Tropicals & Tender Perennials: I've become an instant epi collector., 1 by 77sunset

77sunset wrote:
Hello to all on here. I am an avid gardener with about 2 acres,who will try to grow anything. In my plants I had a cactus that has gorgeous big red flowers every year. i was told it was an Epiphyllum so was on the lookout for more.
I never found any until early this year when I came across people with a trailer load at the local market. It turns out they were selling for an older lady who could no longer look after them.
Of course I bought them all. The price was very very cheap . There were more at her farm so I urged Hubby to get out our trailer and pick them up. I ended up with over 600 epis, numerous zygos and day lilies plus an assortment of other odds and ends in succulents bromeliads and cacti. I was lucky enough to get the entire lot for a minimal price just to give them a good home. I also ended up with 100's of pots and hanging baskets along with a large bag of vermiculite.
Sadly , I had to sell off a few to make room but I now have around 400 plants from seedling to mature with lots of cuttings in there too.
In Australia, epis are hard to buy .There are very few nurseries that do sell any and the prices are dear.
I have about 200 or so with name tags ( hopefully in the right pots ) and the others are nameless.
The condition of the plants when I got them was terrible. The poor woman had not been able to care for them for a few years and they were so sad. Any other plants would have died but these epis are hardy.
Within a month they were looking better and now I have new shoots and buds all over them. I cannot wait for flowers. It is going to be so much fun to go out and photograph each one .
I do get carried away in my enthusiasm so forgive me for rambling on. I am posting a pic of my own original red one full of buds, you will see a few of the others in the background under the tree. The others live in a large shade house built with the money from selling the excess ones. It has a timber back wall and Clear laserlite roof to keep out the cold and rain but let in lots of light.
I will post pics later when they flower.
I enjoy looking into these forums to see all your beautiful plants.
Have a happy day.