When I first saw this plant many years ago,  it was in a hanging basket at a local garden center tagged as a fern. It was a large plant and out of my price range. The label perplexed me, to say the least. The leaves resembled a fern, but the texture was rubbery, like a succulent. I never found out what it was until years later, and I never saw one for sale again until recently. I grabbed it up immediately! It is a Selenicereus chrysocardium (formerly Epiphyllum) or fern leaf cactus. Let’s talk about how to care for the fern leaf orchid cactus. 

Selenicereus chrysocardium has Cladodes

As we talked about last week, those fern-shaped leaves are cladodes. Cladodes are stems, not leaves at all. Modified stems function like leaves, photosynthesizing and making food for the plant. The roots attach it to the tree (or other item)  it lives on and collect nutrients for the plant. 

Selenicereus is an Epiphytic Cactus

This cactus is one of many jungle cacti that grow in the crooks of trees. Their roots cling to the tree, collecting nutrients produced from decomposing debris. This debris drops from plants, birds, and other small animals. We use fertilizer in our homes to mimic the nutrients plants get from nature through soil. Or in the case of jungle epiphytes, debris. It is a true cactus, though this particular one is a spineless variety. 

Potting Mix

Because the Selenicereus chrysocardium is a true cactus and an epiphyte, it prefers a high-porosity potting medium. That means it likes lots of air around its roots. So when I repot this, I will use some orchid bark mixed with my potting soil, as well as add perlite and vermiculite. As this is a jungle cacti, it would prefer not to dry out like its desert cousins.

Selenicereus Light Preference

As an epiphyte in its natural habitat, this cactus has a tree canopy above it and leaves shading it. That means it doesn’t need or want a full sun situation. Selenicereus can live in an east or west window or under lights with no problem. If it were in full sun, such as a south window or outside for the summer, it may develop brown spots from sunburn. 

Selenicereus blooms

 If you are lucky enough to have this plant bloom, it will be a white flower, resembling the queen of the night or Epiphyllum oxypetalum. I am lucky enough to have the queen of the night bloom in my home. I love it! Below is a picture of my Epiphyllum oxypetalum blooming last month. 

Selenicereus chrysocardium propagation

This cactus is easy to propagate by using a cladode cutting. I cut approximately 3″ off the end of the stem and let it callus over or dry for a few days. Allowing the cactus end to callus is a must before propagating. I inserted the callused end into a small pot of moistened potting mix. I am looking forward to new shoots appearing in a few weeks. 

You can see in the picture below, a piece of the cladode placed in the soil has new growth coming from the edges. 

 

I’m glad I found this plant again and was able to buy it. It is so cool, and if it never blooms, I’m okay with that. Sometimes it is about the foliage! And we all know I love ferns, so a fern cactus seemed to be a must for me. 

Have a great week, plant friends!

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