Orchid Cactus Care: A Simple Guide for Healthy Growth
In this guide, I’ll share my top tips on orchid cactus (Epiphyllum) plant care at home. I love growing these plants for their bright color and pleasant fragrance. The trick to successful orchid cactus care lies in finding the optimal balance of light and water. With the right light exposure, adequate humidity, and well-draining soil, the orchid cactus will beautify your home for years.
Orchid Cactus Care – Key Takeaways
| Scientific Name: | Epiphyllum |
| Common Names: | Orchid cactus, climbing cactus, and leaf cactus. |
| Native Range: | Central America and Northern South America. |
| Soil: | Well-draining cactus or succulent mix with plenty of organic matter; prefers slightly acidic pH. |
| Light: | Bright, indirect light throughout the day. |
| Watering: | Water thoroughly when the top half of the soil is dry. |
| Temperature: | The ideal range is between 50-85°F (10-30°C). It won’t tolerate very cold temperatures. |
| Fertilizing: | Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) |
| Pruning: | Prune to maintain desired size and shape in spring. |
| Pests: | Common pests include aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects which can be managed with regular cleaning, appropriate watering, and the use of insecticidal soaps or neem oil. |
| Toxicity: | Non-toxic to pets and humans, though I’d keep it away from eager pets and small children. |
How to Grow Orchid Cactus at Home
How big do Orchid Cactus grow?
If you’re growing an Epiphyllum at home, what should you expect? The orchid cactus grows at a moderate rate.
The cactus’s stems reach 18 to 30 inches long when grown indoors. In nature, however, these plants can grow up to 10 feet long and three feet wide.
It may take up to five years before an orchid cactus flowers. Usually, they’re also more likely to bloom if their roots fill the pot or they’re root-bound—usually, a plant growing in a four-inch pot blooms before a plant growing in an eight-inch pot.
What to do Before Planting
Choose a pot or planter on the smaller side when planting an orchid cactus. Containers must have drainage.
Try not to plant while blooming. Wait until at least a month after the flowers die.
A hanging basket is an excellent choice for the plant’s long stems. If you’re not hanging your Epiphyllum, place its container on a gravel-filled tray. Keep the tray almost topped with water to improve humidity.
What’s the Best Orchid Cactus Soil Mix?
In nature, orchid cacti usually grow on trees. Mimic these conditions by choosing a soil mix that holds moisture but drains quickly. Consider three parts potting soil to one part pumice or perlite or half peat moss-based potting soil to one part perlite.
As for pH levels, aim at the acidic side: A pH of six is ideal.
You’ll also find plenty of pre-mixed orchid and succulent soils online, which in my experience, work well with orchid cactus plants.
How to Plant an Orchid Cactus
When potting an orchid cactus, partially fill your chosen container with moist, well-draining soil. Gently place the plant in the pot.
Fill the sides loosely to the original soil level. Tamp the soil gently. Keep the newly planted Epiphyllum moist.
When planting a cutting, let them harden for one week before you plant. Place the cutting, growing end down into the soil. Don’t place more than two leaf serrations under the soil.
Put the container in a location with bright but indirect light. Keep the soil moist by misting regularly. The cutting should root in three to six weeks.
Orchid Cactus Light Preferences
Orchid cacti thrive in filtered light, such as in their natural rainforest habitat. A spot that receives sunlight in the morning but is sheltered in the afternoon is ideal.
Never expose your Epiphyllum to the full afternoon sun. Usually, a south or west-facing exposure is preferable.
You may notice leggy or weak growth if your plant isn’t getting enough light. Yellow or wilted growth is an indication of too much exposure. With the right amount of light, your plant should have light- to dark-green stems with a slight red tinge at the edges.
Over the winter, place your plant in a room where the lights aren’t turned on after daylight. Exposure to artificial lights during the winter months may affect flowering in the future.
Temperature & Humidity Preferences
Most of the year, orchid cacti prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, however, they need to experience around eight to 10 weeks of cooler temperatures to flower.
During this cool period, temperatures should be between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, temperatures should be between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The orchid cactus thrives in moderate humidity. Indoors, this means from about 40 to 50 percent. You can boost humidity by placing the pot on a tray of wet rocks.
Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum) Care
How To Water Orchid Cactus Plants
Overwatering is the greatest threat to a healthy orchid cactus. Never let your plant stand in water. However, you do need to ensure their roots never dry out.
From mid-spring through summer, water when the top third of the soil feels slightly damp. During the winter, the plant requires less moisture. Water sparingly during these periods of inactivity.
Use bottled or de-mineralized water, as opposed to tap water.
When and Why to Fertilize Orchid Cactus Plants
During periods of growth — from spring through fall — apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer or pre-mixed orchid fertilizer every two weeks. Don’t use a fertilizer that has more than 10 percent nitrogen content.
At the end of February and October, apply a 2-10-10 fertilizer. This will encourage flowering.
Over the winter, take a break from fertilizing as the nutrient overload is too much for the plant during periods of natural dormancy.
How to Prune Orchid Cactus Plants
The only reason to prune an orchid cactus is to control its size. If you want to prune, do it right after the plant stops flowering.
When cutting stems, use clean, sharp shears. This will help prevent tearing. Be especially careful not to overwater after pruning.
How to Propagate Orchid Cactus Plants
If you prune your plant, keep the cuttings. This is the easiest way to propagate an orchid cactus.
To propagate, cut a stem cleanly off. Allow the end to form a callus (harden) for a week. Then push the growing end into clean, moist soil.
No more than two leaf serrations should be under the soil. Place the pot in a bright but shaded spot and water or mist regularly. The cutting’ll take about three to six weeks to develop roots.
When and How to Repot Orchid Cactus
Opinions on how often to repot orchid cacti vary from every two to seven years (I usually find they need repotting every three years or so). When you do choose to repot, move just one container size larger. (Orchid cacti tend to flower more vigorously if they’re slightly root bound).
Wait to repot your cactus orchid until about a month after blooming. Don’t remove too much soil from the root ball.
Instead, give it a light shake to remove excess soil and set the root ball in the new container. Then fill with fresh soil. Don’t water for a week after repotting.
You can add fresh soil if you have a large plant and don’t want to repot. Lightly top-dress the plant in its current container.
Common Orchid Cactus Problems & How to Treat Them
The most common issue affecting orchid cacti is overwatering. If your plant sits in water, you may notice stems turning limp or growing black at the base. This is an issue known as stem rot. If you see stem rot, take a break from watering. Cut blackened stems off at soil level.
Overexposure to harsh, direct light may lead to stems that turn yellow or look wilted. Too much light may also create a sunburned appearance.
Conversely, if your orchid cactus needs more light, it may take on a leggy, weak appearance.
Overwatering your plant may also lead to an infestation of fungus gnats. Other potential pests include aphids, mealybugs, and glasshouse red spider mites. Treat infestations using insecticide soap or Neem oil.
Look for spots on the stems, which may indicate a fungal issue. Often, fungus grows when water sits on stems for too long. Prevent fungus by watering away from stems and using well-draining soil.
Essential Tools to Have Around
Orchid cactus care doesn’t require many specialized tools. However, you will want sharp shears to prevent tearing while pruning or taking cuttings.
A spray bottle is handy to keep soil evenly moist.
Use a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer during growing times. Twice a year, use a 2-10-10 fertilizer to promote flowering.
About Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum) Plants
Origins and History
The orchid cactus grows naturally in lowland jungle and cloud forest environments. They’re usually found in the shady, humid forest canopy, where they grow on trees such as the frangipani.
Unlike many other epiphytes, the orchid cactus doesn’t take from its host plant. Instead, it draws its nourishment from leaf mold, insects, animal droppings, air, and moisture in the surrounding environment.
In nature, orchid cactus blooms appear at night. But in the 1800s, plant hunters sought out specimens that bloomed in the day, as well. Though botanists continue to crossbreed in an attempt to create more day bloomers, most still bloom only at night.
Species and Characteristics
Plants in the Epiphyllum genus belong to the Cactaceae (cactus) family. There are about 20 species of Epiphyllum.
This cactus has broad, flat, fleshy stems. Stems are jointed, with serrated or toothed edges and spineless areoles. Stems trail or are pendant-like.
In early winter through spring, large, brightly colored flowers emerge from the ends of the stems. Usually, flowers bloom at night.
Many have a sweet fragrance. Blooms come in various colors, including red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, white, and bi-colored.
Orchid cacti are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. They’re also found in the Caribbean region. In their natural environment, they thrive in the rainforest canopy, growing on trees and basking in the dappled light.
