I Received a HousePlant and Need it Identified – Orchid Cactus
My husband bought me a unique plant and on it is the name is Panthers Tongue. I cant find that name anywhere. There was only a hand written tag with no other name. I am trying to find its care requirements. Thank you for your help
Hi,
Your plant looks like a Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Orchid Cactus) Dutchman’s Pipe or Queen of the Night). It’s a species of Cactus.
Here are some care instructions for an Orchid Cactus :
Light: Bright light but no direct sun
Water: Water well, be sure there are drip holes in the bottom of the pot. Never allow the plant to sit in water. Allow about 30% of the soil to dry out before watering again.
Plant Food: Fertilize the Queen of the Night Cactus monthly March through October with a balanced water-soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. After two or three years, when the plant matures and is capable of blooming, use a plant food high in phosphorus, once in the late fall and once in February or March. Never feed an Orchid Cactus in December or January.
Soil: Cactus Soil
Resting: During the winter, allow the soil to dry out a little more, and move the plant to a darker area.
Here is a picture of an Orchid Cactus in bloom.
