Growing Epiphytic Cactus

Rooting a Cutting

• 1

  Obtain a 4-inch-long cutting from an existing plant.

• 2

  Place the cutting into a jar and fill the jar with a small amount of water -- just enough to cover half of the first stem segment. Make sure that the cutting is standing upright in the jar. If it falls over so that it is submerged in the water, it will most likely rot. Clean, empty baby food jars work well for this.

• 3

  Place the jar outside in a shady area, such as a covered porch, if the weather is warm. You may also place the jar in a bathroom with a skylight, or on your kitchen windowsill -- anywhere that there is bright, indirect light.

• 4

  Pot up the cutting once roots have emerged and have grown to about 1 inch long. Use well-drained soil and water frequently.

Caring for an Existing Plant

• 5

  Transplant your new cactus into a hanging basket or tall pot. Fill in around the roots with airy, peat-based soil that contains dust-free grit and perlite.

• 6

  Support a mature plant with a trellis or strategically placed stakes. Epiphytic cacti often have graceful, arching stems that cascade over the sides of their container.

• 7

  Place the plant in bright, indirect light. True to its origins, the plant will thrive in a shaded area outside during the summer months. Bring it back inside, however, when temperatures start to drop below 50 degrees F at night.

• 8

  Water the plant with room-temperature, lime-free water. Unlike desert cacti, epiphytic cacti do not tolerate dry soil for long periods of time.

• 9

  Fertilize epiphytic cactus with either slow-release cactus fertilizer or liquid geranium fertilizer. If fertilizing with liquid fertilizer, apply it every two to three waterings.