Santa Teresa pen care

The one known as st teresa pen It is a succulent plant that belongs to the genus Epiphyllum, which is formed by more than 20 species of epiphytic cacti that have their origin in several countries of America. In addition to those species, there are many hybrids and varieties. It also receives other names such as orchid cactus, reed odorous or nopalillo, although the official one is epiphyllum.

It is a hanging plant with wide and long stems that usually have small thorns on the areoles, although not always. It has beautiful, almost trumpet-shaped flowers with many petals that can be pink, white or red, or even a small combination of them. Depending on the chosen species, it can bloom during the day or at night. In this EcologíaVerde article we show what are the care of the pen of Santa Teresa.

Main care of the pen of Santa Teresa

Locationon: It is mainly used as an indoor plant, so it is best to keep it in a well-ventilated place but not cold. It cannot be placed next to stoves or radiators. It is also important that it is in partial shade. During the summer it can be outside but without receiving direct sunlight.
Temperature: the only requirement in this regard is that it cannot be less than 5ºC.
I usually: the perfect one for this plant is the one that has a mixture, in equal parts, of leaf mulch and coarse sand. The substrate for cacti is also valid.
Irrigation: you have to apply it abundantly throughout the year but without flooding. Reduce watering between fall and winter.
Pass: When the first buds begin to appear, apply a cactus fertilizer every 15 days until the flowering stage is over.
Plagues and diseases: if the summer is very dry there is a good chance that it will be attacked by woolly mealybugs or red spiders. Be careful not to allow water to collect on the stems as they could rot.
multiplicationeithern: the best option is to do it by cuttings, since the seeds would take years to germinate.