EPIPHILLUM GUATEMALA MONSTROSE FORM IN HOME

Among the numerous species and varieties of epiphyllums, there is a rather rare species - Epiphyllum guatemalense f. Monster (epiphyllum Guatemalan form monstrous), which is not valued for the beauty of flowers (they are white, rather nondescript, small, bloom at night), but for unusual shapes, whimsically curling stems, thanks to which the plant got its second name - "forest kelp".

The only advantage of flowers is that they are self-pollinating.. After flowering, large, they are plum, reddish fruits, which look very decorative and hold on to curly stems 2-3 months. By the way, these fruits are fragrant and edible, and the seeds have excellent germination.

Caring for forest kelp is no different from caring for other types of epiphyllums.

LIGHTING

The plant needs sun for abundant flowering.. Ideal placement - on the east or west window. On the south, you will need shading in the summer months.

IRRIGATION AND FEEDING

Like all tropical rainforest cacti, water epiphyllums more often, than types, originating from arid areas. Do this as the substrate in the pot dries completely.. It is better to use separated water, room temperature.

During relative rest, in winter, moisten the soil, only when the leaves begin to noticeably lose turgor. With very cold wintering, watering is stopped and resumed at the beginning of spring..

Signs of waterlogging: if the ground is damp, and the stems are constantly lethargic - this means, that the roots have rotted.

In the spring-summer period, the plant is fed with fertilizer for cacti about once every 10 days.

Soil and transplantation of epiphyllum

Epiphyllum Guatemalan prefers a nutritious substrate. Purchased cactus soil with the addition of perlite and other baking powder is quite suitable for him..

Young plants are transplanted annually in late winter or early spring, adult large specimens - once a 2-3 of the year.

AIR TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

In the spring-summer season, the epiphyllum prefers a temperature of about +25 city. During a period of relative rest, from November to February, it is desirable to keep it at +10-15 city.

Air humidity for a cactus does not really matter, but in hot summer months it can be sprayed with warm soft water.

REPRODUCTION OF EPIPHYLLUM OF GUATEMALA

Multiply Epiphyllum of Guatemalan mostly cuttings. For this purpose, not only a single stem is suitable, but even a small part of it. Cuttings root easily in water, and also in wet perlite, vermiculite, sand. You can plant them directly into the ground.. Best results are obtained in spring and summer.

Before planting in the ground, the slices must be dried within 24 hours.

When seed propagation, it is desirable to sow fresh seeds., directly extracted from the fruit, in this case they have almost 100% germination. After only half a year of storage, this indicator drops noticeably.

The shape of the stems of the seedlings is preserved. Checked repeatedly: my first crops are already adult flowering plants. The stems curl even in cacti of one month old..

E grows. Guatemalan pretty quickly and blooms after about three years.

© Author: Nina RUKAVISHNIKOVA, collector of rare plants, r. Moscow. Photo by the author

EPIPHILLUM – LANDING AND MAINTENANCE IN HOME CONDITIONS: FLOWER TIPS AND SECRETS

DEBUT EPIPHYLLUM

Late in the evening, a thick, tart aroma filled the kitchen…

Epiphyllum acidic (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) – Photo

And I hurry to the loggia, to admire and admire the beauty of the huge flower of the sour-petal epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum).

The plant has a summer debut. The flowering age has come. The bush has grown, long stems hit the walls and ceiling, hanging down - chaotically, not very nice. Therefore, I put the plant in the upper pots.. And I almost looked at the first bud in early August. Just one night (so long the flower in dissolution) to admire, inhaling the fragrance and for a "photo for memory". Pleasant thanks to the "alien", what was the name of the huge, ready to open bud homemade.

It all started with a tiny fragment of the stem.

I put him in a pot with another flower, having previously powdered with a mixture of charcoal and "Kornevin". When I grew up a little, planted in a separate pot. Then increased the volume, shortened actively growing shoots. She planted cuttings to the bush, and they took root. From the first day the "newcomer" lives in the western loggia.

Over time, I planted him in a three-liter tall flowerpot along with an angular epiphil-lum, which has narrower and shorter branches. Plants do not interfere with each other. There is enough soil for everyone.

Mix for cactus mixed with perlite, chopped moss, added a handful of sand, leaf land, crumbled charcoal. At the bottom of the pot is a layer of expanded clay. Under the pots - pallet. In the summer I water as the substrate dries, occasionally feed. Both plants do well. In winter I give them a rest period: coolness (+10-12 city.) near the window, rare poor watering.

© Author:Elena KHOMICH, r. Balashikha. Photo by the author