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Although the rain falls regularly in these forests, periods of drought are quite common, and the moisture on the roots does dry out. To overcome the problem, many have succulent stems, as do desert cacti.
Nevertheless, their shapes, and sizes vary largely. Some cacti are vigorous climbers, spreading throughout the crowns of large trees, others attach themselves to a limb, cascading down each side, sometimes many-metres in length. Yet others are small, and compact, as we will notice in the description of the genera, and species that follow. They are succulent plants with much reduced leaves. All have areoles. From these areoles are produced stems, and flowers. Every bloom has their stigmas, styles, and ovaries completely fused, and the tepals, and stamens are usually many.
If grown in containers, the potting mixture should be very open to allow any excess water to be quickly drained away, and let air move over the roots. Also, we should use fertilisers at half strength, and apply them regularly during the growing period. The climate is also important, so keep in a frost free environment with plenty of circulating air. Furthermore, if the temperature becomes cold, the plant will stay healthier with less water. Feed the plants regularly but lightly to keep them growing steadily during the warmer weather. However, if we give them too much nitrogen, the plant will become too soft, and soft growth attracts many pests.
Growers are developing new hybrids unceasingly. Many old hybrids are being lost, and they are not recording all of them correctly. Because of this confusion, some names are duplicated, so plants often end in British, American or Australian forms. At the time of writing the Epiphyllum Society of America is very busy trying to sort out this confusion.
Mostly they are frost and drought tender plants, so, a warm greenhouse in cold climates may be necessary. Also, they usually grow better in light shade in hot, sunny weather.
Protection in cold climates is needed, as it is frost tender. A commercial potting mixture that drains well is adequate. Although, the addition of a well balanced, slow-release-fertiliser will keep this plant growing strongly. Soil should be moist in the growing period, but allow it to dry out in winter before watering.
These long, trailing cacti need to be planted in a container above head height to give them room to grow. So, any plant that is grown with it, should be large, and have attractive looking foliage from below. Many Neoregelia, and Vriesea species will suit this position well.
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All are damaged by frost, but are mostly tolerant to drought. Better results are obtained if the plant is provided with a temperature above 7o Celsius (45o Fahrenheit) in winter. A well-drained commercial potting mixture with the addition of a slow release fertiliser is adequate for this hybrid. With its type of growth, it is better suited to a high hanging container placed in good light but with some shade. Allow the potting mixture to dry out before watering.
Plants that grow well with Aporoheliocereus will also grow well with this plant.
Created by Wressey Cocke by crossing what was Nopalxochia conzattianum now Heliocereus conzattianum with Aporocactus (now Disocactus) flagelliformis. It was registered in 1982.
A man made hybrid, using Aporocactus (now Disocactus) martianus as one parent, and Nopalxochia phyllanthoides (which is a synonym of Heliocereus phyllanthoides) as the other parent.
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We should keep these plants in a frost free environment, preferably with a minimum of 10o Celsius (50o Fahrenheit) in winter. To keep the roots healthy, grow in a potting mixture that drains quickly, and kept just moist in warm weather. Furthermore, allow the potting mixture to dry out before watering in cool weather.
Flat stems on this small plant cascade over the sides of its container. On the sides of the stems appear small, light rose purple blooms.
This is a graceful, hanging-container-type-plant that mixes easily with most of the upright bromeliads.
They are good hanging container types of plants that need a minimum temperature of around 10o Celsius. (50o Fahrenheit) We should provide a potting mixture that has extra humus such as leaf mould or peat, and with extra good drainage.
All of these hybrids will grow well with upright epiphytes such as many other rainforest cacti, and bromeliads. Some orchids will also grow in the same potting mixture as Disapora.
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The leaf-like plants require a bright but cool situations during winter, with a minimum preferred temperature of 10o Celsius. (50o Fahrenheit) At lower temperatures the soft growth suffers cold damage. It is preferable that they are not left too dry for long periods. Nevertheless, if grown in a container, let the soil dry out on the surface before watering during the growing season. They form attractive hanging container specimens, or they can share an epi-log with other epiphytes.
The Ratstail-types (Aporocactus forms), look very attractive. Upright, and clumping bromeliads with coloured foliage can look very pleasing with this group.
Disocactus can be grown in a split hollow log, with a potting mixture that is suitable for orchids. If we use the right potting mixture for this genus, it can share the same container with upright growing, sympodial type orchids, and bromeliads. This genus prefers to grow in good light, and tolerates occasional temperatures as low as 4o Celsius (39o Fahrenheit) in winter without injury. If grown in a plant pot, the potting mixture should be well-drained, and contain plenty of humus. Take precautions against red spider mites in dry, warm weather. Propagation is by seed or by cuttings taken 15-centimetres (6-inches) long. Allow the wound to dry in the shade for a few days before planting. Rooting should occur in a few weeks.
The natural distribution of this species is in Mexico. Nevertheless, plants have escaped from private collections, and naturalised in parts of Central America, and South America.
In addition, this genus is one parent of the Heliaporos, and Aporophyllum hybrids.
Different cultivars can be obtained, some with larger creamy-white centres or red with a violet margin.
This cactus is indigenous to the highlands near San Felipe in Baja California Norte, Mexico. We can find this species growing in a semi arid to an arid zone, above 2,000-metres (6,550-feet).
Syns. Cereus conzattii, and Aporocactus conzattii.
