I am still alive

I y'all be absent. First shoulder, now ankle is in a cast. Other than watering my poor plants I have not been able to do much. I lost some do to the extrema heat last summer an a few get nipped by the cold. Mostly the Christmas Cactus where the hardest hit by both. But some survived.

Let's hear how everyone is doing

Sandy

I have good news. My epi Guard of Honor has a bud. Do not know if it is large enough to hold the bud but will keep my fingers crossed. Also my Easter Cactus has buds on it.

Sandy

This message was edited May 27, 2010 10:04 AM

I treated my plants better than any year I have had them, and acquired more! My cuttings are progressing to basket sized and I am looking forward to my first flowers this year!

I'm still working on gotten the shade/green house working right. I was able to keep it warmer this winter. But the big problem is the summer heat. I think some get cooked last year. Will be ordering some misting fans soon that should keep the temps down and the humidity up. Will also be spray painting the clear strips of plastic on the roof to cut down on the light. Our oak tree died and they are now getting to much afternoon sun.

Now if the darn ankle does not need surgery I can get them all repotted and figure out what I have left and what I lost.

Sandy

One of my noid cuttings has its first bud! I like to have names for all my plants, but there is something to be said for the anticipation of a noid flower... I can't wait to add bloom color and size to its label :-)

I had all mine labeled but those pesty squirrels keep knocking the pots over and mixing up the plants. Also the Florida sun fades the written on the labels. At least I have a list of what I have so if they every bloom I can id most of them.

Sandy

I've got a tremendous amount of growth but can not determine any bloom as yet. I keep watching and hoping. II moved four of my larger baskets into the house in front of windows. I worry now because I read that the change in lighting will make them not bloom. Who Knows? Maybe a few of my several hundred will bloom this, their second, year.

sandy, so sorry to hear about your misfortunes. sending thoughts and prayers your way

Thanks At least it is not as bad as others have it, just a pain in the you know what.. My sister is taking chemo treatments.

Thanks I already have the shade cloth, just need it put back up. Most of the roof is solid with just strips of clear.

It get to 91 in there yesterday, sprayed some water in and the temps dropped 9 degrees. I think when I get the misters going that will control the temps better.

Sandy

I am sinking hooks under my deck for hoyas and epis and schlumbergerias.. Either that or its in the trees. And I don't have that many.trees. Humm. No room to build anything. Maybe its time to move where I can have a shed, lathe house and green house. Humm.

I am ready to move to where I can have a larger green house--only problem no money. LOL

Misters are working great, but not totally happy with the set up yet. I think a mister line along the top ridge and a couple of more fans would work better. Right now the most of the plants are getting a lot more water but they seem to like it. I have a lot of new growth and much happier looking plants. But some are not in line of the fan and mist and are not getting any. Temps out there are at doing great It is 78 degrees in the shade house and it is 90 outside of it.

Oh some one shot me!!! I just bought some more cuttings!! Just what I need!!!!

Got epis is haveing his annual sale.

Sandy

Well.. I know what you mean!! Once the addiction hits........... that's it!!! We can't help ourselves. I don't know where I will put all mine. I live in KY. I can't afford a greenhouse. Hopefully, they'll survive through the winter in the basement. All of mine made it last year. Not if I keep buying!!! LOL

I already have too many-around 200. I need a second shade house!!!!!

Sandy

Wow!!! I would love to have al that. A shade house would not make it here. It gets cold here!!! I'm retiring in Sarasota. I can't wait. :) Julie

Then you will have to deal with to much heat, that is my main problem with the shade house. I lost some last year for the high temps. Most of the others are recovering.

I know. I put my epis out under a tree here and they do great!! I have night blooming Cereus plant from my great gma that is 30 years old!! I got a lil ragged last year. Too much rain and the soil became soggy. I had to bring it back in and it's bouncing back nicely. I have several epis, but I don't know all the names either. One I just cut from a school I work at. It was HUGE!! They said I should take it home. Seriously thinking about it. LOL. My man would fall over, but he would have to get over it. ;) Julie

I have one of those also from my Grandmothers mine is even older, been divided many times. I had names for most of mine but between the squirrels playing among the pots and the sun the labels are either gone or faded out.

Sandy

Hi Everyone,
Sandy I am sorry to hear you have had so much trouble ( shoulder and ankle) but glad you are better. I have spent the last 8 months trying to heal after a terrible bout of flu that turned into pneumonia and then into asthma and allergies to things I have never dreamed of. On a happier note though, my epis are really beautiful. They are lovin' life under the trees.
hope everyone is well.
Linda

Hey wren glad you are getting better:)) We had quite a freeze this winter. A few of mine bit it too but most are doing okay and getting some nice growth on them. I need to start a better fertilizer routine for my epies and dragon fruit. All the dragon fruit have grown so much that I need to repot them all again.
I moved a almost 4 acre lot where I can have chickens and other animals so I gave my misters to the chickens for thier run lol, so now I have to get some more for the epies. I have them on the patio now and the sun/lighting has changed now that it is summer and I have noticed that they are acclimating to it. They get quite a bit more sun than they did before and are growing like weeds!

sounds good. to hot to work outside but the temps in the shade house are better and I think the plants like being wetter.

DARN IT!!!!!! One of my Epis bloomed and I missed it.

Oh well at least the conditions in the shade house has improved.