Disocactus (Epiphyllum) ackermannii 'Red tip'

Identity and naming history of Disocactus (Epiphyllum) ackermannii 'Red tip'

‘Red tip’ is a horticultural name for this cultivated Disocactus. Its exact botanical identity and parentage are still uncertain.

Epiphyllum also appears in the trade name because that name has long been used in horticulture for flat-stemmed epiphytic cacti.

Indoor care for Disocactus (Epiphyllum) ackermannii 'Red tip'

• Placement: A hanging pot or high shelf gives the flattened stems room to arch and trail as they lengthen.
• Light: Give bright filtered light with gentle morning or late-day sun, and protect the broad stem surfaces from intense midday heat.
• Water: While fresh segments are forming, water thoroughly after the upper part of the potting mix has dried. Let excess water drain from the container.
• Potting mix: Use a loose epiphytic cactus mix with bark and pumice or perlite so the roots receive both moisture and air.
• Temperature and humidity: Warm indoor conditions and normal household humidity are usually suitable. Keep the plant frost-free and away from cold draughts.
• Feeding: Use a balanced fertiliser at a low dose while new stem sections are developing.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the container or the mix has broken down and drains slowly.
• Propagation: Healthy stem sections can be rooted after the cut end has dried.

Common problems affecting Disocactus (Epiphyllum) ackermannii 'Red tip'

• Fresh tips become brown and soft: Cold or trapped moisture can damage tender growth and lead to rot. Cut the affected tissue back to firm healthy green tissue with a clean blade, discard the rotten parts and keep the cut surface dry.
• Stems wrinkle while the potting mix stays wet: Damaged roots may be unable to supply the plant. Check the roots, remove damaged roots and cut any soft dark tissue back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool. Discard the rotten material. If rot has spread badly through the base, take cuttings from firm healthy segments.
• Bleached, dry or corky patches appear on the flat stems: Intense direct sun or hot glass can scorch the surface. Move the plant into bright filtered light.
• Cottony clusters or fixed bumps appear at the joints: Mealybugs or scale may be present. Isolate the plant and clean the stem notches carefully, then use a treatment labelled for the pest. Check the joints again before repeating treatment according to the label.

Keep Disocactus (Epiphyllum) ackermannii ‘Red tip’ 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.

What does Disocactus ackermannii mean, and who first published it?

Disocactus combines Greek dis, meaning twice, and isos, meaning equal, with cactus, referring to the two similar sets of floral segments. Ackermannii honours the German cactus grower Georg Ackermann, who brought the plant from Mexico to England in 1824.

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

Adrian Hardy Haworth first described it as Epiphyllum ackermannii in 1829 in Philosophical Magazine and Annals of Philosophy, new series, volume 6, page 109. Ralf Bauer later placed it in Disocactus as Disocactus ackermannii in 2003 in Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives, volume 17, page 16.