Why won't my plant bloom?

It often requires a period of cooler temperatures and slightly drier soil in winter to trigger flowering.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry, but reduce watering significantly during the winter.

Guide botanique

Queen of the night.

Epiphyllum oxypetalum

Prononciation ep-ih-FILL-um ox-ee-PET-ah-lum

Aussi appelée Dutchman's Pipe Cactus, Dutchman's-pipe cactus, Moonflower Cactus, night-blooming cereus, queen of the night

Queen of the night — Photo de Daniel Pineda Vera (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This fascinating cactus is famous for its large, fragrant white flowers that bloom only at night. It is an epiphyte that naturally grows on trees in tropical forests. You will love how it transforms your space when it finally puts on its rare, dramatic show.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Moyenne
Type de plante: Epiphytic cactus
Lumière: Bright indirect light
Lumière en intérieur: Lumière vive indirecte
Arrosage: Tous les 7 à 14 jours
Taille adulte: 3 to 10 feet
Croissance: Rapide
Rusticité: USDA 10 à 12
Floraison: Late spring to early autumn

Entretien

Keep your plant in a spot with plenty of filtered light and avoid direct sun that might scorch the stems. Watch for yellowing stems, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet for too long. Ensure the potting mix is chunky and well-draining to mimic its natural home on tree branches.

Arrosage: Let the top few inches of soil dry out completely before you give it another drink.
Engrais: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Taille: Trim back any damaged or overly long stems after the flowering season ends.
Rempotage: Repot only when the plant becomes root-bound, as it prefers to be slightly snug in its container.
Sol: Well-draining orchid or cactus mix
pH du sol: 6.0 to 7.0
Température: 10 à 30°C
Humidité: 50 à 70%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Moyenne
Durée de vie: Perennial, can live for several decades with proper care.
Parfum: Fort
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Moyenne

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite proper care.
Soil breaking down and losing structure.

Sécurité

Humains: This plant is non-toxic to humans.
Enfants: Keep away from small children due to the potential for sharp, albeit small, spines on the stems.
Allergènes de contact: The stems may have tiny spines that can cause minor skin irritation.
Allergènes aéroportés: There are no known significant respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
Comestibilité: The fruit is edible but often considered bland, so ensure proper identification before consumption.

Comment l'identifier

Long, flat, succulent leaf-like stems
Large, fragrant, white nocturnal flowers
Wavy or scalloped stem margins
Stems can grow quite long
Produces small, reddish, edible fruits

Hauteur: 1,5 à 3m
Envergure: 1 à 2m
Feuilles: green, evergreen
Fleurs: white, 10 à 15cm
Fruits: red, purple, Late summer

Problèmes courants

Mealybugs — Small white cottony insects that cluster in stem crevices.
Root rot — Caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil.

La cultiver

Multiplication: cuttings, seed
Quand planter: spring, summer
Hivernage: Move the plant to a frost-free location indoors before temperatures drop. Keep it in a bright spot and reduce water to a minimum until spring growth resumes.
En pot: It thrives in containers, which allow you to move it indoors during cold weather, and prefers a pot with excellent drainage.

Stem Cuttings

1. Cut a healthy stem segment at least 10 cm long.
2. Let the cut end callous over for 3 to 5 days in a dry place.
3. Plant the calloused end into well-draining cactus mix.
4. Keep the soil slightly moist until roots form.

Group this plant with other tropical epiphytes to create a microclimate that maintains higher humidity.

Bonnes associations

Orchidaceae — They share similar epiphytic light and moisture requirements.
Polypodiopsida — They provide a complementary lush texture and enjoy similar humidity levels.

Espèces similaires

Selenicereus anthonyanus — It shares the same epiphytic habit and night blooming characteristics.

Science

Famille: Cactaceae
Genre: Epiphyllum
Ordre: Caryophyllales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Tropical forests of Mexico and Central America.
Préservation: This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened in its native range.

It grows as an epiphyte on tree branches, capturing moisture and nutrients from the air and decaying organic matter.

Intérêt pour la faune: night blooming nectar source
Pollinisateurs: papillons de nuit
Utilisations: ornamental, container plant, night garden feature

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 1/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 5/9
Température: 8/9
Humidité: 4/9
Nutriments: 3/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Why won't my plant bloom?: It often requires a period of cooler temperatures and slightly drier soil in winter to trigger flowering.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry, but reduce watering significantly during the winter.

D'où vient le nom

The name Epiphyllum comes from Greek words meaning upon the leaf, referring to how the flowers appear to grow from the leaf-like stems. The specific epithet oxypetalum means sharp-petaled.

Bon à savoir

It is often called the Queen of the Night.
The flowers are highly fragrant to attract nocturnal pollinators.
It is a cactus that grows in trees rather than in the ground.

Ta plante a mauvaise mine ?

Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

Télécharger l'appli

Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.