What's This?

I posted this on another thread some time back...with few replies. I finally realized this might be referred to as "orchid cactus," so I've moved it to this forum, looking for information. I'll cut-and-paste the info / photos below.

I have what I was told is a night-blooming cereus (sp?). It looks like epiphyllum...but it's never bloomed. As you see in this picture, it's gotten BIG over the 2-3 years since I rooted a cutting I was given. I keep it outside in summer, inside in winter. Any hints on what I have, or how to make it bloom? Thanks...

Here's a close-up of the top leaves. Hope it helps. I keep it in light shade outside in the summer, because it's root-bound. The person who gave it to me said it liked being root-bound, to induce blooms. I do fertilize it...but I use the standard 'weakly weekly' practice. Inside, overwinter, it doesn't get much sunlight at all. It's big, awkward, and difficult to find a 'home' for when it comes indoors each year...

It looks like Night Blooming Cereus to me. Mine is hanging just inside a Southeast facing floor to ceiling window. I am inquiring about the growth that you also have at the top on the right side of your plant.

My plant is just one year old from a cutting or cuttings. There are three of those growths off of leaves in my picture. My potting medium was Pro Mix, Coir and compost with organic trace minerals added. Feeding outside was various teas including aerobic finished compost in rotation done weakly weekly.

That upper-right-hand growth is braching. It has a very rambling, weird growth habit. That's why there are spikes so high on the plant. I left them - and staked them - not knowing whether it needed "old or new wood" for blooming. But I'll have to snip that new growth...or it will be 10-feet tall!

Any way of knowing what I have / what color it may bloom?

Any tips on inducing blooms...after several years of nothing?

Despite the aggravation of keeping this monster alive without blooms, I just can't bring myself to throw it in the compost heap until I know what the blooms may look like...LOL! Maybe one bloom would convince me to keep it. :)

Thanks...

This message was edited Jan 11, 2010 10:05 AM

I, too, believe you have a night blooming Cereus (Oxypetalum) or Queen of the Night. It will bloom at night and will be white. The picture I am attaching is of such a plant.

Your plant bothers me in that it is just too green. A Queen should be much darker, almost grayish (see docgipe's picture). You say this plant doesn't get much sun in the winter; try to change this and put it in an eastern window where it gets as much light as possible. In the summer, place it in the lower branches of a tree and let the tree shade it. I feel that the long winter low-light situation is your main problem.

I would also replant into a gallon size container. While your plant is large and relatively healthy, it should have more leaf growth for its size and should be much darker in leaf color. Fertilize monthly with 10-10-10 except for Dec, Jan time period. Do so now, and I think you will have blooms one of this summer's warm nights! bob

doc,

Yours looks amazing!!!!! Not at all surprised! It has grown leaps and bounds since I gave it to you. SO healthy!!!

Begoniaguy---

Don't feel like the lone ranger----I have had my MBC since 2005 when I got it from "kachinagirl" in CA as a single, 7" leaf cutting. It has grown huge--and also keeps sending up lots of these compound leaves and those skinny, long shoots. Mine has never bloomed either.....It has been a struggle to support the gangly growth of this plant.

Someone on DG once suggested that i should grow it in an "aquarium stand" which seems to be a glass-enclosed column about 3'-4' tall. Never seen one! NOT gonna spend $$$ to get one. This plant will be "GONE" as a give-away (or sold) if it does not bloom this Summer. THERE!!!!

There is a lot to learn from all the comments that people post on PF after the main info. screen. I learned a lot----
--NOT to water it for a small dormancy time;
--To give it more light outside (I think mine was in too much shade);
--To repot it in a 10" container--I did;
--Feeding it more with an all-purpose fertilizer--(I was not doing it)....etc....
.
For the winter, i have in to the side of my LR window--but it gets very little direct light. I kept it dry since November, but then read I could water it--jut NOT fertilize it. So much conflicting info! I have been seeking help on this plant for a long time--but much of it comes from the "Sunny States" where it is all different than here--where we have to bring plants in for the Winter.

