Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Holiday Cactus General Discussion Part #5 , 5 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Jojoe---

That is exactly what my two Red Epis looked like when i got them in a trade from CA.
Never heard of an Epi before that.

The leaves you got will stay there. They will not die off. They will grow endless side "leaves" and those "leaves" will grow more.
An Epi can get quite ungainly. The leaves are semi-succulent and heavy.
Leave them grow in those 4" pots until you would swear they will split the sides. Then you can pot them up to a sturdy, 6" HB.
Do not hurry to pot them up in bigger pots. They only bloom when pot-bound. You cannot believe how pot bound
they can get and just love it! And then--they will gift you with amazing blooms.

In season--feed them and water them like anything else. Come late fall--they like to have a slight dormant period--at least here.
(I am in z-7a). We have winters--well...NOT this year!....:o) but--usually.
I stop watering them in October--and let them be until early Spring.

If you have any specific questions. please go to the "Orchid cactus" Forum. They know all about Epis there....
I don't think too many people in MD grow these things.

Just to WOW you--here is one of the Epis I got in 2005. Last year--it bloomed for the first time. talk about patience!
The other one had bloomed once before.

Here is the WOW factor.....it blew me away!!!!!!
And a picture of both of them in my LR for the winter. Notice their gangly shapes? Such is their way.....

Gita