Epiphyllum anguliger Fish Bone Cactus
EPI-ANG
- Description
A native to the evergreen forests of southern and south western Mexico the fishbone cactus grows as a non-parasitic epiphyte up in the tree canopy. It has a hanging, drooping, trailing habit making it ideal for growing in a hanging basket or over the side of a large pot. If growing over the edge of a pot make sure it is a heavy based pot as the shiny green, zig-zagging, flat succulent stems can put on some weight and will tip a small lightweight pot.
On mature plants the primary stems become woody with age supporting the heavy, flat, green, heavily branched secondary stems and it is on these that the white to creamy yellow flowers are produced. You will need to be a bit of a night owl to catch the large, strongly and sweetly scented flowers at their best as it is a night blooming species and is pollinated by bats and moths in the wild. If you re lucky enough for the flowers to be pollinated by one of our British moths then you will be rewarded with a small yellowy green fruit that is a bit like a cross between a kiwi and a gooseberry. Unfortunately the moths need to be quick to do their job as the flowers usually only open after midnight, closing not long after dawn and only last one night.
Although not hardy (we have only managed to get them to survive temperatures down to 0c) they can be placed outside during the summer months as an alternative hanging basket but must be back indoors before the first frosts. Plant in a very well drained compost with plenty of extra added grit, perlite and mini bark chippings opening the soil structure right up. Feed every 2 weeks with a liquid cactus fertilizer from April through to the end of September stopping for the winter months. Water only as the compost dries out and do not allow the compost to remain constantly moist, this will cause rot. Position in a bright position indoors but out of direct sunlight.Sent as a young plant in a 9cm pot.
- Position
- Flowering
- Growth