Here is a picture of it out on my Patio last Summer. I re-potted it in this10" pot in the Spring. It is under my high Patio roof and gets nice, bright shade, but no direct sun--except the very late, setting sun. .
YES! It grew those long, skinny shoots. Beats me what their purpose is???? BUT--I can tell you that IF you cut these shoots off, and cut them up in pieces, they will root and produce a whole new, regular plant. Do it!

Will share a bunch of pictures here to show you.
I am NOT any kind of expert--but sharing what I am struggling with may help you and others.

See the tall shoot at the above picture--that you cannot see the top of?
Here it is--climbing up the siding to my window.....I had to tape it to the siding to keep it upright.

It always threw me WHY it would grow these tall, naked shoots and then grow more, regular leaves from them at the top???? I still don't know!

Anyone out there in the Sunny States????

Here is a picture of the plant NOW--as it is sitting off to the side of my LR window.

YES!!! It IS growing all new, skinny, naked shoots---even though i cut them all off before i brought this plant inside last Fall. Any day now--I am just going to cut them off--as i cannot imagine what possible purpose these would contribute to it's blooming!
Any opinions on this??????

Here are some rooting cuttings from the cut-up shoots I cut off last fall.
As you can see--they are growing regular leaves from these.

Here are some 2-yr. old cuttings (same vintage that I gave doc) and you can see that there is more of the same tall growth.
It seems to just be their nature to do this! Beats me!

Here is an older cutting--and a bigger one that broke off of the Mama plant.

Just dip the ned in some rooting hormone and stick it in some fresh potting mix and--VOILA! NEW plant!

ALL Orchid Cactus cuttings, no matter what kind or size--root SOOOO easily! Never fear!

I have Red Epis and Ric-Rac Cactus cuttings going too.

Hope some of this will help you.

Gita

The reason for the roots on the upper leaves in normal. Remember that they grow in the top of trees and would ramble through the trees and root in any crack or place that had leave mold in it.

sandy

Orchidman, thanks very much for the insight. I'm rearranging some plants that are near a SE window, and I'll make a home for it there. I'll gladly keep you posted. I had already decided to increase the pot-size once I put it outside. I figured the addition of nice, fertile soil would help induce a bloom. From the looks of your photo, it'll be worth the wait! I'm stubborn enough to MAKE this plant bloom.

Gitagal, thanks for the pictures. These are odd ducks, aren't they? I figure we've both got some healthy plants, either way...and one day they'll bloom. :)

They bloom on old growth so you will have to wait a few years to see blooms, but once you do and sniff their fragrance, you will be hooked! Mine don't get regular watering or feeding, and when I feed them, I give them banana peels. They seem to like them.

It's my understanding they like to be pot bound. I wonder what color you have.

Here is the plantfile info:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2443/

I'm concerned about people's need to cut off the long shoots that naturally occur with Oxypetalum. These serve the same function as the more obvious leaves---they create and store energy for the plant to grow and bloom. The oxypetalum, like most of our epies and cacti, will produce roots at any point where the leaf touches decomposing plant materials. Many times, my epies have sprouted roots where a branch would grow too close to a neighboring pot. After the connection is well matured, I cut the new plant loose from the mother plant and then transplant it into a new pot or back in with the Mother plant. In any case, expect larger growth than normal from a oxypetalum and expect these rods to be part of that growth. Think of them as storage tanks for additional nutrition for your plant and you will be less likely to cut them off. (The picture is Kenneth Bivens 'Santa Barbera')

Orchid man,

Surely--your growing conditions are not the same as ours here.....
Even though our zones are similar--my Epis suffer greatly while in the house all Winter. They desiccate badly.

--I have had my NBC since 2005 and it has never bloomed. It spends it's time outside all Summer in filtered shade.
--I may need to keep it in more light?
--I may need to fertilize it more!
--I have already transplanted it in a bit roomier pot. Will see what it does this Summer.
--I have tried to keep it semi-dormant and dryer from Nov.-end of Feb. as suggested on the Orchid cactus Site.
Not sure any of this will help!
Meanwhile--it keeps growing these long, bare shoots and I do not see any reason to keep them on the plant.

