Disocactus ( Epiphyllum ) anguliger

Forest origin and names of Disocactus anguliger

Disocactus anguliger is native to Mexico, where it grows on trees in forest. Its fine roots sit in loose organic material caught around bark and branches.

The current name is Disocactus anguliger. Epiphyllum anguligerum is the older familiar name still seen in plant collections.

Home care for Disocactus anguliger

• Light: Give bright filtered light with gentle morning or late-day sun.
• Water: While new stems are growing, water thoroughly when the surface of the mix starts drying. In cooler conditions, leave the mix dry a little longer.
• Potting mix: Use a chunky bark-based mix with perlite or pumice for drainage.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity suits this forest cactus, with some fresh air around the stems.
• Flowering temperatures: Warm conditions suit stem growth. A cooler period around 11–14°C can help mature plants form flower buds.
• Feeding: Use a light cactus or balanced fertiliser while new stems are forming.
• Repotting: Replace the old mix once roots crowd the pot or the bark pieces start breaking down. Use a pot with good drainage.

Reading changes in Disocactus anguliger

• Stems become deeply wrinkled and limp: The plant may be very dry, or damaged roots may be supplying too little water. If the roots are healthy and the mix is dry, water thoroughly; repot if the roots are damaged.
• The stem base turns yellow, translucent or soft: A constantly wet mix can rot stems and roots. Remove affected tissue with a clean tool and root healthy sections in fresh chunky mix.
• Tan patches appear after a sudden increase in direct sun: A quick move into strong sun can scorch the stems. Return the plant to bright filtered light and increase sun exposure gradually.
• Few flower buds appear on a healthy mature plant: Weak light or a warm, wet rest period can reduce flowering. Give brighter filtered light and a cooler, slightly drier rest before the next flowering cycle.
• Cottony clusters collect in stem notches: Mealybugs can hide and feed in the folds. Remove visible insects carefully and keep checking the notches and fresh growth.

Keep Disocactus (Epiphyllum) anguliger away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

Where does the name Disocactus anguliger come from?

Disocactus combines Greek dis, meaning twice, and isos, meaning equal, with cactus, referring to the two similar sets of floral segments. The epithet anguliger means angle-bearing and refers to the sharply angled stem segments.

John Lindley established the genus Disocactus in 1845 in Edwards’s Botanical Register, volume 31, plate 9.

Charles Lemaire first described it as Phyllocactus anguliger in 1851 in Le Jardin Fleuriste, volume 1, plate 92. Miguel Ángel Cruz and Salvador Arias Montes later placed it in Disocactus as Disocactus anguliger in 2016 in Willdenowia, volume 46, page 157.