The orchid cactus (Epiphyllum) is an ornamental plant in the cactus family.

Other Names of the Orchid Cactus

The orchid cactus, also called He Lingjian, Red Peacock, Lotus Lingjian, Peacock Cactus and so on, is a perennial evergreen epiphytic plant of the genus Epiphyllum in the cactus family. Because its stems are flat and lance-shaped, resembling a command arrow (lingjian), and its flowers resemble water lilies, it is named the orchid cactus.

Morphological Characteristics of the Orchid Cactus

The orchid cactus is an epiphytic cactus plant with erect stems, many branches, growing in clusters in a shrub-like form, about 50 to 100 cm tall. The base of the plant has a thin, round main stem, and the branches are flat and shaped like a command arrow, green in color. The edges of the stems are obtusely toothed. The sunken parts of the teeth bear areoles with small spines 0.3 to 0.5 cm long. The midrib of the flat stems protrudes distinctly. The flowers emerge from the areoles on both sides of the stem joints; the floral tube is slender, and the flowers are large and trumpet-shaped, opening during the day. A single flower opens for only 1 to 2 days, and the flower colors include purple-red, bright red, pink, carmine, yellow, white, blue-purple and so on. It blooms during the day in summer, with a flowering period from 5~7. The fruit is a somewhat oval red berry, and the seeds are black. There are two species in this genus; the other is the small-flowered orchid cactus, with small flowers borne densely and bright red in color.

Growing Habits of the Orchid Cactus

The orchid cactus prefers a warm and humid environment, avoids direct sunlight, tolerates drought, tolerates partial shade, and fears rain. It requires fertile, loose, well-drained neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam. The optimum temperature during the growing period is 20-25°C, the optimum temperature for flower bud differentiation is between 10-15°C, the winter temperature must not be lower than 5°C, and the flowering period is 4.

Flower Language and Legend of the Orchid Cactus

The flower language of the orchid cactus is remembrance. With its delicate and graceful beauty, its dazzling and brilliant colors, as well as its tenacious vitality and captivating fragrance, the orchid cactus is extremely popular and loved by people. Especially in midsummer, when the peacock cactus blooms gloriously, it is an excellent decoration for the windows, entrance halls and balconies of the home.

It is said that long, long ago in tribal life, two Dai tribes lived in Xishuangbanna, and because of disputes over territory and power they fought in continuous wars year after year. People of both tribes suffered many casualties, and at this time a son and a daughter of the two tribal chiefs were deeply in love with each other.

The fighting continued. One day, the chief of one tribe told his son to take the chief's command arrow to summon his tribespeople, preparing to launch a surprise attack on the other side the next morning and begin a general offensive. The chief's son opposed this war, so he took the command arrow and went to see the daughter of the other tribe's chief, who was his lover. The two met in the dense forest and discussed how to quell the war. But until dawn came, they still could not think of a good method. In utter helplessness, they could only hold lotus flowers, symbols of beauty and peace, and embrace each other as they both took their own lives by cutting their throats. When the chiefs of both sides learned of this, they deeply regretted their own mistaken and unwise actions. So they burned incense together and swore an oath, and the two sides were reconciled as before.

Not long afterward, on the grave where this young couple was buried together, clusters after clusters of green plants grew that looked very much like command arrows, and on them bloomed beautiful flowers like lotus flowers. These are the peacock cactus and orchid cactus that people see today.

Uses and Value of the Orchid Cactus

1. Ornamental value. The orchid cactus has many flower colors and varieties, and with its delicate and graceful posture, brilliant colors and rich fragrance, it is deeply loved by people. It is mainly grown as a potted plant for ornamental purposes, and in greenhouses a mix of varieties is often used to enhance the ornamental effect. Used to accent the windows, balconies and doorways of living rooms and studies, it is an excellent indoor potted flower with fine color, posture and fragrance alike.

2. Medicinal value. The stems of the orchid cactus can be used as medicine and have the effect of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.