Popular Cultivars and Varieties
There are a wide variety of orchid cacti available. Most are hybrids, cultivated to produce blooms of different forms, fragrances, and staying power, with a particular focus on brilliant color.
Popular hybrids by bloom color include:
- Red: Arlene, Beautiful Red, Miss America, Showboat
- Orange: Cutie, Dragon Heart, Hawaii, Honeycomb, J.T. Barber
- Yellow: Desert Falcon, Jennifer Ann, King of Yellows, Reward
- Purple: Dragonfruit, Miss Hollywood
- Pink: Fantasy, Fortuna, Lynda Ann, Millennium, Ophelia, Pegasus, Unforgettable
- White: College Queen, Fred Bouton, French Sahara
- Bi-color: Andromeda, Dante
For especially fragrant flowers, home gardeners love E. oxypetalum, E. ‘Evening Delight’ and E. ‘William Clark’.
While bloom time differs by hybrid, most are relatively short-lived. Some blooms last only one night, while others last a few days.
Epiphyllum Uses & Benefits
Indoor gardeners prize the orchid cactus for its blooms’ stunning color, size, and fragrance. In some cultures, orchid cactus flowers are used as an ingredient in soup. Blooms have a texture that’s said to be similar to that of okra.
The Epiphyllum can produce edible fruits. Some compare their taste to passion fruit, with a kiwi-like texture and seeds.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the uses and benefits of cactus.
Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum) Meaning & Symbolism
The translation of Epiphyllum means “upon the leaf”. Ironically, though, orchid cacti don’t have leaves. Rather, Epiphyllum refers to how this cacti’s blooms emerge directly from its stems.
Botanists and hobbyists have cross-bred the orchid cactus for over 200 years. Gardeners always search for new colors, stronger fragrances, and longer bloom times.
There’s even a special society devoted just to orchid cacti. The Epiphyllum Society of America was founded in 1940 to promote awareness and cultivation of these lovely plants.
Orchid Cactus Care FAQs:
Are Orchid Cactus Toxic to Humans and/or Pets?
Orchid cacti are not toxic to humans or pets.
What is the best fertilizer for orchid cactus?
During periods of growth — from spring through fall — apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer every two weeks. Don’t use a fertilizer that has more than 10 percent nitrogen content.
At the end of February and October, apply a 2-10-10 fertilizer. This will encourage flowering.
Over the winter, take a break from fertilizing as the nutrient overload is too much for the plant during periods of natural dormancy.
How much light does an orchid cactus need?
Orchid cacti thrive in filtered light, such as in their natural rainforest habitat. A spot that receives light in the morning but is sheltered in the afternoon is ideal.
What’s the best soil for orchid cactus?
In nature, orchid cacti usually grow on trees. Mimic these conditions by choosing a soil mix that holds moisture but drains quickly. Consider three parts potting soil to one part pumice or perlite or half peat moss-based potting soil to one part perlite. As for pH levels, aim for the acidic side: A pH of six is ideal.
How long does it take for an orchid cactus to bloom?
It may take up to five years before an orchid cactus flowers. Usually, they’re also more likely to bloom if their roots fill the pot or they’re root-bound—usually, a plant growing in a four-inch pot blooms before a plant growing in an eight-inch pot.
How do I get my Orchid Cactus / Epiphyllum to bloom?
With due care and attention, an orchid cactus will bloom indoors, typically once it reaches maturity after several years of growth.
How do you propagate an orchid cactus?
To propagate, cut a stem cleanly off. Allow the end to form a callus (harden) for a week. Then push the growing end into clean, moist soil.
No more than two leaf serrations should be under the soil. Regularly place the pot in a bright but shaded spot and water or mist. The cutting takes about three to six weeks to develop roots.
Should I deadhead cactus flowers?
Typically, deadheading cactus flowers aren’t necessary as the past blooms will eventually drop on their own accord allowing new growth to come through.
Growing and Caring for Orchid Cactus Plants – Wrapping Up
The orchid cactus offers bright, fragrant blooms. It’s especially dramatic when grown in hanging baskets. The trick to successful orchid cactus care is finding the optimal balance between light and water. The orchid cactus will beautify your home for years with the correct light exposure, adequate humidity, and well-draining soil.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the best Orchid Plant Delivery Services.
Petal Republic’s Expert Guides to Orchids:
For more on the famed Orchid Plant – see our essential guides to: