General description of the features of the epiphyllum, agricultural techniques during cultivation, recommendations for transplantation and reproduction, problems during cultivation, interesting facts. Epiphyllum (Epiphyllum) is one of the representatives of the numerous Cactaceae family (Cactaceae). It can have an epiphytic or lithophytic form of growth, that is, in the first case, the plant chooses places for its life on thick branches or tree trunks, and in the second it grows on rocks and rocks. The species collected 20 cacti. The homeland of the plant is considered to be the regions of South and Central America, which extend to the Mexican lands. Prefers to spread in climatic conditions of the tropics or subtropics. For the first time, a botanist from England Andrian Haworth made a description of this peculiar cactus at the beginning of the 19th century (namely in 1812). In the work done, he made the mistake of counting the shoots of the epiphyllum for fleshy leaves.
The epiphyllum got its name from the confluence of two Greek words in the Latin pronunciation: "epi", which means "on" and the word "phylum" is translated as "leaf". This fully reflected, apparently, the general structure of the plant - the stems, which very much resembled the peculiar leaves and buds of beautiful flowers growing on the tops of these "leaves", and it turns out that the direct translation of the name is "on the leaves." Sometimes the names "phyllocactus", "leaf cactus" or "phyllocereus" are synonyms for epiphyllum.
The plant reaches a height of a meter, has a bushy growth. Its modified fleshy shoots, which have leaf-like outlines and are decorated with spines and areoles along the edge, are mistaken for leaf plates. The real leaves are reduced (greatly reduced in size) and take the form of small scales, which are located in the grooves of the stems under the areoles.
The real pride of the epiphyllum can rightfully be considered its flowers. The bud in dissolution is funnel-shaped, with a long corolla tube, large in size (up to 40 cm in length). The color can be very diverse: from snow-white to multiple shades of red. Both the ovary and the tube of the bud are covered with scaly formations, hairs or small spines. Interestingly, the buds can open both during the day and at night. The beauty of these flowers amazes people so much that in everyday life the plant is called "orchid cactus". The flowers have a delicate and pleasant aroma.
If you apply cross-pollination, then even when growing epiphyllum indoors, you can achieve fruiting. The fruits are very similar in shape and size to a plum. Their color directly depends on the shade of the flowers themselves, therefore, the colors are yellow-greenish or purple, sometimes they are covered with thorns. The fruit has a pleasant taste, reminiscent of the combination of pineapple with strawberries. The fruits are often added to various dishes or eaten separately, like fruits or berries.
Agrotechnical conditions for growing epiphyllum
- Lighting and location. The plant loves good lighting, but it also withstands partial shade. It is grown on the east, west or north window, on the south it is worth shading.
- Content temperature. It is necessary that the indicators are not lower than 12 degrees and not higher than 28 degrees. Does not tolerate stuffiness and heat. The period from September to February is a dormant period and should be maintained at 15 degrees, and practically not watered.
- Air humidity should be high, more than 50%, if the temperature rises above 25 degrees, then spraying is used. You can also wash it in the shower (at 45 degrees) to remove dust and stimulate flowering.
- Fertilizer epiphyllum is carried out during the period of growth activation every two weeks with a complex liquid mineral fertilizer or top dressing for cacti. If the plant is kept in winter at warm temperatures, then according to the rules of care, fertilize once a month. Do not exceed the dosage.
- Watering. It is required to moisten the soil abundantly so that the soil is moist in the depths of the pot, but has time to dry out from above. In winter, if the temperatures are high, then the substrate is allowed to dry well.
- Transfer and selection of soil. Young cacti are transplanted every year, but adult epiphyllums as needed. The pot is changed immediately after flowering or before its onset. As soon as the buds have appeared, it is not worth replanting. The pot is selected spacious and not very deep, given the layer of drainage material. Over time, you can transplant a bush into a flower pot and grow it as an ampelous crop. Holes are made in the bottom of the container for water to drain so that it does not stagnate.
The soil for replanting should be light, nutritious and well-drained, with an acidity of pH 5, 8–6, 5. When compiling the substrate, the following options are used:
- coconut fiber (or substrate), agroperlite, universal soil for flowers (garden soil or "Terra Vita - living earth"), bone meal (in proportions 3: 1: 1: 0, 1);
- leafy soil, coconut fiber, rotted compost (manure that lasted for 2-3 years), vermiculite, fine gravel with a diameter of 3-5 mm (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1/3: 1: 1).
Tips for breeding epiphyllum at home
You can get a new epiphyllum bush by planting seeds, cutting it or creating a shoot cut.
With the help of seeds, the cactus multiplies for a long time, since the process is too delayed and then you will have to grow a full-fledged bush for a long time. Seed material is planted in March in a flat container, on the bottom of which a drainage layer is poured (maybe fine expanded clay or pebbles), and then filled with wet river sand. Spread the seeds over the surface and dust it a little with sand. In order to maintain the conditions of heat and high humidity in the container, it is necessary to wrap it with plastic wrap or place it under a piece of glass. The container is exposed in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight.
The plants that sprout resemble regular cacti with three ribbed edges and thorns. As the plants grow, their stems flatten and the thorns disappear. Young epiphyllums, which have grown from seeds, bloom in the 5th year of life.
When propagating by cuttings, it is necessary to cut a cutting of a flat stem in mid-spring (before flowering) or immediately after flowering (in August). It is important not to use a narrowed segment - such are poorly rooted. The length of the branch should be about 10-12 cm. The cutting should be slightly sharpened and left to dry. It is placed vertically in an empty plastic cup, cut down. When the cutting stops oozing, then it must be planted in a nutritious soil to a depth of approximately 1 cm. A plastic container is selected for planting, since moisture is stored in it longer. It is not necessary to water the stalk so that rotting does not begin. As soon as the first signs of growth appear, it is necessary to transplant in separate containers with a diameter of 7-9 cm.
When forming the epiphyllum layer, it is required to keep the plant in a room with high air humidity, and then aerial root processes will begin to form on the stems. A long shoot with such outgrowths is chosen, bends down to the soil in the same pot or in a nearby one, filled with a suitable substrate, and sinks a little into the ground. New layers will appear on this stem, which can be carefully separated from the mother bush and grown as usual.
Difficulties in cultivating the epiphyllum
This plant can be affected by mealybugs, aphids or scale insects. If the following symptoms are found: yellowing of the segments and like punctures along the edge of the shoot, the appearance of plaque in the form of white lumps of cotton wool in the internodes and on the segments themselves, brown dots on the stems and a sticky sugar coating, as well as black, brown or green bugs, it is necessary to treat with soap, oil or alcohol solution. You can put a little product on a cotton pad and wipe the stem segments or just spray the bush. If after some time there is no improvement, then it is necessary to use chemical control agents - insecticides.
If the epiphyllum plant is kept outdoors, then slugs can annoy it. The processing is the same as in the previous case. Also, a disease such as a viral mosaic can appear on the shoots, it is accompanied by the appearance of a light spot on the segments of the branches, the ends of the shoots begin to dry out, the buds fall off. This disease is viral and there is no cure for it, except that the lesion is not strong and the diseased parts of the cactus can be removed, otherwise the epiphyllum will have to be destroyed.
Infectious diseases also lead to the appearance on the shoots, like cork ring formations, which become larger and larger over time. The cause may be fusarium, then treatment with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid can be carried out.
Interesting facts about epiphyllum
The plant is actively used in medicine. On the basis of the epiphyllum, it is possible to prepare tinctures that are used in the treatment of: organs of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, pathologies of neurology and others.
It has also been noticed by experts that a cactus is able to block the harmful effect of electromagnetic radiation on a person, which emanates from a variety of electrical appliances. If you place flower pots next to the equipment, it is possible to create protective phyto-screens.
Epiphyllum juice will help with headaches, colds and joint diseases of the rheumatoid type. It also has a diuretic, can stop bleeding, relieve hangovers and relieve headaches.
Because of its soothing properties, cactus juice is used in the treatment of psoriasis, eliminates inflammation and promotes wound healing.
The juice and pulp of the fruit is even able to cleanse the blood and lymph as a filter, which helps to increase the periods of remission in the treatment of psoriasis. Epiphyllum tinctures increase the body's resistance to stress and its immunity.
Epiphyllum types
- Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum). It is called the "Queen of the Night" because it produces very fragrant flowers that last only one night. The stems grow straight, ascend and spread out tops to the sides, the bush is branched. The bases of the stems have a rounded shape and are flattened from the sides, with a woody surface. There are secondary shoots that are flat, oval in outline and pointed towards the apex. Their length is up to 30 cm with 10-12 cm width, they are thin, the edge of the sheet is wavy. The flowering process begins at the end of the spring months and ends in June. Flowering occurs with white or carmine-red buds about 30 cm in length with a diameter of about 12-15 cm at the opening of the corolla. They have a strong aroma. The fruits appearing after flowering are oblong in shape, large with a diameter of one decimeter. Their color is purple-reddish.
- Epiphyllum serrated (Epiphyllum crenatum). It is a semi-epiphytic representative of cactaceae. Differs in an upright stem with abundant branching. Primary shoots are rounded, eventually becoming woody at the very base. Secondary stems with a flat shape, their color is greenish-gray, about 60 cm long and 6-10 cm wide. They are tough, sometimes covered with hairs or small scutes, there are no needles in the areoles. On its basis, hybrids are grown. It blooms with a white shade of buds that open at night, but remain open for several more days. The length of the flower varies from 18 to 25 cm with a width of 12–20 cm. When fruiting, the berry ripens elongated-rounded or spherical, with some pointed.
- Epiphyllum Lau (Epiphyllum laui). Homeland - Mexico, loves to settle at an altitude of 1800-2000 m above sea level, where the temperature at night is only 2-5 degrees Celsius. Hybrid plants are not made from it. This species was introduced to the world only in 1975. The plant is a lithophyte, it is found growing among rocks, in crevices of mountains, avalanche fossils. The branches begin their branching right from the base of the bush (they are called basal-branching). Secondary leaf blades are flattened, linear, crenate segmentation 5–7 cm wide. Their surface is distinguished by convex venation and slight waviness. The spines, located in the areoles of the hairy species, reach a length of 3 to 5 mm, their number varies from 1 to 5 units. The color is yellowish brown. The flowers that bloom are distinguished by a snow-white shade, a funnel-like corolla with a length of 15-16 cm and a width of 14-16 cm. The cactus opens its buds in the evening and continues to delight the owner for two more days. Ripening fruits, oblong, 4–8 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with a carmine-red tone. The plant is practically not grown as a home culture, since caring for it is too difficult (it does not tolerate heat in summer, and in winter it is necessary to maintain low temperatures) and there are frequent infections with viruses.
- Epiphyllum angular (Epiphyllum anguliger). The cactus bush has a large branching of the stems. Primary shoots, rounded at the base, woody over time. They are flat at the tops, and the secondary stems have the same outline. The length of the latter reaches 20-30 cm with a width of 3-5 cm. They are distinguished by deep dissection, while their segments often take on a rectangular shape with a blunt or slightly rounded apex. Small whitish bristles grow in areoles. It is an epiphyte, since in nature it tries, clinging to tree trunks with aerial roots, to grow on them. And when grown indoors, it often forms "atmospheric" root shoots. It blooms with pure white buds, which measure 8–20 cm in length and only 6–7 cm in width. They open in the late evening. The flowers have a pleasant, strong aroma. The fruits ripen ovoid, brown, greenish or yellow in color, up to 3-4 cm in diameter. When the bush reaches an impressive size, the cactus begins to bloom. The color of the buds can take the following shades: lemon yellow, pinkish or lavender.
- Epiphyllum low (Epiphyllum pumilum). The plains of Guatemala are considered the homeland of this plant. Prefers to settle on soils rich in humus and high humidity. The stems of this cactus variety have an upright ascending appearance, although over time the shoots droop, become more and more flat, forming very long whip branches - their length can reach 5 meters. The shrub has abundant branching. The main stem at the base is lignified and round. Secondary shoots and tops of primary branches are flat outlines, elongated-lanceolate. Their length can reach from 15 cm to half a meter, with a width of 4–8 cm. At the tops there is a sharpness with a jagged or finely wavy edge. The flowers are white or pinkish, 10–15 cm long. They open at night and have a delicate aroma. Fruits in egg-shaped berries, 2.5 cm thick. The flowering process takes place in the summer months or in September. The flowers of the cactus of this species are not as large as those of other varieties, and the segments of the shoots are also not so long.
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