Pfeiffera asuntapatensis is a gorgeous elegant plant that is ideal for a hanging basket. Previously in the genus Lepismium, this species is endemic to Bolivia and is related to Pfeiffera boliviana (Lepismium bolivianum) but differs from it by having woolly areoles, convex margins on stems of indeterminate growth, and beautiful, relatively big, reddish to orange flowers. The berries are red.
I keep mine outside in summer (in the UK) where it receives morning sunlight and otherwise is in the shade and the plant loves it, producing numerous flowers and new branches. All my epiphytes are in my own potting mix of bark, horticultural sharp sand, grit, John Innes No 2, perlite or pumice and a sprinkle of activated charcoal.
To propagate, simply take a cutting, wait a day for the wound to callus over and stick into your potting mix. I do not water cuttings until they root but from time to time I use a mist sprayer to dampen the substrate.
I searched for a long time to add this plant to my collection of epiphytic cacti. It was not an easy species to obtain but when I finally managed to get hold of it, I was not disappointed. If, like me, you are a fan of trailing cacti then this stunner should definitely be in your collection.
Text and photos by Magda Ka
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