Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Color Jolt, 0 by Happenstance

Happenstance wrote:
lilypon - threaten them with the "deep-freeze" or the compost heap if they don't do as they are told. :-)

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Clare - I think if you read advice from 10 people about Epis you will get 10 different recipes for success. The last shot was taken in full sun (but for purposes of the image and because red/fuschia drives my camera crazy, I use a photography umbrella to provide filtered shade/light to take pictures).

There are some additional images of my Epis here:
http://davesgarden.com/t/426034/
http://davesgarden.com/fp.php?pid=861383

All of these Epis are in full Zone 9b sun from about 10AM til sunset. Not much different than your 10a, with average summer temps here from 85-110F daytime and the usual cooling off to around 50-55 at night. They spend the winter months outside against a south facing set of sliders, again full sun from 10AM - sunset. Our lows are generally around 38-39F, haven't had frost in the 6 years we've been here.

Everyone has a different idea of how to raise these, here's mine. The information below reflects only my experience and may not be what the professionals/experts advise.

The more direct sun the better (assuming they have been acclimated to it slowly if they were previously growing in lower light levels).

They must get "cold" in the winter. How cold for how long.....I don't know, but these all survived the several days in the teens here in the Bay Area during the winter of 90-91.

They aren't picky about what kind of soil, any commercial planting, potting, cactus mix......whatever happens to be around is what I use.

I feed them with diluted (1/2 strength) fish emulsion every two weeks from the time it warms up until about late October. SNAILS & SLUGS love these things so I bait for them religiously all year long....especially during the rainy season. Even so there is some snail damage done each year.

I haven't found that "age" has anything to do with them blooming. I bought a small bedraggled cutting on sale last fall and got 3 blooms on it this year, plus 3 new long fronds. I used the same regimen for the cutting that I do for the big guys.

Last year was a below average year for my Epis. It was still in the 40's in mid May and was still cold and wet. This year with highs in the 90's in Feb/Mar/April/May they have bloomed beautifully. I think the total time from first to last bloom this year will be about 7 weeks. That's good in my experience.

Having said all that, these are one of the homliest plants on earth, except when they bloom Ugly ducklings can become swans if you just believe!

Here's a not so great image of the three large tubs of Epis in the eveing sun. I'm guessing, but these are approximately 15 years old and started out as a few small cuttings.