How to grow Epiphyllum oxypetalum so it blooms often? Practical methods shared

    Epiphyllum oxypetalum has beautiful flowers and a unique fresh fragrance. People love it, yet regret that it cannot give them long-lasting enjoyment. After years of practice and repeated trials, it is possible to turn its fleeting bloom into frequent blooming. The methods are:

    1. Grafting. Epiphyllum oxypetalum belongs to the genus Epiphyllum in the cactus family and is a succulent plant. Its relative, the orchid cactus (Epiphyllum), also belongs to the cactus family and the genus Epiphyllum, so grafting is possible. The specific method is: in April to May, select a two-year-old, vigorous orchid cactus as the rootstock, cut it off at 6 cm to 12 cm, and at the cut make a vertical 5 cm slit downward along the flat direction with a small knife. Then select a healthy, moderately sized modified stem of Epiphyllum oxypetalum and insert it into the slit of the orchid cactus. Place the treated plant in a shady spot, keeping soil moisture at 30%-45%. Apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as appropriate (for a pot 15 cm-20 cm in diameter, bury 5 g-10 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate). After 15 days-20 days, the grafted Epiphyllum oxypetalum will survive and can be called orchid cactus Epiphyllum. It can bloom three or four times a year. It blooms once in early July, once in mid-August, once in early to mid-September, and once in mid-October. The blooming time is mostly from 5 AM-7 AM, and each flower can stay open for 3 days-5 days. This is about half the time of the orchid cactus, and 14 times-16 times longer than the flowering period of Epiphyllum oxypetalum, thus changing its fleeting-bloom characteristic. The flower diameter can reach 12 cm-15 cm, 3 times larger than that of Epiphyllum oxypetalum. 

    2. Light. Light is the main factor affecting plant flowering. Changes in light can cause physiological changes in Epiphyllum oxypetalum and allow it to bloom in the daytime. This is because Epiphyllum oxypetalum is native to southern America and the Mexico area, where temperatures vary greatly and daytime sunlight is scorching. Blooming at night allows Epiphyllum oxypetalum to avoid intense sunlight exposure, and the short flowering time greatly reduces water evaporation, gradually forming a habit that is passed down from generation to generation. To change this habit, the following methods can be used: 

    1. Extend the light duration. While avoiding scorching sun exposure, make the daytime light period about 10 hours, and at night continue exposing it under electric light for three to four hours to change the flowering time. 

    2. Change the light period. When Epiphyllum oxypetalum is in bud, place it in a windless dark place during the day. Starting at 7 PM, use light to illuminate it until 3 AM the next day. After continuous treatment for 14 days-16 days, Epiphyllum oxypetalum can bloom in the daytime. 

    3. Change its habit during overwintering. During the overwintering period, place Epiphyllum oxypetalum in a dark place, keep the room temperature at 10°C-15°C, and maintain soil moisture at 30%-40%. During the entire overwintering period, the potting soil should not be too dry or too wet. At flowering time, select a budded Epiphyllum oxypetalum and cover it with a black plastic bag to shade it. Starting at 7 PM, use a 20-watt fluorescent tube, or a 40-degree-60-degree bulb, to illuminate it until dawn the next day, then cover it with a plastic bag again. Treat it this way until Epiphyllum oxypetalum blooms. After this treatment, Epiphyllum oxypetalum can bloom in the daytime, and the flowering period can reach 8 hours-16 hours. 

    After hybridization, Epiphyllum oxypetalum has very beautiful flower colors. Originally milky white, after hybridization the flowers become light yellow or light yellow with a reddish tinge, and occasionally flowers with a red center appear. If you want Epiphyllum oxypetalum to bloom often, you can use these measures.

    When Epiphyllum oxypetalum first opens, the bud droops and hooks upward, the flower is as large as a tea bowl, the outer petals have light purple streaks, and the petals are crystal clear and white as snow. But unfortunately, within three or four hours, the flower hurriedly hides its face and quietly disappears. Hence the saying "a fleeting Epiphyllum bloom." Here is a method that can make the fleeting bloom become a longer-lasting bloom.

    Epiphyllum oxypetalum belongs to the genus Epiphyllum in the cactus family and is a succulent plant. Its relative, the orchid cactus (Epiphyllum), also belongs to the cactus family and the genus Epiphyllum, and Epiphyllum oxypetalum can be grafted onto the orchid cactus. The specific method is: in May or June, select a two-year-old vigorous orchid cactus as the rootstock, cut it off at 6-12 cm, and at the cut make a vertical 5 cm slit downward along the flat direction with a small knife. Then select a healthy, moderately sized modified stem of Epiphyllum oxypetalum and insert it into the slit of the orchid cactus. The treated plant should be placed in a shady spot, with humidity kept at 30%-45%, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer applied as appropriate (for a pot 15-20 cm in diameter, bury 5-10 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate). After 15-20 days, the grafted Epiphyllum oxypetalum will survive and can be playfully called orchid cactus Epiphyllum. 

    Orchid cactus Epiphyllum can bloom three or four times a year, once in early July, once in mid-August, once in early to mid-September, and once in mid-October. The blooming time is mostly from 5-7 AM, and each flower can stay open for 3-5 days. This is about half the flowering period of the orchid cactus, and 14-16 times longer than the flowering period of Epiphyllum oxypetalum, thus changing its fleeting-bloom characteristic. Moreover, the flower diameter can reach 4-6 cun, 3 times larger than that of Epiphyllum oxypetalum.