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About Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach


About Malabar Spinach and Orchid Cactus


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Cactus or Succulent, Flowering Plants  
Vegetable  

Origin
Mexico  
Southeastern Asia, India  

Types
Epiphyllum hybrids  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach  

Number of Varieties
200  
34
5  

Habitat
Tropical rainforest  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates  

USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11  
-9999  

AHS Heat Zone
11-1  
12*7  

Sunset Zone
H1, 21, 22, 23, 24  
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Weeping  
Vining/Climbing  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
15.20 cm  
99+
2.40 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
6.78 cm  
24.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Red, Orange, Magenta, Orange Red  
Red, Green, Orange Red  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Purple, Red  
White, Ivory  

Leaf Color in Spring
-  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
-  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
-  
Purple, Gray Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
-  
Purple, Gray Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow  
Heart-shaped  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
Medium  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam  

The pH of Soil
Neutral  
Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer  
-  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
Yes  

Tolerances
-  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot  
Ground  

How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Leaf Cutting, Stem Planting  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally  
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Average Water  

In Spring
Moderate  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Neutral  
Neutral  

Soil Type
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer  
Nitrogen  

Pests and Diseases
Red blotch  
Aphids  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
Yes  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Bold  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
-  
Glossy  

Evergreen
No  
Yes  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
No  
Yes  

Attracts
Hummingbirds  
-  

Allergy
-  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
Yes  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C  

Part of Plant Used
Whole plant  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant  
Used As Food  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
DISOCACTUS ackermannii  
BASELLA alba  

Common Name
Orchid Cactus  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach  

In Hindi
आर्किड कैक्टस  
पोई  

In German
Orchid cactus  
Malabarspinat  

In French
Cactus Orchid  
L’épinard de Malabar  

In Spanish
cactus orquídea  
espinaca de Malabar  

In Greek
ορχιδέα κάκτος  
Malabar Σπανάκι  

In Portuguese
Orchid cactus  
Malabar espinafre  

In Polish
Orchid kaktus  
Szpinak Malabar  

In Latin
Orchid cactus  
Spinach Malabar  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Embryophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Eudicotyledones  

Order
Caryophyllales  
Caryophyllales  

Family
Cactaceae  
Basellaceae  

Genus
Disocactus  
Basella  

Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  

Tribe
Hylocereeae  
-  

Subfamily
Cactoideae  
-  

Number of Species
20  
60  

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach

Wondering what are the properties of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach? We provide you with everything About Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach. Orchid Cactus doesn't have thorns and Malabar Spinach doesn't have thorns. Also Orchid Cactus does not have fragrant flowers. Orchid Cactus has allergic reactions like and Malabar Spinach has allergic reactions like . Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach

Season and care of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. Orchid Cactus season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Orchid Cactus is Loam, Sand and for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for Orchid Cactus is Neutral and for Malabar Spinach is Neutral.

Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach Physical Information

Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Orchid Cactus height is 15.20 cm and width 6.78 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach are as follows:

Care of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach

Care of Orchid Cactus and Malabar Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Orchid Cactus pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves. In summer Orchid Cactus needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water.

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