- Causes why Epiphyllum does not bloom
- Epiphyllum is still too young
- Epiphyllum needs a winter break
- Too moist substrate in winter
- Epiphyllum does not bloom due to lack of nutrients
With its beautiful flowers, the leaf cactus or epiphyllum is a real eye-catcher in every living room. If it doesn't flower, it's a big disappointment. Why is it that Epiphyllum does not bloom and how can this be prevented?
The flower is the highlight of the leaf cactus
Causes why Epiphyllum does not bloom
- plant too young
- no winter break
- too wet hibernation
- too few nutrients
Epiphyllum is still too young
One reason the epiphyllum does not flower is the age of the plant. Many years pass before the leaf cactus develops its first flowers. It takes five years and sometimes even longer for the first flowers to appear. In this case, it is not due to incorrect care.
Epiphyllum needs a winter break
If you do not give the epiphyllum a winter break, you will wait in vain for flowers. While the leaf cactus likes it very warm in summer, it needs to be kept cooler in winter. Only then can it develop flowers.
In winter, put the epiphyllum in a bright place with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees.
Too moist substrate in winter
Another reason for no flowers can be that you have kept the epiphyllum too moist during the winter break.
During the winter, you should only water Epiphyllum very sparingly - the root ball should not dry out completely. Even if the plant appreciates high humidity, you must not spray it with water in winter.
Epiphyllum does not bloom due to lack of nutrients
The leaf cactus is a frugal plant that needs few nutrients. However, it does not work entirely without fertilizer, especially if the epiphyllum has been growing in the same substrate for several years.
Pot it in fresh soil in spring, but don't fertilize it for a long time afterwards.
Never use cactus fertilizer for leaf cacti, but feed Epiphyllum with normal houseplant fertilizer. It should be low in nitrogen. To avoid overfeeding, reduce the dose indicated on the packaging by half.
tips
Epiphyllum is easy to multiply yourself. You can grow new leaf cacti from seed or cut cuttings. Propagation from cuttings is much easier.