Epiphyllum 'Curly Sue' - The Whimsical Curly Locks Cactus
Prepare to fall in love with Epiphyllum 'Curly Sue', a wonderfully whimsical jungle cactus with personality to spare! This delightful monstrose mutation features gorgeously twisted, curling stems that cascade like vibrant green ribbons, creating a living sculpture that's guaranteed to be a conversation starter in any home.
Originally from the rainforests of Guatemala, Curly Sue is an epiphytic cactus that grows on trees in its natural habitat, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the humid air. The 'monstrose' form is a naturally occurring mutation that produces those fantastic contorted stems instead of the typical flat, strap-like growth of regular Epiphyllums. The result is a plant that looks like it's having the best hair day of its life!
Why Choose Epiphyllum Curly Sue?
- Uniquely Beautiful! Twisted, curling stems create stunning sculptural displays.
- Night-Blooming Flowers! Produces fragrant white flowers that open after dark.
- Edible Fruit! Self-pollinated flowers produce delicious mini dragon fruit.
- Perfect for Hanging! Cascading growth looks amazing in hanging baskets.
- Pet Safe! Non-toxic to cats, dogs and humans.
- Easy Care! Thrives with minimal attention once established.
- Conversation Starter! A truly unique plant that everyone notices.
The Distinctive Look
Curly Sue's charm lies in those wonderfully twisted stems. Unlike typical Epiphyllums with flat, smooth growth, this monstrose variety produces contorted, ribbon-like stems that curl and spiral in unexpected directions. The bright green, fleshy stems have a smooth texture and grow close together, creating the appearance of gorgeous thick green locks that cascade beautifully from a hanging basket or trail over the edge of a shelf.
The stems can reach up to 60cm or longer, branching as they grow to create a fuller, more impressive display over time. New growth emerges in a lighter green shade before maturing to a deeper, richer tone.
And then there are the flowers! When conditions are right, Curly Sue produces stunning white blooms up to 15cm across on long tubes. These fragrant flowers are night-blooming, opening at dusk and fading by sunrise, making them a magical surprise to discover. If the flowers self-pollinate, they're followed by small red fruit that looks and tastes like miniature dragon fruit!
Light Requirements
As a jungle cactus, Curly Sue thrives in bright indirect light rather than the intense sun that desert cacti prefer. A position with morning sun and filtered light for the rest of the day is ideal. East-facing windows work beautifully, or a spot near a north or west-facing window where harsh afternoon rays are diffused.
Good light encourages healthy growth and increases your chances of those spectacular night blooms. In lower light, the plant will grow more slowly but will still thrive. Just avoid harsh midday or afternoon direct sun, which can scorch those beautiful curling stems.
Watering Your Curly Sue
Despite being a cactus, Curly Sue hails from humid rainforests rather than dry deserts, so it appreciates a bit more moisture than you might expect. Water thoroughly when the top few centimetres of soil feel dry, allowing water to drain completely.
It's important to only water when it suits the environment your plant is living in, as everyone's home is different!
During the growing season (spring and summer), you may find yourself watering roughly once a week to ten days. In winter, reduce watering as growth slows. The key is letting the soil dry slightly between waterings while never leaving it parched for extended periods. As an epiphyte, Curly Sue doesn't like to sit in soggy soil, so good drainage is essential.
The Perfect Potting Mix
Curly Sue thrives in a light, well-draining mix that mimics its natural epiphytic growing conditions. An orchid mix or cactus mix with added perlite, orchid bark, or coco chips works wonderfully. The goal is a mix that holds some moisture but allows excellent airflow around the roots.
A pot with good drainage holes is essential. Curly Sue actually enjoys being slightly pot-bound, which can encourage flowering, so don't rush to repot unless necessary. When you do repot, spring is the best time.
Humidity and Temperature
Coming from rainforest origins, Curly Sue appreciates moderate to high humidity but adapts well to average household conditions. Grouping it with other plants or placing it in a naturally humid room like a bathroom or kitchen with good light will keep it happy.
Maintain temperatures between 18-24°C for optimal growth. Curly Sue can handle cooler temperatures down to 10°C in winter but isn't frost hardy, so keep it protected from cold drafts and never expose it to freezing conditions.
Feeding Your Curly Sue
During the growing season (September through March), feed your Curly Sue with Growth Technology Foliage Focus at a diluted rate of 2-3ml per litre of water every 2-4 weeks. Add Growth Technology Rootzone at 0.5ml per litre occasionally to support healthy root development.
To encourage flowering, you can switch to a bloom-promoting fertiliser with higher phosphorus in late winter/early spring. Reduce or stop feeding during autumn and winter when growth naturally slows.
Encouraging Blooms
Those spectacular night-blooming flowers are one of Curly Sue's most exciting features! To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, allow the plant to become slightly pot-bound, and give it a cooler rest period during winter with reduced watering. Mature plants are more likely to bloom, so patience is rewarded.
When flowers appear, they open at dusk and release a sweet fragrance into the night air. By morning, they'll have faded, but if pollinated, you may be rewarded with those delicious mini dragon fruits!
Propagation
Curly Sue is wonderfully easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Simply snip a healthy stem section, allow the cut end to callous over for a few days in a dry spot, then plant into a well-draining mix. Keep the soil lightly moist and provide bright indirect light.
Using Clonex Clone Solution at 5ml per litre can help encourage root development. Cuttings typically root within a few weeks, and before long you'll have new plants to share with friends!
Care Tips for Success
- Provide bright indirect light with some morning sun for best growth.
- Water when the top soil dries but don't let it stay dry for too long.
- Use a well-draining epiphytic mix to keep roots healthy.
- Hang it up! Those cascading stems look spectacular in a hanging basket.
- Keep warm and protected from cold drafts.
- Feed lightly during the growing season.
- Be patient for flowers as mature plants bloom more readily.
Common Questions
Why are my stems turning reddish? This can indicate too much direct sun. Move to a spot with more filtered light.
Why isn't my plant flowering? Flowers are more common on mature plants. Ensure good light, let it become pot-bound, and provide a cool rest period in winter.
Can I grow it outdoors? In frost-free areas with dappled shade, Curly Sue makes an excellent outdoor plant. Just protect from direct afternoon sun and bring indoors if temperatures drop below 10°C.
Is the fruit really edible? Yes! The small red fruits that follow pollinated flowers taste like miniature dragon fruit and are perfectly safe to eat.
Pet Safety
Great news for pet owners! Epiphyllum Curly Sue is non-toxic to cats, dogs and humans, making it a safe choice for households with curious furry friends or little ones.
Perfect For
- Hanging baskets where stems can cascade beautifully
- Shelves and plant stands where growth can trail over edges
- Pet-friendly households seeking unique plants
- Anyone who loves unusual, sculptural foliage
- Indoor jungles and tropical-themed spaces
- Gardeners who enjoy night-blooming flowers
- Collectors of unique cacti and succulents
Please Keep in Mind
Each plant is unique and may vary slightly from the images shown. The photos are representative examples of the quality and characteristics you can expect, but natural variations in stem shape, curl pattern and growth habit make every Epiphyllum Curly Sue one-of-a-kind. The delightful curling and twisting is what makes this plant so special! For information on how your plant will be shipped, please refer to our shipping and delivery section.
If you are from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase this plant we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service, make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOUR PLANTS GET TO YOU & HOW YOU CAN PICK THEM UP!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit & Pick Up from the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'BOOK TO VISIT' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE DO NOT SHARE THE GREENHOUSE ADDRESS PUBLICLY BECAUSE ITS OUR HOME ASWELL AS BUSINESS, AFTER YOU BOOK YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL OR TEXT WITH OUR ADDRESS, IF THE GATE IS CLOSED ON ARRIVAL DON'T WORRY WILL BE RIGHT WITH YOU :) AND PLEASE NO BIG BOUNCY DOGS AS ITS A SMALL SPACE & PLANTS GET DAMAGED WITH HAPPY TAILS :)
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
