Orchid Cactus is a beautiful succulent that have some of the most incredible flowers around. They have flat stems that look rather like leaves and are quite different in their appearance compared to other cacti species that are traditionally more spikey. They are reasonably easy to care for and are often grown as houseplants. There are many varieties and hybrids of them that bloom during the day, as well as many others that only bloom at night.
If you want to learn all about growing your own orchid cactus and how to help it thrive, this guide is for you.
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- What Are Orchid Cacti?
- How To Grow An Orchid Cactus
- When To Plant Orchid Cactus
- Where To Plant Orchid Cactus
- How To Plant And Care For An Orchid Cactus Inside And Outside
- What Is The Meaning Of An Orchid Cactus?
- How Often Do Orchid Cactus Bloom?
- How Do I Make An Orchid Cactus Bloom?
- Does An Orchid Cactus Need Full Sun?
- How Long Does It Take For An Orchid Cactus To Bloom?
- How Often Should I Water An Orchid Cactus?
What Are Orchid Cacti?
The orchid cactus, also known as an Epiphyllum, is a type of cacti that originally come from the Americas – both Central and South America. They are known for their large and striking flowers, which very closely look like traditional orchids.
How To Grow An Orchid Cactus
The main requirement for a successful and happy orchard cactus is to pay attention to the light levels where you plant it. It has a preference for indirect but bright light, but if you don’t have this, then know it can tolerate an hour or two of direct sunshine.
To avoid a long and leggy orchid cactus, avoid placing it in full shade as this will prevent them from flowering well. All cacti prefer climates that sit around 15 – 21°C during the daytime and will tolerate temperatures ranging 10 – 15°C during the night. Any cooler night temperatures will lead to a failure to thrive for your orchid cactus.
The second key requirement to grow an orchard cactus is to keep it evenly moist, but not waterlogged. Water your plant only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. During the winter months, you can reduce watering to once a month. Feed your orchid cactus with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Repot your orchid cactus every few years in a well-draining soil mix. You can create your own perfect soil for it by including perlite and sand, however only do this if you do not have a soil mix for cacti available. Use a pot with many drainage holes to prevent waterlogging of the roots.
If you wish to grow an orchard cactus to gift or to put in a new area of your home, know that it’s quite easy to propagate orchid cacti by taking off a stem cutting during the warmer months and allowing the cutting to form calluses for a few days. Once calluses have formed, then the callus should be planted in a cactus soil mixture. After the flowers have finished, it’s a good idea to prune your orchid cactus to encourage it to branch out and become bushier. The best way to cut it is to trim the stem back a few cm above the first set of leaves.
When To Plant Orchid Cactus
Orchid cacti are tropical plants that love warm temperatures and areas with high humidity. They’re not a fan of cold weather, so the best time to plant one is in the spring or summer when it’s warm and the days are long. Planting them during fall or winter is not ideal since the temperatures can drop significantly and your orchid cacti could go into shock at the temperature change. All orchard cacti like to have warm and humid surroundings.
Where To Plant Orchid Cactus
Orchard cacti do well when planted outdoors in dappled shade, but really thrive when kept indoors in a pot. When planting your orchid cactus indoors, you’ll want to find an area in your home that has bright but indirect sunlight. Somewhere near a window with a sheer curtain or even in a room with a skylight or a south-facing window. Use a well-draining potting mix and ensure the chosen pot has enough holes for adequate drainage.
How To Plant And Care For An Orchid Cactus Inside And Outside
Orchid cacti can be grown both indoors and outdoors. In an indoor setting, it’s good to choose a pot that is a little bigger than the current root structure of the orchid cactus. Fill the container with a potting mix that drains well – ideally one which is created just for succulents and for cacti. Plant the orchid cactus and ensure that all roots are covered, and the base of the plant remains level with the soil – neither above nor below it.
Once planted, water well. Thereafter, water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out a little between watering. To find the right place for your orchard cactus, you’ll need to find a place which receives bright, but indirect sunlight. Your plant must avoid direct sunshine since it is liable to damage and scorch the leaves. Fertilise your orchid cactus once each month during the growing season.
