Growing orchid cactus is a delight because of its large, cup-shaped blooms in exquisite hues. Put it in a hanging basket to display it, letting the long stems spill over the container.
The stems of orchid cacti are large, flat, and have serrated edges. Their maximum size is 2 feet (60 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. They don’t put on much of a show, but you can rely on them to bloom every spring.
Flowers can be 4-8 in (10-20 cm) broad and appear at the ends of the stems. Epiphyllum hybrids, the majority of which are grown now, can be pink, red, white, yellow, orange, purple, or bicolored. You’ll get several months of blooming if you give your tropical cactus lots of sunshine.
Pruning Orchid Cactus
Unless you wish to limit its size, you won’t need to prune. After it stops flowering is the best time to trim it back. To avoid ripping the stems, use clean, sharp pruning scissors.
Keep those cuttings from the orchid cactus! To get more of these fascinating plants, propagate them. (See below, “Propagation”).
Wondering Whether to Repot…or Not?
Every two to three years, repot and upgrade to a larger pot. A little pot-bound orchid cactus enjoys and blooms best in this environment. Never repot it while it is in bloom because this will make the buds and blooms fall off.
Instead, top-dressing large plants involves adding a layer of new potting soil. To prevent dirt from spilling out while watering, leave about an inch (2.5 cm) of gap between the soil and the container rim.
How to Make Orchid Cactus Bloom
It’s simple to grow this flowering cactus, however there are a few things you can do to encourage blooming:
- Give it a break this winter. For the plant to set buds in the winter, it has to have a cool, dry rest period of roughly 8–10 weeks. During this period, water lightly and cease fertilizing.
- Bring some clarity. All year long, keep your orchid cactus in direct light. Keep the plant away of direct sunlight if you transfer it outside for the summer.
- Feed it. Fertilizer with a high phosphorus content will promote more flowers. Feeding should begin in the early spring and continue into the fall.
- Just let it be. Keep the plant in the same spot after the buds start to develop. It will lose its buds and flowers if you move it because of variations in temperature and light. Maintain it away from drafty areas as well, such as entrances and HVAC vents.
One of the most well-known species in this genus is Epiphyllum oxypetalum, which is seen below. It produces fragrant, white flowers that bloom for just one night before dying by morning. You can capture it in full bloom if you approach it covertly at night.
Orchid Cactus Problems and Solutions
blown-off flower buds? Don’t move the plant after the buds have formed. Flower buds will most likely fall off as the light changes. But don’t worry, these tropical hybrids are hardy and, with proper care, will bloom exquisitely when given what they desire.
Is there a problem with your plant? Verify the plant for any potential mealybug and scale infestations. To stop pests from spreading to your other houseplants, treat any infestation quickly and isolate the damaged plant.
Stem rot, which is brought on by overwatering, manifests as limp stems that darken at the base. Any rotting stems can be removed at the soil line.
Are Christmas and orchid cacti the same thing?
Plants that only bloom once a year in short but beautiful displays are frequently kept around by gardeners. This entails taking care of the plants throughout the year and watching for the stunning first blooms to open.
Some plants blossom at the end of the long winters and provide a springtime tonic.
The orchid cactus, which is closely linked to the more popular Christmas cactus, is one illustration. A few of the flat-leaved, lobed stems from a parent plant are broken off and placed into a pot of soilless mix to reproduce the plant.
Even if I occasionally plant into pure soilless mix and add the sand to the soil surface, I always add a little bit of sand to the cactus mix because all cacti thrive in light, well-drained soil. The sand eventually becomes a soil improvement by sinking into the ground.
The slips take root quickly, and soon the quickly expanding stems will spill over the pot’s edge. These stems will blossom after a year.
The branches begin their growth upright but become pendulous as they grow longer. Along the primary stems, lateral branches grow as the stems become longer. A good specimen plant can be created by planting about six slips in a six-inch pot.
Like the Christmas cactus, an orchid cactus enjoys bright light but does not like a lot of direct sun or scorching, midday sun.
The soil should be maintained somewhat dry throughout the winter, but it should never be allowed to entirely dry out since this could prevent the plants from blossoming.
Orchid cactus need to be slightly root-bound before they bloom because most cacti want to be pot-bound.
If the plant is fertilized a few times in the early spring and again after it blooms, the lovely, mid-green leaves will keep their healthy appearance.
The orchid cactus enjoys low winter temperatures like the Christmas cactus, which promotes the formation of buds. Due to its photosensitivity, it needs complete nighttime darkness in order to set buds.
The earliest flowers, which are brilliant red and funnel-shaped, appear around the beginning of May. Each bloom lasts for a few days, and buds develop over the course of three to four weeks.
