When Does the Epiphyllum Bloom? Grow It This Way for Fast Growth, Plus Winter Care Tips

Epiphyllum, of the Cactaceae family, Epiphyllum genus, is an epiphytic plant, a shrub-like species with a cylindrical, woody main stem. Epiphyllum enjoys the reputation of “Beauty Under the Moon”. So when does the epiphyllum bloom? How do you grow it so it grows fast? What are the winter care tips for epiphyllum?

1. When Does the Epiphyllum Bloom

1. Blooming Period

Epiphyllum blooms in summer and autumn, generally from June to October. The blooming time is at night, after 8 to 9 o'clock, when the floral tube slowly tilts up and slowly opens its purple outer covering; the full bloom lasts about 3 to 5 hours, then the corolla closes and the flower quickly withers, with a very brief opening time.

2. Flower Morphology

The epiphyllum flower is a large white flower, borne singly on the side of the branches, funnel-shaped. The flower is large, about 25-30 cm long. When blooming, the receptacle is green, the petals and filaments are white, with pale yellow anthers and a yellow-white style.

3. Reasons for Not Blooming

Some gardening enthusiasts complain that their epiphyllum does not bloom, making the already rare flowers even harder to see.

In fact, there are three reasons why epiphyllum does not bloom. One is excessive fertilizing, causing the plant to have excess nutrients, leading to runaway growth that affects blooming. Second is excessive shading; in summer, epiphyllum needs shade, but an overly shaded environment affects the differentiation and formation of flower buds, preventing the epiphyllum from blooming. The third point is sun exposure; too strong sunlight causes the modified stems to shrivel and turn yellow, affecting the growth and blooming of the epiphyllum.

4. Controlling the Blooming Period of Epiphyllum

Generally, with proper fertilizer and water application and keeping the temperature relatively low when the flowers open, the blooming time can be extended, sometimes lasting until early morning.

There is another method to make the epiphyllum bloom during the day. After the epiphyllum has produced flower buds but before they open, move the epiphyllum to a dark room during the day or cover it with black plastic film, keeping it away from sunlight, while at night use lamplight to illuminate it, keeping the epiphyllum under light. After treating it this way for 7-8 days, the epiphyllum can bloom during the day according to people's wishes.

2. How to Grow Epiphyllum So It Grows Fast

1. Good Soil

Soil is very important; the main requirements are looseness, fertility, and good drainage. Specifically, you can use leaf mold, garden soil, and river sand, mixed evenly in a 1:1:1 ratio. Add base fertilizer to it; ordinary organic fertilizer will do. In addition, in spring it needs repotting and new soil; whether to change the pot can be decided based on its size.

2. Suitable Temperature

Only by keeping the temperature in a suitable range can the plant's fast growth be promoted. However, day and night are different. During the day it should be 21 to 24 degrees, and at night slightly lower, 16 to 18 degrees.

3. Appropriate Light

To promote the growth rate of the epiphyllum, appropriate light must help. However, it must not be too strong direct light; sufficient diffused light is enough.

4. Sufficient Water

Spring and autumn are the plant's growth periods, and sufficient water must be provided to ensure the soil stays moist. That is, whether to water is determined by the dry or wet condition of the soil. Pay attention to water quality; do not use alkaline water. In addition, you need to spray water frequently to increase air humidity.

5. Sufficient Fertilizer

If you want the plant to grow fast, relying only on the nutrients in the soil is not enough. There are many types of fertilizer available, such as soybean cake water, fishy water, and animal manure water. A little ferrous sulfate solution can also be mixed into the fertilizer water. During the growth period, apply once every ten days to half a month.

3. How to Care for Epiphyllum in Winter

1. Soil

Epiphyllum has a relatively strong tolerance for soil; soft, fertile sandy soil is best, and ordinary mixed soil is also acceptable. It is best to use soil with good drainage, and be careful not to let the potting soil become too moist.

2. Light

Epiphyllum does not like being exposed to the sun; it grows best in a semi-shaded position. If the sunlight is too strong, it will cause the branches and stems to wilt and turn yellow, affecting its ornamental value. Winter sunlight is not strong, so placing it directly in a sunny spot indoors to ensure sufficient light is enough; in other seasons, extra attention must be paid to shading care.

3. Temperature

Epiphyllum likes a moist and warm environment and is afraid of cold, so in winter attention must be paid to keeping it warm, and the temperature must be kept above 5°C. Generally it needs to be moved indoors, and a temperature kept around 10°C is enough for it to overwinter safely.

4. Water

When growing epiphyllum, first pay attention to air humidity; in winter it is generally grown indoors, and especially in northern regions the indoors is particularly dry in winter, so you can often spray water on the leaves to increase humidity. In winter, control the amount of water and do not water too much; generally you can water once every ten days to half a month, keeping the potting soil slightly dry, and by all means avoid standing water in the pot, otherwise it will easily cause root rot. In winter, it is best to water during the midday period when the temperature is higher, as it is warmer then and the water temperature is closer to the potting soil temperature. If the temperature is too low, watering should be stopped, otherwise it is easy to freeze and damage the plant.

5. Fertilizer

This flower greatly likes fertilizer and has a high demand for it. Generally, decomposed organic fertilizer is best, and a little superphosphate can be added. During the growth period of the epiphyllum, a thin fertilizer solution should be applied about once every half a month; if you want the epiphyllum to grow more vigorously, you can add a little vinegar to the liquid fertilizer. When the flower buds sprout, an additional application of monopotassium phosphate can be made, which is beneficial for blooming. After the flowers wither, liquid fertilizer needs to be applied once or twice more to promote the quality of blooming the following year. In winter, fertilizing should generally be stopped, but in a relatively warm indoor environment, routine fertilizing can be carried out according to the situation.