Last summer--outside--these shoots went up the siding of my house. WHAT is their purpose? I know you said it above--but they just seem annoying here. WHY should I keep them on the plant?????

I am beginning to think that this climate just is not the best to see NBC bloom! After this Summer--if it does not--I am giving it away--or selling it if there is a buyer anywhere in our area.

Most people here in Baltimore have NO clue what an Epi, a Brugmansia, or a Datura, or a Ric-Rac cactus, or a Pregnant Onion or a Climbing Onion is! I am grateful that I have been able to introduce many people around here to these plants. However--it is hard to sell any of these plants around here once you have too many......
No one knows what they are!
It is only because of DG that I have acquired all these plants and have enjoyed them. Now what?

I get tired of growing them---and wintering them over--and hauling them outside again--and inside each year and nothing happening....and yaddda...yaddda...yaadda....

I think the right climate and environment make all the difference. Not all of us have that!

WHEW! I feel better--as i am VERY frustrated with the Epis I have!

Gita

I've read about all there is out there to read about the Epis. One thing that has popped up several times is that they like a mildly acid soil.

I have entered into this mildly acid feeding pattern. Maybe that is the trick. We shall see although many have said blooming takes several years of growing.

I'm satisfied with just the observation of the plant growing. It keeps me busy just watching the suckers grow.

I believe I had mine for 3 years before I had blooms and I completely missed my first blooms. Also, they like sun - full morning sun. I'm in zone 8a and I leave mine out in full afternoon sun. However, the new pretty green leaves will turn red or the new younger ones will burn in full afternoon sun, so just be aware of that. They also like to be pot bound. I feed it Bloom Booster every 2-3 weeks in the summer. And I don't cut off my long stems, just cause it's part of the plant. However, orchidman does have a point there.

Remember they are climbers.

The other day I went by a house that had the biggest epi oxy I have every seen, this thing was HUGE!!!

wren--
BUT--YOU live in Florida!!!! We do not!

We just had 30"of snow and 20" more coming in 2 days! Most of us here are beyond energy digging out......
A different climate......

Here's my efforts for last Sunday! My Epis are in dim light inside my LR fending on their own.....

Gita

my BIL and family lives in Arnold and I hear you guys are expecting MORE snow tonight. At this rate, the kids will NEVER get out of school. We are coming to visit in June.

The old jolk about winter snow in the District of Columbia and other Southern points is that they each had just one piece of snow removial equipment.....and it has not been seen in the sky for two weeks.

What is snow????

Wait I think I saw some 30+ years ago.

It gets to hot for them sometimes.
Sandy

I guess I should say something nice about Flordia now but I can't think of a thing I lost down there. Therefore I have no urge to travel all that distance and hunt for nothing.

Sounds to me "ya all" have forgotten how good it feels to dig out from under a decent winter. LOL

I was born here, In fact so was both of my parents and one of my Grandmothers, so I have never had to dig out from summer snow.

Sandy

I would admit that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. My eyes have always wished to see more of your huge swamp by way of canoe and native led exploration. My folks spent ten great years in Punta Gorda. They also sold out and came home lucky scouts one year before the river's flooding redesigned most of the village.

Having been born and raised there the result of several generations I can easily understand that home is home. You would certainly likely not have any desire to be in our four season snow country.

I got to running off my mouth before I ran the brains very much. Just about 100% of folks I know are your snow birds some of which retire there. My sis and her husband with a half a dozen or more snow birds are down there as we speak. I was not thinking very well. LOL

No problem, south Florida is not a good place to life, not much down there but HOT,Skeeters , flat land and snowbirds. Punta Gorda is the pits, very strange place. Most of South Florida is. Keys are not bad if you go in the summer time, thought it can get way to hot but at least not as many people.
I live in north Florida, much nicer places up here, we have TREES. LOL If you would like to do the Swamps-Okefenokee Swamp is nice as long as you do not go when the yellow flies are out.. West Florida is nice also. Just do not go far below Orlando, the farther south you go the stranger it gets.

