Orchid cactus
Epiphyllum
Also called Epiphyllum and Queen of the night
Houseplant · Succulents & cactiTREAT IT LIKE A FERN, NOT A CACTUS. It grows in trees in cloud forest, and the desert-cactus routine — full sun and a bone-dry pot — is what kills most of them.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 8 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect — it is a jungle plant, not a desert one
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average to high
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.9 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Central and South America
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-04. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.