The growing popularity of the epiphyllum hybrids, also called phyllotactic and popularly known as orchid cactus, has brought about some extensive study of their culture and an enthusiastic zeal in hybridizing for new and better varieties.
A commercial dealer propounded the name orchid cactus for its obvious “trade-pulling” power. However, epiphyllums have no relationship to the orchids; they are both epiphytic in growth habits and have exquisite flowers.
Blooms last several days after fully opening and may be in a wide range of colors and color combinations, except the clear blue.
Some are small-flowered, while others reach monstrous proportions of 11” or more inches in diameter during the April, May, and June flowering seasons.
Cultural Methods
Epiphyllums prefer partial shade under conditions suitable for begonias or gesneriads but must not have excessive moisture at their roots. They can withstand cold temperatures, as much as a degree or two below freezing.
A good potting soil formula is one composed of one-half well-decomposed leaf mold with the other half comprised of equal parts of coarse gravel, garden loam, and well-rotted manure to which bonemeal is added at the rate of a teaspoonful for each 4” inch pot of mixture.
If you buy rooted cuttings, pot them up in fighting—moist potting soil. Do not water for several days whenever the roots have been disturbed. This recommendation also applies after repotting.
Uprooted Cuttings
Uprooted cuttings should go into a slightly-moist mixture of one-half of each coarse peat moss and sand. During this time, give them a shady, humid place.
After the third week, begin to water lightly. The cuttings may remain in the peat and sand mixture for a year without injury. However, they must not be disturbed for at least the first six months.
Growing Conditions
Since epiphyllums bloom only about three months of the year, we may be tempted to neglect them the rest of the time, but it is unwise. When making up your potting soil for epiphyllum, never sift it.
Let it remain coarse as it is so that it cannot pack. To allow the soil to water-log is to invite the death of your plant.
Perfect, fast drainage will prevent such an occurrence. First, apply water at the top of the pot until it drains from the bottom. Then do not water again until the surface soil is dry.
Epiphyllums have a relatively small root system, so do not put them in too big pots. Instead, tin cans make ideal containers for epiphyllums.
During the summer, when the plants are put out under trees or shrubs in a protected spot, the cans do not dry out nearly as fast as the clay pots.
The normal growing season of the orchid cacti is in the Fall, so do not try to discourage them. Suppose the leaves begin to fade.
Please don’t soak the plants, but turn the pots on their edges and sprinkle the leaves occasionally. This condition usually indicates the rest period, and water heavily would invite rot.
Epiphyllum hybrids fill a definite need in all plant collections. There are kinds to use as basket plants, on pedestals, for espalier treatment in limited space, and for making corsages.
A society for epiphyllum devotees publishes a mimeographed bulletin. The address of the Epiphyllum Society of America is 300 Grove Place, Pasadena 8, California.
44659 by Elvin Mcdonald