PlantFiles: Crenate Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum crenatum

The beauty of its flower is incomparable and the fragrans is heavenly.
It requires little care, but, if you provide good care, it will compensate you with so many flowers. Keep it a little bit dry, but not too dry as you do to other succulents. If you keep it too dry, the stems will loose plumpness and the plant will become weak. Refrain from deviding into small plants unless you need to propagate it, because small plants will produce fewer flowers. You may need to stake the thin upright stems to prevent breaking off. I prefer 45 cm high clay pot to enjoy some of the side stems droop down gracefully and flower there.
I live in Seoul, Korea and I have to keep my plants inside during the winter.
You will like this plant.

Surhguh Park

We live in Sydney, Australia and have a large mature crenate in the home we moved into in 2003. We have had 4 blooms so far this year, and just got 3 new branches that are at least 4 feet tall and stick straight up in the air!

It has beautiful blooms that last one night, and the scent is great. We are very happy with ours & will try to propogate some using cuttings as described by another member above. Cheers, Mike & YVonne

My epis get pretty leggy. I don't treat them particularly well. I rarely remember to water one of them, but I figure it's ok since they are in cactus family. My flowers only last a couple of days.

Easy to grow: just break a 'branch' off (there's no spines on mine) and let it sit outside and dry a few weeks. Then, stick it 1/3 way into a pot (sturdy hanging pots do best!) of well drained mix (like cactus mix). Wait 2 years, while it gets new shoots, and then you might begin to see buds at the nodes of the 'leaves' or 'branch'. Blooms as early as November and as late as June. Usually February-ish.

If you visit the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park during early spring, be sure to check out the Epiphyllum House; a long greenhouse containing hundreds of amazing Epis in full bloom. Awesome!

I have had Night-blooming Cereus as a houseplant for 5-6 years. I missed the first blossom (sadly). It failed to bloom again for lack of sufficient light until I moved to a home where I could put it outside during the summer. It currently has a large starry, red bud awaiting the perfect moment to open. I will be waiting and watching.

The gangly Orchid Cactus can hardly be described as a graceful plant but its blooms and fragrance are said to compensate for this. Cuttings root easily and it is forgiving to those of us too busy to water frequently. I strongly recommend a south window if you plan to raise them indoors. Be sure to plant them in heavy pots as their growth habit tends to make them a bit top heavy.

I got this plant from my mother. I have had it two years and it bloomed for the first time this summer in August. I am not sure it is the same plant because mine blooms at midnight. Smells great but butterflies and bees are not up at midnight. I have given it little care, it is in a clay pot out by my pool.

My Orchid Cacti have done well in large pots, with ordinary soil and minimal feeding or attention. While they have bloomed in full, Southern California sun, they seem to do better in light shade: leaves are a more attractive green (almost yellow in full sun), and they bloom more profusely.

Sadly, the resplenent flowers last only a couple of days at most - then an entire year of waiting for the next.