Disocactus speciosus

A sprawling, climbing cactus (formerly Heliocereus) with large scarlet flowers, from the highland pine-oak forests of Mexico and Central America. It needs bright light, cool nights and a dry winter to flower well, and it takes near-freezing nights better than most cacti.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night A clear drop at nightTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Its angled, spiny stems scramble over rocks and banks or hang from trees in open pine-oak forest and on lava fields, usually where it gets plenty of light. It is reported both on rock and as an epiphyte; this is generalised from the genus.

Records run from 526 to 3,081 m, with a median of 2,200 m. It is mainly a plant of cool highlands.

Mexico CentralMexico NortheastMexico NorthwestMexico SoutheastMexico SouthwestGuatemalaHondurasEl Salvador

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Disocactus

Disocactus crenatus Disocactus phyllanthoides Disocactus ackermannii Disocactus anguliger

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 2.5 licence, unmodified.