Orchid Cactus: What They Are and How to Make Them Grow
The orchid cactus is a beautiful and delicate plant sure to capture a special focal point in your home. The orchid cactus is a stunning plant that blooms in a variety of colors and unique petal shapes. Easy to maintain and collect, orchid cacti make a great addition to any plant collection. Read below for details on the nature of orchid cacti and how to best take care of this unique type of cactus.
What is the Orchid Cactus?
The orchid cactus is in fact not an orchid at all, but a specific genus or cactus: epiphyllum. Naturally, these beautiful plants live in South America, Central America and Mexico. Why is this plant referred to as an orchid cactus? The answer lies in the beautiful bloom that stems from the leaves of the plant. The leaves of an orchid cactus are flat and wavy. The stems and blooms that project from the plant are what give it the name orchid cactus.
How to Take Care of Your Orchid Cactus
An orchid cactus usually blooms between spring and summer and can be brought inside or kept outdoors depending on the climate. Light is very important in promoting blooms of your orchid cactus. Even though you may think a cactus would prefer hot sun, direct sunlight should actually be avoided. Sunlight should be filtered through blinds or a curtain.
Two other key issues in taking care of your orchid cactus include watering and fertilizing. Orchid cacti do not like to have their feet wet, so the plant should be planted in a way so water can drain. The soil should not be packed tightly, but rather a blend of organic material, inorganic material and sand should be used. When the top layer of soil grows dry, it is time to water again. In addition to watering, it is also important to fertilize your plant on a month to month basis.
How to Collect More Cacti
So how do you make more of your new favorite plant? The best way to grow multiples of orchid cacti is by taking cuts of the mature plant and planting them into moist soil. While orchid cacti also produce seedpods and can be propagated by using seed, the plants that grow from the seed are less likely to look like the parent plant than those that have been produced though cuttings.
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