Lepismium houlletianum
| Light | Bright, indirect light to light shade; avoid harsh direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regular through the growing season, letting the top of the mix dry between waterings; reduce a little in winter but do not dry it off completely — it often flowers in the cooler months |
| Soil | Open, humus-rich epiphytic mix with plenty of bark and grit (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Warm and frost-free; keep above about 10 °C, USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (easy); also seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lepismium houlletianum, the snowdrop cactus, is a trailing epiphytic cactus from the humid forests of southern Brazil and neighbouring regions. It is grown for its broad, flattened, leaf-like stems whose margins are shallowly toothed, and for the small, pale, bell-shaped flowers that hang along those margins in profusion — a nodding, snowdrop-like display that gives the plant its common name. Like the rest of Lepismium, it is a forest dweller rather than a desert cactus, and its care reflects that.
Description
Lepismium houlletianum is a pendent, much-branched epiphyte whose stems are flattened and strap-like for most of their length, tapering to a narrow base. The stem margins are distinctly and regularly toothed or notched, giving the plant a serrated, almost leafy look that sets it apart from the smoother-edged members of the genus. Mature plants form cascading masses of overlapping segments, well suited to a hanging basket.
Small flowers are borne from areoles set in the notches along the stem margins. They are bell- to funnel-shaped and pale — whitish to creamy, faintly tinged with yellow and often with a reddish throat — and hang downward in numbers along the stem edges when the plant flowers freely. The blooms are followed by small, rounded, reddish berries, each carrying a few tiny seeds.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the moist subtropical and tropical forests of eastern and southern Brazil, extending into adjacent parts of South America. There it grows as an epiphyte, perched on tree trunks and branches (and occasionally on shaded rocks) in humid, shady forest, its roots anchored in pockets of leaf litter and moss rather than in open ground. These are warm, sheltered, high-humidity conditions with dappled light — a very different world from the sun-baked habitats of desert cacti, and the key to understanding how the plant likes to be grown.
Cultivation
Treat Lepismium houlletianum as a forest plant rather than a desert one. Grow it in bright but filtered light or light shade; strong direct sun scorches and yellows the stems, while too much shade leaves growth thin and shy to flower. An open, humus-rich epiphytic mix — bark, coir or leaf mould loosened with plenty of grit or perlite — keeps the roots aerated and quick-draining.
Water more generously than you would a globular cactus: keep the mix lightly moist through the growing season, letting the surface dry between waterings, and enjoy the higher humidity the plant appreciates. Unlike a desert cactus it should not be dried off hard in winter — it commonly flowers in the cooler months and can bloom on and off through much of the year, so keep watering, reducing only slightly, and never let the segments shrivel badly from drought. A hanging basket suits its trailing habit and keeps air moving around the stems. Feed sparingly with a dilute balanced fertiliser during active growth. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The snowdrop cactus is very easily raised from stem cuttings. Detach a healthy segment or two, let the cut end callus for a day or so, then lay or insert it in a moist, open epiphytic mix; cuttings root readily in warm, humid conditions. The species can also be grown from its fine seed sown on a damp surface and kept warm and humid, though cuttings are quicker and keep the parent's character. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — seed.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, from a heavy, water-retentive mix or standing wet in winter cold; stems soften, discolour and drop.
- Sun scorch — harsh direct sun bleaches or reddens the stems and can leave dry, bronzed patches; move to brighter shade.
- Weak, non-flowering growth — usually too little light; thin, pale stems and few or no blooms.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the notches and among tangled stems) and scale are the most likely, with spider mites possible in hot, dry air. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Lepismium — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — seed