How to Flower Epiphyllums - the “Orchid Cacti”
and Clivia – “The Fire Lily”

     The “Orchid Cactus” offers some of the most spectacular blooms in the Cactaceae family. Some are fragrant, Epiphyllum oxypetalum “The Night Blooming Cereus” being the most famous.  On mature plants, waves of flowers open over several weeks during their blooming cycle. The trick to flowering epiphyllums is in their culture which takes place nine months earlier. Remember, flowers generally form off of last year’s growth of summer, so if older plants need pruning do it right after flowering.

     The other tip to flowering is to mimic their native habitat of Central and South America. First, give epiphyllums a period of dryness with cool nighttime temperatures in the winter. This means totally restrict water starting in November or early December and make sure that the nighttime temperatures are from the mid 30°’s to mid 50°’s consistently until buds begin to form. This happens in late winter and early spring.

     Buds form in the notches of the flattened leaves and once they are visible watering can be resumed. With the increase in moisture growth begins. At this time you can water them regularly, imitating the rainy season. Apply moderate amounts of fertilizer, for this is the period of active growth and, at this time, you are creating next year’s bloom. And remember, do not prune during this active growth cycle.

     We grow them in hanging baskets where the long flat leaves spill over the edges and, in time, beautiful full specimens are created. As they are tree dwellers in the tropical rainforest, their natural habit is to hang. Epiphyllums are easy to grow and have a forgiving nature. You can take a vacation even when they are in active growth and they will be happily waiting when you return. Once you flower epiphyllums, you’ll be hooked and their culture will become second nature.

     Clivia’s are similar to epiphyllums in that they also need a dry-down period from November to January. They are from Natal, South Africa, where in the winter there is no rain and temperatures hover just above freezing, so again you want to mimic their native habitat. Make sure the winter nighttime temperatures are in the mid 30˚’s to the 50˚’s and totally restrict water at this time. By early February resume watering and buds will emerge with blooms arriving in late winter.

     For clivias, we also recommend growing them tight in a pot. Older plants can be divided, which is best done right after flowering. It can be quite a chore as the roots and growths are all tangled up in a large mass. Be ruthless, using a knife to cut them into manageable divisions - be sure that there is at least a piece of root attached to the divided growth. Throughout the summertime increase your water and fertilizer to ensure next year’s flowers. With a little attention in advance, these South African plants will astound you with springtime bloom. Best of all, as a potted plant they are nearly indestructible.

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