Sandy

Oh forget to add "you all" is pronounced as one work "y'all" If you wish to hear real southern talk, you should have heard my Grandmother and my West Florida cousins. Even I had trouble understanding them. LOL

Sandy

Thanks for the brief preview of life in Fla. I'm to old and sickly to ever follow that swamp dream. Sold my canoes ten years ago.

Mom and dad were in Punta Gorda in a flock of retired small business snowbirds from South Eastern Pennsylvania. A lot of them were Jewish. That was a load for mom who was more opinionated than Archie Bunker and frequently showed her ugly stinking thinking. I do not know how she managed to live in sight of a jew. She even worried that she might be burried in the same ground with one.

That sad but my not so DD was like that to.

Punta Gorda was built and run by a bunch of control freaks any way, very strange place.

Up at the swamp they have boat rides back into the swamp, at all three of the parks and there is a guide that takes people way back into the swamp.

If you every get down here let me know and I can tell you of a number of places that are off the beaten path. We have some very nice parks, gardens , birding places and even a very nice caverns. If you like to take pictures of birds there is one attraction in St. Augustine that is worth the time. The Gator farm has a wild wading bird rookery where you can get very, very close to the birds.
The birds came in on their own.
Sandy

Thanks again..........I'm pretty much confined to activities that take no more than three to four days. Even that becomes a hoot. I am on oxygen 24/7. Within reason I don't let getting old get in the road of our adjusted travel plans. My base supply thermos jug of liquid oxygen goes where ever the car will go. I can get away from the mother tank for six to ten hours using hip tanks. Within a year it will likely be scooter or power chair time.

Sorry, but it is good that you keep going. I wish my DM would, I am working on her to have her knee fixed. She can not drive one of those scooters, very dangerous to get around her when she is driving one. LOL

Sandy

I did my scooter flight training running down nice ole ladies at the grocery store....and Lowe's of course. My second childhood better than bumper cars yet it is all free.

LOL DM nearly took out a whole pallet of A/C's at Home Depot and nearly ran over people at the grcery store also. I now do all the shopping and if she has to go with me, we use the wheelchair it is much safer for everyone.

Sandy

i had to drive those scooter cart at wallie's world and grocery store and it made me dizzy when backing up. LOL!

doc,

Took this picture yesterday to show you all the spikey growth that has come since this plant has been inside for the Winter.
I will cut them off before it goes outside--as I cannot see how these will contribute to it blooming any.
They might be "normal" in the jungle--but not here.

Here is the plant itself----Big, floppy and never bloomed!!!!
I am at a loss what to do to it to make it better--or to make it bloom.

First do not cut those growths off.
Second what are you feeding them and how often?
third how often are you watering?
fourth how much light is it getting.

Sandy

Sandy--
1--Nothing has ever come of those "growths" in the past. Look above near the beginning where I posted a picture of the long one going up my siding to the window. I cut that off before I broufgt the plant in for the winter....

2--I am not feeding it much of anything inside--as it is in a semi-dormant state in my LR. Earlier in the Fall/Winter, I was following the advice from somewhere on the Orchid cactus (or might have been in PF) that this plant should not be watered between Nov. and Beg. of February.
Once in a while, I water it with a few drops of liquid MG in the water....
What should this Epi be fed?

3--I answered that in #2--I believe

4--It is not getting much light at all. It is near the window--but there is a patio roof outside with some sky-lights.
All my plants have to "make do" as I do not have very good light anywhere.....
When I take it outside--I will put it in a sunnier location. Up till now, I have kept it under my patio roof in filtered
shade.

Please remember our different climates......It is very hard when I have to bring everything in to find somewhere to put it so it still gets a bit of decent light.

Gita