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Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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Posted by amccour (My Page) on Wed, Oct 21, 09 at 19:51
| My Rhipsalis salicornioides just started dropping segments really regularly. I'm not really sure what would be causing this. I'm not seeing any insects. I may've let it get too dry, but it's never dropped segments in response to dryness before. Any thoughts? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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Does it need repotting and new soil, perhaps the roots have out grown the pot. It may need more shade. It flowers about mothers day, so I would think that it is dormant. But I live in So Calif. International zone 21.
It is a tropical plant, is it getting too cold? Check out the soil see if there are mealies. It also could have rotted, or have a fungus, or disease. Only you will be able to tell that. Norma |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| Hatiora species have a nasty habit of falling apart when disturbed. When it has happened to me the causes have been: * Red spider mites.
* Too dry conditions.
* Root damage. |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart. 2
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| Addendum: I have seen Hatiora salicornioides grow in dry conditions, it is when a plant is suddenly moved from a damp to a dry environment that they might start to protest. |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| Pretty sure I don't have mites "I have seen Hatiora salicornioides grow in dry conditions, it is when a plant is suddenly moved from a damp to a dry environment that they might start to protest." Ah. As I said, it HAD gotten pretty dry, but A) I'd let it get dryer before and B) I wasn't really watering any more when I had it outside this summer. However, it's pretty close to the radiator, so maybe the warm air coming up is setting it off. Also, I'm keeping it about half a foot away from the window, instead of right next to the window. Also it's on the plant rack so it's getting shade from my norfolk island pine, too. Could it need more light? |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| I doubt that lack of light has caused the shedding of segments, it is nothing I have observed or heard of. My plants often have to cope with low light. I would try moving it away from the radiator, sounds like a more plausible reason. |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| This information is going to work for me as well, my plant is doing fine so far. I have seen it better however.Thanks, Norma |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| I just noticed I had some spider mites on it, though I'm not sure if they were causing the segment shedding or were induced by whatever else was causing the shedding. |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| Still dropping segments constantly. I don't see any pests, it's right next to the window and nowhere near the vent, and it's actively growing too -- it just... drops the new growth, as well as the old growth. I'm really at my wit's end here! Also not suspecting a problem with watering since they start to shrivel up when too dry and mine hasn't done that, and I haven't been watering it particularly heavily (though they can take fairly regular waterings anyway). Should I unpot and start checking for root mealies or something? |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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I have never had this happen! Could the soil need changing, perhaps it's in need fertilizer, too much heat, It would hurt to check for root mealies or something. May be something is eating the roots and their is nothing in the way of roots to support the growth. Mine are all growing just fine, If I remember correctly they need low light? The leaves should turn red. That is why it is call
'Drunkard's Dream' 99 bottle of wine on the wall etc. When you find the cause will you plese let
us know so we can learn as well. Norma |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| Hi Norma, I've never seen or heard of these leaves being red. I heard they're named that way since their leaves or segments are bottled shaped, which they do appear to be. Can't tell where the poster is geographically, could it be the approaching cold? The combination of window & radiator may have done it in. I had a tiny piece of one, really a scrap, been doing fine all year then recently crumbled into a dry heap. I think I let it get too dry, after which it was a goner. (I knew nothing about these, just grew it 'cause I ended up w/ a bit of it, can't even remember how.) Maybe pull a few fresh healthy segmwents off to re-root a new one just in case? |
RE: Rhipsalis salicornioides falling apart.
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| "I've never seen or heard of these leaves being red. " New growth is red, though it fades as they grow more. "Can't tell where the poster is geographically, could it be the approaching cold? The combination of window & radiator may have done it in. " Zone 5 Ohio :) Except it's been a positively *balmy* November, getting up into the 70s a few times and running around 50-60 average. Only got cold last week, and this has been going on since September-ish. In any case, it was right next to the window all of last year, which was much colder, and did fine. "Maybe pull a few fresh healthy segmwents off to re-root a new one just in case?" I think I will. I'd rather NOT disassemble it yet, but... blargh. I need new soil for that, too. The last bag of orchid mix I got seems to just be regular potting soil which won't work at all, at that. |
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