For those planting the orchard cactus outdoors, you’ll do well to choose an area that receives shade and dappled light, like underneath a large tree. Mix equal parts potting soil, sand, and perlite to create a well-draining soil that it will thrive in. Plant the cactus in the soil, and ensure the roots are covered, and the base is level with the soil level. Water it regularly but ensure the soil has dried out before you water it again. In areas which receive frost, you will need to bring it indoors or into a greenhouse to protect it from cold weather.
It’s important to note that orchid cacti aren’t very drought tolerant, so they will need more regular watering and fertilising than others of its species. They also need a winter break in order to rest and set buds.
What Is The Meaning Of An Orchid Cactus?
The orchid cactus is considered to be a symbol that represents both elegance and beauty. In Chinese culture, it’s often given as a gift to women as it is seen as a symbol of love and appreciation for women’s beauty and strength.
Overall, the orchid cactus is a reminder to cherish beauty and have the strength to overcome life’s obstacles. In other cultures, its delicate, and fascinating flowers that last so briefly are a reminder to appreciate beauty while it lasts. It is also a common symbol of resilience and adaptability.
How Often Do Orchid Cactus Bloom?
The Orchid Cactus is known for having a truly beautiful flower. Depending on which variety you have it will either bloom during the day or the night. If you have a day-blooming orchid cactus, then you can expect blooms to appear in springtime through to summertime. If you have a night-blooming variety of orchid cactus, then they tend to flower at night in the summer through to the autumn.
How Do I Make An Orchid Cactus Bloom?
If you’re worried that your orchid cactus isn’t blooming, there are some simple ways to encourage it to flower for you. First is to ensure it’s kept well away from draughts and open doorways where gusts of air can disturb it, and make sure it’s nowhere near air conditioning as this will disturb its cycles.
Secondly is to give it time during the winter to rest itself as this is when it will begin to set buds. Keep it happy by not fertilising it to encourage bud formation, and also water sparingly. Indirect, bright light is another key way to keep it in tune with its innate growing cycles – if yours is outdoors, ensure it’s well-shaded away from any direct sunshine.
If you rested your orchid cactus during winter, then you can begin a fertilisation schedule again in the early springtime and keep up the feeds into the autumn months. If buds have begun to appear, then do not move the plant away from its current light source. Any stress from changing light levels or surrounding temperatures can stress the plant and cause it to lose all buds and flowers.
Repotting should not happen during bud formation or flowering, as most orchid cactus species will flower and do best when they are slightly root bound. After the flowering season, as it moves into a more dormant state, you can repot it into a pot that’s only one size larger than the pot it’s currently in. This way it can settle, and become root bound once more to begin its flowering cycle in the next few seasons. Ensure that repotting is only done every two years – though some species only require repotting every seven years.
Does An Orchid Cactus Need Full Sun?
Most orchid cacti do best when they receive dappled or filtered sunshine. They tend to do well if they receive a few hours of full morning sun, but they must never receive any kind of full midday sun as this is too harsh for them. If you are going to be wintering your orchid cactus inside, then keep it in a room that will remain cool and not one which receives any kind of air conditioning as this can throw off its natural cycle.
How Long Does It Take For An Orchid Cactus To Bloom?
All orchid cacti are part of the epiphyllum family which means they tend to only flower once they’ve reached maturity. This can vary depending on if your cactus is from a graft or grown from seed, but as a rule of thumb, this is around five years.
The flowers which bloom will first begin as buds in winter and will flower in either spring, summer or autumn depending on the variety you have, and if it’s a day or night-blooming orchid cactus. The flowers will last for a day, sometimes two, and will have a very sweet scent.
How Often Should I Water An Orchid Cactus?
As a rule of thumb, an orchid cactus should receive water every week and a half. However, ignore this advice if the soil is still moist when you go to water it. As they are tropical plants, that usually grow on trees, they will do well if the soil dries out a bit before they are watered again. If the soil is too moist root rot will occur. Watering more often may only be required if the light level is high and there is not enough humidity in the air.
As long as you keep in mind that your orchid cactus requires you to create a perfect balance of light and water, you will have a beautiful addition to your home or greenhouse for many years to come.
Lily’s love for flowers and plants was nurtured in her grandmother’s vibrant garden. Over the years, this affection blossomed into a full-fledged passion for horticulture.
With formal training in botany and countless hours in her own backyard oasis, Lily has cultivated a deep understanding of plant care and garden design.