Epiphyllum Care

Most Epiphyllum cacti are easy to grow from pieces of the stem.

Allow cut pieces to callus for several days then plant into an appropriate medium.

Make your own potting mix with 3 parts commercial potting soil and 1 part small to medium pumice.

If pumice is not available, use bark chips or perlite.

The soil must hold moisture but drain quickly.

Keep the cutting in low light until it roots.

Do not let the medium dry out but do not let it get soggy either.

The orchid cactus cutting needs to be installed 1 or 2 inches below the soil at a serration.

Rooting should occur in a couple of weeks and after that the plant really takes off, producing new curled stems.

Rooted cutting now producing new shoots

Epiphyllum Cactus Plant Care

The biggest danger is overwatering.

The cactus needs to have moist roots at all times but they should not be sitting in a dish of water.

Make sure the top 1/3 of the soil is dry before watering.

In late winter, expose the cactus to cooler temperatures to promote spring flowering.

Keep them in the basement or a garage for a couple of weeks to spur bud formation.

The other biggest danger when raising Epiphyllums is lighting.

Consider that these plants grow in thick forests in the understory and are used to dappled light at best. Just like any plant, they need light but should be protected from bright midday light.

Morning sun is preferable with indirect light the rest of the way.

If you find a spot where the cactus is happy, make sure to leave it there, as they do not like change. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted weekly during the growing season.

In February, feed the plant with a 2-10-10 to promote blooming.

Repot every 7 years or so, but be warned, the plant only blooms when it is pot bound.

It might be best to wait and see if you get flowers before giving the plant a new home.