How to Propagate Epiphyllum Oxypetalum
Epiphyllum oxypetalum is the scientific name for an unusual cactus that is more commonly known by easier-to-pronounce names such as 'night blooming cereus' or 'queen of the night' because the blooms appear in the evening and are wilted by the next day.
Although the epiphyllum oxypetalum's flat, sword-shaped leaves may not be anything to write home about, the blooms can sometimes cover the entire plant and are spectacular. This unusual cactus is easy to start from a cutting in early spring, when the Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is coming out of its dormant period.
Use a clean knife with a sharp blade, and cut a 4 to 6-inch cutting from a epiphyllum oxypetalum. Make the cut at an angle, which will remind you which end of the cutting should be planted, and which end should be left above the soil.
Put the epiphyllum oxypetalum cutting in a warm, dry place until the cut edge forms a callus.This can take up to two weeks, depending on the size of the cut surface. Don't worry if the cutting looks a bit shriveled, because it will re-hydrate once it's planted. Cacti are susceptible to rot, and this important step will minimize the chances of that.
- Epiphyllum oxypetalum is the scientific name for an unusual cactus that is more commonly known by easier-to-pronounce names such as 'night blooming cereus' or 'queen of the night' because the blooms appear in the evening and are wilted by the next day.
- This unusual cactus is easy to start from a cutting in early spring, when the Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is coming out of its dormant period.
Fill a small planting container with commercial cactus potting mixture. Any planting container with drainage holes in the bottom will work.
Dampen the potting mixture lightly with a spray bottle, and plant the epiphyllum oxypetalum cutting. Tamp the potting mix around the cutting to remove air bubbles. The cutting can be planted up to half of its length. If the cutting is long, put a stake in the potting mixture and tie the cutting loosely to the stake with soft twine or a strip of soft fabric.
Put the epiphyllum oxypetalum cutting in a warm room. Although the cutting will root in cooler temperatures, it will root quickly in temperatures of at least 80 degrees F. The cutting should be in bright light, but don't put it in a window, or anywhere that it will be in hot, direct sunlight.
- Fill a small planting container with commercial cactus potting mixture.
- Tamp the potting mix around the cutting to remove air bubbles.
Resist the temptation to water the epiphyllum oxypetalum cutting until the soil is bone dry. This can take a few days, or up to several weeks, depending on the heat in the room, the time of year, the size of the pot and the humidity in the air. Water the plant sparingly, just enough to moisten the soil.
Feed the epiphyllum oxypetalum a monthly dose of all-purpose water soluble fertilizer during the growing season. Withhold fertilizer in fall and winter.
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Writer Bio
M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.
