Epiphyllum anguliger, like Epiphyllum oxypetalum, is a type of leaf cactus that is characterized by beautiful, fragrant flowers. Caring for the decorative houseplant is quite simple. There is very little you need to pay attention to if you want to properly care for this leaf cactus.
How do I care for Epiphyllum anguliger properly?
To properly care for Epiphyllum anguliger, water regularly in spring and summer, use normal flower food, cut when necessary, repot when necessary, and overwinter in a cool, bright place. Watch out for pests and avoid hard water.
How do you water Epiphyllum anguliger correctly?
In the spring, slowly increase the amount of watering. During the warm season, the Epiphyllum needs a lot of water, but cannot tolerate waterlogging.
Use rainwater if possible, as hard water is harmful to the leaf cactus.
What should you pay attention to when fertilizing?
Never fertilize Epiphyllum anguliger with cactus fertilizer! This type of cactus needs other nutrients. Use a normal flower fertilizer (€12.00 on Amazon) that you give every 14 days during the growing season. Reduce the amount of fertilizer to approximately half.
Are you allowed to prune Epiphyllum anguliger?
Cutting is not absolutely necessary. If the leaf cactus becomes too big for you, you are welcome to cut it back in spring. The cut shoots can be used as cuttings for propagation.
When do you need to repot the leaf cactus?
Repotting is only necessary when the previous pot has become too small. The best time to move is early spring. Use a container with a drain hole that you fill with loose potting soil or special substrate for leafy cacti.
What diseases and pests occur?
Illnesses occur when care is not taken correctly. If the Epiphyllum anguliger is too wet, the roots will rot. In dry conditions the flowers fall off.
Watch out for pests like:
- Scale insects
- Spider mites
- Mealybugs
Whitish-green spots on the leaves indicate a fungal infection. The leaf cactus gets reddish spots if it is in a location that is too cool.
How do you overwinter Epiphyllum anguliger?
- Cooler, bright location
- Temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees
- never cooler than 10 degrees!
- water little
- stop fertilizing
If you don't have a suitable place to overwinter, you can leave the Epiphyllum anguliger in the living room. It then needs to be watered more frequently.
However, without a cooler dormant period, it will produce very few or no flowers the following year.
Tip
Epiphyllum anguliger is also called “sawfly cactus”. Its leaves are very serrated, so they look quite similar to a saw blade.