It requires a bright, cool situation during winter, and kept on the dry side. In fact, let it dry out before watering in the growing season, and the roots will stay healthier.
They are native to the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, growing at an altitude between 460 and 600-metres (1,500 and 2,000-feet) above sea level. At this altitude, the climate is extremely humid with temperatures varying from 15.6o to 48.9o Celsius (60 to 120o Fahrenheit).
Syns. Cactus flagelliformi, and Aporocactus flagelliformis.
This natural species is from the state of Oaxaca, a tropical state in the south of Mexico. Very humid weather occurs throughout its habitat.
Syn. Aporocactus flagriformis.
Its habitat is in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Where temperatures vary from 15.6o to 48.9o Celsius (60o to 120o Fahrenheit), and the climate is very humid.
Syn. Aporocactus leptophis.
This species is native to the Central Highlands, Mexico. Growing at this altitude the average monthly temperatures are 16.7o to 21.1o Celsius (62o to 70o Fahrenheit).
Syns. Cereus martianus, Eriocereus martianus, and Aporocactus martianus.
This cactus can be found on trees in montane forests. In fact, it can be found on the west side of the island of Jamaica, where the heaviest rains are from May to June, and October to November.
Syns. Pseudorhipsalis alata, and Rhipsalis alata.
Most people find this species very hard to grow. Therefore, it is rare in collections. It needs more warmth than other species of Disocactus.
However, these plants only grow as epiphytes in lowland rainforests. It is said that they grew near Leticia, and Tarapota, in the department of San Martin, Peru. Accordingly, this is a moist, tropical area with a short dry season.
Syn. Wittia amazonica.
This is a trailing type of tree dweller that looks good in a hanging container. In warm, moist weather this species grows quickly.
In their natural home, in montane rainforests, these plants grow as epiphytes. Their natural habitat is around Alotenango, Guatemala, and Honduras. This is a moist, tropical climate with a mean annual temperature of 21.1o Celsius (70o Fahrenheit). Syn. Phyllocactus biformis.
Their natural habitat is near Santa Lucia, Guatemala. This area has warm days, and cool nights, and most of the rain falls in the summer months, with a predominantly dry period from November to April.
Syn. Phyllocactus eichlamii.
We can only find this species growing as an epiphyte in the montane forests of Pozo Azul, Costa Rica. In this area the rainy season is from April or May to December, and the annual precipitation is about 2540 millimetres (100 inches). Although this country is in the tropics, The temperature at the altitude where this species grows is more temperate.
Syns. Pseudorhipsalis himantoclada, Rhipsalis himantoclada, and Wittia costaricense.
This plant grows only in the states of Chiapas, and Oaxaca, Mexico. Although it is in the tropical belt, it grows at high altitudes, and enjoys a mild, temperate climate, with average temperatures of 16.7o to 21.1o Celsius (62o to 70o Fahrenheit).
Syn. Pseudorhipsalis macrantha.
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This elongated species has a freely branching main stem. In addition, this stem grows 160-centimetres (63-inches) long, and 3 to 4-centimetres (11/8 to 15/8-inches) across. Moreover, the notches are only slight. They have flowers shaped like a bell, with lilac-pink petals, and greenish-yellow sepals. Later, small fruits develop, carrying persistent flower remains. These fruits are broadly spherical.
In its natural habitat, this species is distributed through tropical montane rainforests. It occurs near Chicharras in the state of Chiapas, southeastern Mexico. The weather is very humid from sea level to a height of 900-metres (3,000-feet) where the plant grows. In addition, the temperatures vary from 15.6o to 48.9o Celsius (60o to 120o Fahrenheit).
Syn. Chiapasia nelsonii.
Variety hondurensis has a main stem that is only 50-centimetres (20-inches) long, and 5 to 6-centimetres (2 to 23/8-inches) broad. This variety branches more from the base. Also, the bell shaped flowers have petals that are lilac pink, and sepals that are yellowish-purple.
They are endemic to the montane rainforests of Comayagua, east of Siguatepeque, and southwest of El Rincon, Honduras. The dry season is from November to May. Average temperatures in this area are about 21.1o Celsius (70o Fahrenheit).
This species is indigenous to the montane cloud forests of Guatemala. Most of the rain falls between May, and October. Drier periods are predominant from November to April, at this altitude the temperature is warm during the day, and the nights are cool.
Syn. Bonifazia quezalteca.
This species grows in western Brazil. This is a wet, tropical rainforest area with a high rainfall. Also, it grows around Isapuri, Bolivia, which has a similar climate. In addition, It can be found in the deep, tropical valleys of Pozuzo in the department of Huanuco, Peru.
Syns. Rhipsalis ramulosa and Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa.
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Cool temperatures are tolerated by these hybrids, but frosts will damage or even kill them. In cold climates this hybrid genus needs winter protection, with a preferred minimum of 10o Celsius. (50o Fahrenheit) Give less water in cool weather, and provide good light. Bright light is necessary for the formation of flower buds. The potting mixture should be free draining, and contain plenty of humus. Also, allow the surface to dry before the next watering in warm weather.
With its trailing habit, it makes a good hanging container subject. Most other epiphytes grow easily in the same container as this plant.
This plant is often sold under the name, Epicactus ‘Christmas Red’.
Gowing easily in a hanging container, this plant mixes with other epiphytes with ease. It grows better with some humus around the roots.