How to get an Orchid Cactus-Epiphyllum Oxypetalum to Bloom
How do I get my Orchid Cactus, Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, to bloom?
Hi Linda,
Photo by Angela Pratt
I think Orchid Cactus are a little like Gardenias. Both need a drop in temperature to help set the buds and encourage the plant to bloom. I don’t mean really cold temperatures, but something around 50-55 degrees, nothing below freezing, towards the end of winter.
Feeding an Orchid Cactus correctly is really important. You can use a well balanced plant food once a month. During the winter the plant needs a 8-10 week rest. Water less and don’t feed the plant at all. In late fall (October to November), about a month before spring, give your Orchid Cactus some plant food low in nitrogen but high in potash. Nitrogen encourages green leaf growth and that’s not what you want to do now.
Other than that just basic care:
Bright indirect light
Moist soil spring through fall, less water in winter, but never let the soil totally dry out
Regular pruning to keep the plant full (use the cuttings to start a new plants)