How to Grow Epiphyllum From Seeds

Epiphyllum, also called orchid cactus, is a member of the cacti family native to the jungles of Central and South America and Mexico. Native plants grow flowers in shades or white or red but hybridization has now made it possible for gardeners to buy plants in pink, yellow, orange, red, white, purple or yellow (practically any shade except blue). Epiphyllum produces ornamental blooms ranging in size from 1 to 12 inches across, either single or multi-petaled, with round or pointed petals. As a tropical plant, epiphyllum is hardy only in zones 10 to 12, so most gardeners will need to plant seeds in a container to be grown on a sunny windowsill or brought indoors when temperatures turn cold. Expect to wait five to seven years after planting epiphyllum seeds before you see blooms.

Epiphyllum seeds
Shallow container with plastic dome-shaped cover
Loam, peat moss or compost
Gardening sand or perlite
Spray bottle
3-inch peat pots
4-inch pots
6-inch pots
Balanced fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Find a small, shallow container that can easily accommodate a dome-shaped plastic covering; a perfect example is the plastic container and lid that holds a precooked roast chicken at the supermarket.
- 2
  Fill the container with two parts organic matter such as loam, peat moss or compost and one part sand or perlite.
- 3
  Spread epiphyllum seeds over the top of the soil, followed by a light sprinkling of soil to cover them; mist the soil with water from a spray bottle until it is damp.
- 4
  Cover the container with a dome-shaped, waterproof covering that allows for a few inches of growth. Place it in warm, filtered sun.
- 5
  Remove the cover after seven months and transplant individual plants into 3-inch peat pots; move to 4-inch pots around 15 months and 6-inch pots at 21 months.
- 6
  Maintain evenly moist soil once the cover is removed from plants but never let the soil become soggy.
- 7
  Fertilize with a balanced commercial fertilizer such as 10-10-10 every month from spring to fall once the plant is well-established; don't fertilize in the winter.

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