At this time of year, we enjoy anything that blooms. When it is cold outside we all need to add some colour to our daily lives. It is a good philosophy to grow houseplants that are easy keepers, but still give you lots of value from the colour perspective. My suggestion to everyone is to add some exotic to your regular old house plants and grow Epiphyllum spp. or orchid cacti. Although they only bloom once or twice a year, they are still worth growing as the blooms are spectacular.
There are around twenty different species of orchid cactus that are native to Mexico, Central and 麻豆传媒AV America and the Caribbean. They are named Epiphyllum from the Greak epi which means 鈥渦pon鈥� and phyllum which means 鈥渓eaf.鈥� The language of taxonomy or classification is Latin and it is actually a very descriptive language as well. In this case Epiphyllum refers to the lovely flowers that bloom right on the leaf-like stems. Orchid cacti have a rich history as an ornamental accent plant and have been popular amongst gardeners since the 1800s. Originally, the blooms were a creamy white but now you can find them in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange and even purple.
They are best grown in a hanging basket to allow the long stems to cascade over the pot. The flowers emerge at the ends of the stem and are simply amazing. They are 4 to 6 inches (10 - 15 cm) wide and truly are spectacular. The stems themselves are broad and flat with serrated edges. The stems are segmented stems and joined by a midrib.
The media within the pot should be a regular organic soilless mix with some added perilite to ensure it is well drained. As these plants are succulent in nature, it is important to ensure that the media is not waterlogged. Being native to lush, tropical jungles they like to be kept moist but also need to be well-drained. If you are a bit of an overwaterer, then it does help to ensure this does not harm your orchid cactus by adding some extra large diameter media to the regular mix.
The orchid cactus is not difficult to grow. They need regular watering, occasional fertilization and in return for the spectacular blooms, they also need a period of rest. Most of my houseplants enjoy the summer outside in filtered shade and when I bring them in, they get a short period of rest in a cool corner of the basement or in the garage if we have a mild fall. During this resting period I generally withhold water but do watch that they do not desiccate. Once they have rested they come up and enjoy our long nights in a location with bright, indirect light.
It will be necessary to prune your cactus back if you are keeping it happy. Prune off where the stems join together which will also encourage new growth after blooming or in early spring. As my plants enjoy the summer outside, this is when they exhibit the most growth so pruning occurs just when they go outdoors thus the new growth is maximized.
Also in spring I begin to feed with a high potassium fertilizer and continue to feed until the rest period. When buds appear, keep the light and temperature the same as severe changes in the environment will result in bud drop.
Happy December and may you enjoy the spectacular blooms of the Orchid Cactus!
Hanbidge is a horticulturist with the Saskatoon School of Horticulture and can be reached at 306-931-GROW(4769); by email at聽[email protected]; facebook: @schoolofhort; twitter: @hortiuclturepat; instagram: patyplant or check out our website at聽
