Do not fertilize plants during December or January. The major flowering season for day-flowering orchid cacti is from April to June. Night-blooming species flower in late summer and early fall. Epiphyllums will flower when they are 2 to 3 years old. Make sure that your plants have a nighttime temperature of 40 to 50 F during the winter.
Plants like to be rootbound before flowering.
Orchid cacti have flattened, fleshy stems, often deeply toothed, with a trailing growth habit. Flowers are 6 inches long or more and of many colors. There are hundreds of cultivars. Prepared by Karen Russ, HGIC Information Specialist, and Al Pertuit, Extension Floriculture Specialist, Clemson University. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied.