Epiphyllum, also known as the beauty under the moon, is a cactus plant that blooms in the dead of summer and autumn. It is often used to decorate guest rooms, balconies or ground plants. The flowers are very beautiful when they bloom. How is such a beautiful Epiphyllum cultivated? What's the best way to breed? What should we pay attention to in aquaculture? Please read on with me with questions!
Pot culture of Epiphyllum
Cultivation method of Epiphyllum (basic knowledge):
The best breeding time: Epiphyllum can be planted in spring and autumn, preferably in spring.
The best growing soil: Epiphyllum likes loose, fertile and well drained soil. It is often cultivated by cutting. In spring, it is OK to cut abnormal Epiphyllum stem and cut it on the soil. When potting, 2 parts of peat soil, 1 part of coarse sand and 1 part of slag mixed soil can be used as cultivation soil, and sufficient base fertilizer can be applied.
Requirements for growth humidity: Epiphyllum is a kind of plant that likes to be negative. In summer, Epiphyllum can be placed under the shade of trees or eaves, but the rain water should be avoided to wash and drip, so as not to cause the plant to fall open roots and affect the growth.
The optimum growth temperature is 21-24 ℃ in the daytime and 16-18 ℃ at night. In winter, it should be put in the greenhouse and put in the sunny place. It is required that the sunlight is sufficient and the winter temperature should be kept at 10-13 ℃.
Best growing light: Epiphyllum likes sunshine and warm environment. But it should not be exposed to the sun. In summer, it should be maintained under the shade grid or planted in a place without direct light.
Precautions for Epiphyllum Cultivation:
Spread fertilizer: Epiphyllum is fond of fertilizer, and proper fertilization can make its flowers accumulate. Generally, from spring to autumn, 1-2 times of topdressing is applied every month, and the effect of topdressing is good when the mature cake liquid fertilizer, manure liquid and ferrous sulfate are added. Can also use urea, superphosphate mixture irrigation, winter stop fertilization.
Watering requirements: Epiphyllum water requirements are appropriate to dry rather than wet. The growth period of Epiphyllum is from spring to autumn. At this time, it is necessary to fully water, and often spray water to improve the air humidity and keep the pot soil warm and moist. Water every 2-3 days, depending on the weather and the dry and wet conditions of the pot soil. But do not use alkaline water. In winter, the watering should be controlled to keep the basin soil moderately dry; in case of showers, the side basin should be poured in time, and the basin should not be allowed to accumulate water, otherwise it is easy to rot.
Key points of reproduction:
Epiphyllum cutting propagation: select robust and thick leafy stems as cuttings from March to may, with a length of 20cm-30cm, cut them in two to three sections, and flatten the base. Insert them into a clean sand bed after the cutting mouth is slightly dry. The water content in the soil is about 60%, the room temperature is 18 ℃ - 24 ℃, and take root about 3 weeks after the cutting. When the root length is 3cm-4cm, take the pot. If the main stem is used for cutting, flowers can be seen in the same year, and it will take 2-3 years for the lateral stem to bloom.
Epiphyllum sowing and propagation: commonly used in hybrid breeding, it takes 4-5 years from sowing to flowering.
Pruning Essentials: proper pruning of Epiphyllum can keep the overall beauty of Epiphyllum. Generally, the old branches should be removed in time after flowering, the weak buds at the top and upper part of abnormal stems should be spared, and the strong buds at the middle and lower part should be kept. And Epiphyllum should be set up because of its weak leafy stem.
The graceful Epiphyllum
Experience of Epiphyllum Cultivation:
1. Epiphyllum is not cold resistant. It needs to be moved into the room for winter before frost (mid October). The room temperature is about 15 ℃ which is the suitable temperature for winter. It is safe to stay above 5 ℃.
2. Although Epiphyllum likes sunshine, it is also afraid of the sun, which will make the stems and branches yellow. Early spring and late autumn can be placed on the balcony, windows and other sunny places. In summer, the temperature should not exceed 35 ℃, otherwise the plants will be dried up and the scale insects will be caused
3. In winter, the indoor water quantity must be controlled, and the basin soil is suitable to be dried. Generally, water once every 10-15 days, which can be done at noon on a sunny day. Stop watering in severe cold.