The orchid cactus can be relocated outdoors for the summer in a spot that receives filtered sunlight, just like its cousin, the Christmas cactus, but the plant needs to be brought back inside before the risk of fall frost.
How simple are orchid cacti to grow?
Benefits: The orchid cactus is a low-maintenance houseplant that blooms spectacularly for several weeks in the spring. It accepts dry air and watering delays.
Blooms: From slits in the leaves, showy, enormous flowers emerge in the spring and into the summer. There are numerous varieties with names that provide the whole spectrum of hues.
Its leaves are long, flattened, narrow, and have scalloped edges. The spines of orchid cactus are not particularly visible.
Habit: Orchid cactus develops as a clump of 20-inch-long, flattened leaves that droop and dangle. A hanging basket is the perfect vessel for their behavior. They can also be potted in a common container and set on a shelf that is high.
Origins: They reside in the treetops of tropical rain forests in Central and South America. They merely physically cling to their host tree.
How to cultivate an orchid cactus: These tree-dwelling epiphytic cacti appear best grown in a hanging basket, from which their prodigious flowers can hang at or just above eye level and their long, flattened branches can hang down. Given that these plants naturally grow on tree branches rather than in soil, choose a light, porous potting mixture with great drainage. Between waterings, let the soil totally dry out; when you do water, give it a good soak.
Provide 8 to 12 weeks of cool winter weather (40 F to 60 F at night, just slightly warmer during the day) to promote flowering, and don’t water during this time. Once the flower buds form, start watering again and move the plant to a warmer area.
Has the orchid cactus thorns?
Many people automatically think of a saguaro or prickly pear when they hear the term “cactus.” The orchid cactus does not, however, have any prickly stickers or thorns, unlike a typical cactus plant. Although this magnificent flowering plant belongs to the cactus family, it has no thorns and produces some of the most exquisite flowers on the planet.
How big do Orchid Cactus grow?
What can you anticipate when cultivating an epiphyllum at home? The growth of the orchid cactus is moderate.
The cactus’ stems can grow up to 30 inches long when planted indoors. However, in the wild, these plants can reach lengths of up to 10 feet and widths of three feet.
An orchid cactus can take up to five years to bloom. They often have a higher chance of blooming if their roots completely round the pot or if they are root-bound. Typically, a plant growing in a container of four inches will bloom before one of eight inches.
What to do Before Planting
Select a pot or planter that is on the smaller side when planting an orchid cactus. Drainage is required for containers.
The plant’s lengthy stems require a hanging basket, which is a nice option. Place the container of your Epiphyllum on a tray packed with gravel if you aren’t hanging it. To increase humidity, keep the tray almost completely filled with water.
What’s the Best Orchid Cactus Soil Mix?
Orchid cacti typically grow on trees in the wild. Choose a soil mixture that retains moisture yet drains swiftly to mimic these circumstances. Think about mixing three parts potting soil to one part pumice or perlite, or using potting soil based on peat moss and perlite in equal amounts.
How to Plant an Orchid Cactus
When planting an orchid cactus, fill the selected container about halfway with damp, permeable soil. Put the plant in the pot gently.
To the original soil level, lightly fill the sidewalls. Gently tamp the ground. Retain moisture in the newly planted Epiphyllum.
Before planting a cutting, allow it to harden for a week. Put the cutting in the ground with the growing end facing up. No more than two leaf serrations should be buried beneath the soil.
Place the container in an area with good, but not direct, lighting. Mist the soil frequently to keep it moist. In three to six weeks, the cutting ought to take root.
Orchid Cactus Light Preferences
Filtered light, such as that found in their native rain forest habitat, is ideal for orchid cacti, which flourish in it. The best location is one that gets morning light but is shaded in the afternoon.
Never let the afternoon sun completely rays your epiphyllum. A south or west exposure is typically preferred.
You can observe lanky or sluggish growth if your plant isn’t receiving enough light. Growth that is yellow or wilted is a sign of excessive exposure. Your plant should have light- to dark-green stems with a faint red tint at the edges under the proper amount of light.
Put your plant in a room that won’t have the lights on after daylight hours throughout the winter. Future blossoming may be impacted by wintertime exposure to artificial lighting.
Temperature & Humidity Preferences
Orchid cacti prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for the majority of the year. However, they require eight to ten weeks of milder temperatures in the winter in order to flower.
Temperatures should range from 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit throughout this chilly period. Temperatures at night should range from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
A moderate humidity level is ideal for the orchid cactus. This translates to roughly 40 to 50 percent while indoors. In order to increase humidity, set the pot on a tray of moist rocks.