** RHIPSALIS **
** PLANTS THAT ARE **
** PLEASANT TO GROW **
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CHAPTER 3
The propagation of Rhipsalis by cuttings.
The first way to get Rhipsalis is to buy them in a garden centre. But the choice of species is rather limited. Garden centres mainly sell Rhipsalis with thin, cylindrical and drooping stems.
Rhipsalis can be propagated by seedling. The method is similar to the Epiphyllum method (see link at the end of the article). It is exciting but needs long time. Do not expect an adult plant less than 5 years after sowing, if all goes well.
The method that is by far the easiest and fastest is propagation by cuttings.
when to cut and plant
The ideal time to make cuttings is spring, when the sunny days are coming. However, it can be done in winter by heating and lighting artificially. I won't talk about it here.
cut the stems at which point
Rhipsalis cuttings should be about ten centimetres long. It is always necessary to cut at a knot between two articles, or even slightly below it for species with cylindrical stems. Roots will form at the node.
After cutting a stem, it takes about a week for it to heal before it is planted. Durind the waiting time, the cuttings must be placed on newspaper, in a cool, bright but well ventilated place.
I often plant in square plastic pots of 10cm x 10cm x 12cm, using a slightly different compost than adult Rhipsalis.
substrate
I add to the substrate I have already mentioned a little quartz sand (non-calcareous and not too fine) , bought in aquarium shops.
A slightly sandy soil is an excellent for rooting. It keeps the moisture necessary for root formation. Do not put a cup under the pot.
For the depth of the cutting in the ground, here is an indicative diagram.
cutting location
The pot will be placed in a bright place sheltered from direct sunlight, for example behind the curtain of a south-facing window.
The substrate will be kept permanently very slightly moist, to encourage root formation and development.
A few months later, the rooted cuttings will be repotted, without breaking the clod, in the final pot for the adult plant.
And that's it, I think I've told you pretty much everything, to start a beautiful collection of Rhipsalis, this genus so endearing, easy to cultivate, and often misunderstood. Good cultivation!
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