Epiphyllum Orchid Cactus – Growing Tips

Time is ripe for a paragraph or two on epiphyllums and cymbidiums. There is still time to see some of each of these two distinct groups in bloom. Although epiphyllum is called the orchid cactusorchid cactus it is not an orchid but a cactus, while cymbidium is an honest-to-goodness orchid. We’ll take up cymbidiums at another time. Epiphyllums begin to flower in February and many plants keep it up into July. After blooming they make their autumn growth and then become dormant. While they are growing they need water, good ventilation and protection from extreme heat and strong sun. Give the plants a slight drying off during dormancy but never let them become perfectly dry. In February when growth begins again, start feeding them with decomposed goat, rabbit or cow manure.

Transplanting is usually done a month after flowering but do not transplant unless necessary. If your plant is badly pot-bound move it to the next size pot rather than to a much larger one. Give epiphyllums plenty of good drainage, using pot shards at the bottom and sand over the shards. Use one-half rotted leaf-mold and one-half garden loam mixed with old manure and coarse gravel. Epiphyllums enjoy moist air and some sun. After the buds are set the pots are best moved outdoors, if the weather is mild. Experts tell us never to change conditions while the buds are forming. Most epiphyllums spend at least half their lives in the lathhouse or greenhouse. In cold climates they should be treated to the conditions given the Christmas cactus – or to tender begonias and ferns. A large proportion of the epiphyllums which were blasted by the January freeze pulled through.

When growing epiphyllums as basket plants. line the baskets with pressed sphagnum moss and fill with a mixture of leafmold, fertilizer and loam, binding these together with shredded moss. Feed with liquid fertlizer every two weeks during growth.

Epiphyllums do not have leaves, but just stems or branches which consist of two-edged or triangular structures along which the flowers appear. The chief difference in varieties is the color of bloom although the shape of branch and flower also varies.

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