Epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, also known as orchid cacti, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids derived primarily from species of the genus ''

Disocactus ''Disocactus'' is a genus of epiphyte, epiphytic cactus, cacti in the tribe Hylocereeae native plant, found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. It should not be confused with ''Discocactus'', which is a different genus. ...

''. These ''Disocactus'' species are not true epiphyllums, but they used to be included in the genus ''

Epiphyllum ''Epiphyllum'' (; "upon the leaf" in Greek) is a genus of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America and South America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, thoug ...

''.

Parental species

Epiphyllum hybrids are mostly derived from one or more of the following species: * ''

Disocactus crenatus ''Disocactus crenatus'', commonly known as the crenate orchid cactus, is a species of cactus cultivated for its large flowers. It is a critical parent plant in creating epiphyllum hybrids commonly cultivated worldwide. Description ''D. crenatu ...

'' (Lindl.) M.Á.Cruz & S.Arias (= ''Epiphyllum crenatum'' (Lindl.) G.Don) * ''

Disocactus phyllanthoides ''Disocactus phyllanthoides'', the nopalxochitl or German empress, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. It is commonly grown as an ornamental houseplant. It is one of the three major species involved ...

'' (DC.) Barthlott (= ''Epiphyllum phyllanthoides'' (DC.) Sweet) * '' Disocactus speciosus'' (Cav.) Barthlott (= ''Epiphyllum speciosum'' (Cav.) Haw.) * '' Disocactus macranthus'' (Alexander) Kimnach & Hutchison (= ''Pseudorhipsalis macrantha'' Alexander) * ''

Disocactus ackermannii ''Disocactus ackermannii'' commonly called red orchid cactus is an epiphytic cactus from tropical forests in the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico. In cultivation, it has been confused with ''Disocactus'' × ''jenkinsonii'', a hybrid betwee ...

'' (Haw.) Ralf Bauer (= ''Epiphyllum ackermannii'' Haw.) Epiphyllum crenatum 'Cooperi' (3773320410).jpg, Nopalxochia-01.JPG, Disocactus speciosus1MTFL.jpg, Disocactus macranthus.jpg, Disocactus ackermannii.jpg, Some cacti in the tribe

Hylocereeae The Hylocereeae are a tribe of cacti. Most are found in the tropical forests of Central and northern South America, and are climbers or epiphytes, unlike most cacti. The tribe includes between six and eight genera in different circumscriptio ...

other than ''Disocactus'' have been crossed with species or hybrids of ''Disocactus'', but not all the derived hybrids are considered epiphyllum hybrids. For example, × ''Disoselenicereus fulgidus'' (''Disocactus speciosus'' × '' Selenicereus pteranthus'') and × ''Aporodisocactus mallisonii'' ('' Aporocactus flagelliformis'' × ''Disocactus speciosus'') are too morphologically dissimilar to ''Epiphyllum'' to be called "epiphyllum hybrids". The following are some species reported to be used in intergeneric crosses to breed epiphyllum hybrids: * ''

Epiphyllum chrysocardium ''Epiphyllum chrysocardium'' (syn. ''Selenicereus chrysocardium'') is an epiphytic cactus endemic to Mexico.''Epiphyllum chrysocardium'' Alexander. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/ta ...

'' Alexander (reported to be one of the parents of 'Hunsrück Début') * ''

Epiphyllum hookeri ''Epiphyllum hookeri'' is a species of climbing cactus in the ''Epiphyllum'' genus. It forms showy white flowers and is native from Mexico through Central America to Venezuela. A perennial, it was introduced to Florida and some West Indian A W ...

'' Haw. (reported to be crossed with ''Disocactus crenatus'' and then with 'Crème de menthe' to breed 'Aaba') * ''

Pfeiffera monacantha ''Pfeiffera monacantha'' (syn. ''Rhipsalis monacantha''), the onespined wickerware cactus, is a species of epiphytic cactus, native to Bolivia and northwest Argentina. As its synonym ''Rhipsalis monacantha'' it has gained the Royal Horticultural ...

'' (Griseb.) P.V.Heath (reported to be one of the parents of 'Naranja') * ''

Pfeiffera paranganiensis ''Pfeiffera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, found in Bolivia and northwest Argentina. There has been some debate about the circumscription of the genus. It is placed in the tribe Echinocereeae. The genus name of ''Pfei ...

'' (Cárdenas) P.V.Heath (reported to be one of the parents of 'Inca's Golden Dream') The following reports on intergeneric epiphyllum hybrids are either dubious or false: * × ''Epinicereus cooperi'' is alleged to be a hybrid between ''Disocactus crenatus'' and ''

Selenicereus grandiflorus ''Selenicereus grandiflorus'' is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus (though these two terms are also used for other speci ...

