
Temperature. From April to November, the optimum air temperature for the epiphyllum is + 22 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, a dormant period sets in when a cool content is needed (+ 10 ... + 15 ° C). It is at this time that the formation of flower buds occurs.
Humidity. Epiphyllum needs periodic spraying. Several times a year you can bathe it from dust under a warm shower. In winter, do not spray. The exception is plants that are kept in winter in a warm room or near heating radiators.
Watering. Since the epiphyllum is considered a forest cactus, it needs to be watered somewhat more often than other succulents. Between watering, the soil should dry out by 2-4 cm. With a lack of moisture in the soil, the leaves lose turgor. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced, but the soil cannot completely dry out. Stagnation of water in the ground is also contraindicated.
Fertilizer. In spring and summer, epiphyllum is fertilized with special compositions for cacti. Twice a month, most of the diluted top dressing is applied to the soil, but it is also recommended to spray the foliage with a mineral complex of fertilizers. Since many varieties are epiphytic or lithophytic, their terrestrial part is actively involved in nutrition.
Bloom. To surely achieve flowering of the epiphyllum, it is necessary to provide bright diffused lighting during the summer and a cool wintering with limited watering. In winter, short daylight hours are normally tolerated by the plant. The need for additional lighting is extremely rare. In the spring, some gardeners arrange a cactus awakening with the help of a warm shower. Soon you can notice on the leaves of the thickening from which the flowers appear.
During the flowering period, epiphyllums need especially careful care. With the advent of the first buds, the flower cannot be rotated and moved, otherwise the flowers will fall off without blooming. The buds open in turn and live only a few days. During this period, more frequent watering and regular spraying are necessary.
Pruning. Epiphyllum shoots grow quite quickly. They can randomly hang or concentrate on one side, giving the bush an unkempt appearance. However, pruning is infrequent. Adult stems provide nutrients to the entire plant for 3-4 years after flowering. When new sprouts appear, the shoot can be cut to the required length.
Transfer. Young epiphyllums are transplanted annually, gradually increasing the size of the pot. It is not recommended to take a large container immediately, as water will stagnate in it and the soil will become too acidic. The best time to transplant is the beginning of spring. The pot is needed not too deep, but wide. Expanded clay, pebbles or pieces of foam are laid at the bottom of the container.
The soil. The soil for planting is made up of the following components:
- sheet land (4 parts);
- turf land (4 parts);
- charcoal (1 part);
- fibrous peat (1 part);
- river sand (1 part).
The soil should have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The presence of lime is unacceptable.
Possible difficulties
If improperly maintained, the epiphyllum suffers from fungal diseases (black rot, anthracnose, fusarium, leaf rust). All these diseases are characterized by growth retardation, the appearance of wet spots on the leaves and trunk of various colors, as well as an unpleasant, putrid odor. It is necessary to transplant a diseased plant, cut the damaged areas and treat them with crushed charcoal. Also sprayed with fungicide.
The most common parasites for epiphyllum are spider mites, aphids, scutes, and mealybugs. They are fought with the help of bathing and treatment with insecticides ("Confidor", "Mospilan", "Aktara", "Biotlin").