'', but it turns out that this plant is not of hybrid origin, and it should be correctly referred to as ''Disocactus crenatus'' subsp. ''kimnachii'' 'Cooperi'. * × ''Disoselenicereus wrayae'' is also considered to be a hybrid between ''Disocactus crenatus'' and ''Selenicereus grandiflorus'', but Myron William Kimnach supposes it is just a variant of ''Disocactus crenatus'' subsp. ''crenatus'' as he tried to reproduce the cross but failed. * A plant called ''Epiphyllum splendidus'' was crossed with ''Disocactus crenatus'' by Hovey & Co. of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

in about 1870, but the so-called "''Epiphyllum''" is actually a reddish-flowered form of ''Disocactus''. *

Edward Frederick Anderson Edward Frederick Anderson (Covina, California, June 17, 1932 – March 29, 2001) was an American botanist who conducted extensive explorations in Mexico. He was a leading specialist in the cactus family. He was Senior Research Botanist at the Des ...

thinks ''

Pseudorhipsalis ''Pseudorhipsalis'' is genus of cactus, cacti. This genus is often included in ''Disocactus''. It is epiphytic, many branched, and elongated with flattened, serrated cladodes. In its early life, it stands erect, but soon becomes prostrate. It pro ...

'' spp. are in the parentage of epiphyllum hybrids., p. 286 However, the only "''Pseudorhipsalis'' sp." known as a breeding parent of epiphyllum hybrids is ''Disocactus macranthus'' (= ''Pseudorhipsalis macrantha'').

Named nothospecies

* ''Disocactus'' × ''amaranthinus'' (Regel) M.H.J.van der Meer (= × ''Disophyllum amaranthinum'' (Regel) E.Meier) **''D. crenatus'' × ''D. phyllanthoides'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''capelleanus'' (Rother) E.Meier **''D. ackermannii'' × ''D. phyllanthoides'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''charltonii'' (Mast.) M.H.J.van der Meer (= × ''Disophyllum charltonii'' (Mast.) E.Meier) **''D. crenatus'' × ''D. speciosus'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''coopermannii'' (Worsley) M.H.J.van der Meer **''D. crenatus'' × ''D. phyllanthoides × D. speciosus'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''hansii'' (Baumann) M.H.J.van der Meer (= ''Disocactus'' × ''violaceus'' (F.Sm. & T.Sm.bis ex Mast.) Barthlott) **''D. ackermannii × D. speciosus'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''jenkinsonii'' (McIntosh) M.H.J.van der Meer (= ''Disocactus'' × ''hybridus'' (Van Geel) Barthlott) **''D. phyllanthoides'' × ''D. speciosus'' * ''Disocactus'' × ''kimnachii'' G.D.Rowley (= ''Nopalxochia'' × ''horichii'' Kimnach) **''D. phyllanthoides'' × ? * ''Disocactus'' × ''splendens'' (Regel) M.H.J.van der Meer (= × ''Disophyllum splendens'' (Regel) E.Meier) **''D. crenatus'' × ''D. ackermannii'' Disocactus × violaceus (8168741531).jpg, Red cactus flower in dark room.jpg,

History

The parent species from which epiphyllum hybrids were bred are different in appearance and habit from most cacti. They are found in the tropical forests of

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

where they grow as climbers or on trees as

epiphyte An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

s. They have leafless (or apparently leafless) flattened stems which act as the plant's

photosynthetic Photosynthesis ( ) is a Biological system, system of biological processes by which Photoautotrophism, photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical ener ...

organs. Relatively large flowers are borne on the sides of the stems; in many species they open at night. Thousands of cultivated hybrids have been created, often with the intention of increasing the size and colour range of their flowers, which average across, although the largest can reach . The Epiphyllum Society of America (the International Registration Authority for hybrids of the Tribe Hylocereeae) maintains a list of epiphyllum hybrids (and Hylocereeae species) which contained over 7,000 names in 1996.

Cultivation

Epiphyllum hybrids need different treatment from semi-desert cacti. They should be protected from direct sunlight, with preferably 75% shading at midday. They are not frost hardy, so need to be protected from freezing conditions. It is recommended that the growing medium allows rapid drainage of water and is open, with at least one third of coarse material to prevent compaction. Plants should be kept moist. High nitrogen fertilizers are not recommended; no fertilizer should be given during the winter rest period. Epiphyllum hybrids can be propagated from cuttings. Rooting hormone can be applied to the base of the cutting before it is allowed to dry for ten days or more so that the cut forms a

callus A callus (: calluses) is an area of thickened and sometimes hardened skin that forms as a response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on the feet and hands, b ...

. The cutting is then planted sufficiently deeply so that it can stand upright. Water is not given for two weeks, after which the growing medium is kept at least slightly moist. Plants can be misted. They are fast growing plants and should flower within two years. Epiphyllum hybrids should be re-potted every 2 to 3 years as they tend to sour and deplete the nutrients in their growing medium. Because the plants are aggressive and grow quickly, they are susceptible to depleting the potassium in their growing medium which results in older growth failing to remain turgid and shriveling. They should be provided a balanced fertilizer when in active growth to prevent the older growth from shriveling. Flowering is triggered by withholding water and giving the plants a dry resting period of about two months during their winter rest.

References

{{reflist, 30em

External links

Epiphyllum Society of America
- the International Registration Authority for epiphytic cactus hybrids of the Tribe Hylocereeae Disocactus Hybrid plants