I am going to overwinter my Epis in the garage this winter the only unheated place in the house. 2 frames about 3x4' holding 2 4' fluorescent fixtures (2 tubes each) with a bar down the middle. Hang the epis on the middle bar set a timer to 8 hours a day and water sparingly once or twice a month.
Rhipsalis are going to stay in the heated area of the house as last winter. Apparently the cooler temps of the garage and the shortened day will allow more epis to get the rest to flower the next year.
Thoughts?
Wintering Epis (for those in northern climes and no GH)
can not help as I am in the south and have a shade/green house
Sandy
The epis I have go into an unlit basement and get no care whatsoever. There is very minimal light and they sit on the cool floor. Obviously, I lose some leaves, but the plants seem to tolerate this without losing too much ground. I think your extra light would be helpful but I would not water unless absolutely necessary.
My rhipsalis get put in the windows or under fluorescent light. They must be watered regularly but do not need to be kept constantly wet. Misting of the rhips will greatly help against loss of leaves/stems. By the time February arrives, it is a battle to keep them misted enough or watered frequently enough to prevent plants from dropping stems or even shattering. (Because the house is very dry)
My climate is much colder than yours, so you should see fewer problems overwintering. Be sure to treat with an acceptable insecticide when bringing them in, followed up after about 2 weeks inside. Aphids & mealy bugs in particular can be a problem with some of these plants and even a single aphid/bug can result in a population explosion in late winter, if not prevented.
Sounds like it should work. I've seen others that grow them as house plants, in a cool room, during the winter. Mine live outside year round, but I read alot!
Carol
That seems a lot simpler than the plant I have, and the plants survive pretty well? Wow. I like the idea as I am swamped with work around the house, and have a free wire shelf that they can be on. I was planning on keeping the Rhips inside the basement, where it is warmer and near a decent window.
I think a lot has to do with how much water they get and the temperature. Keep the water low and the temp low and they can take a lot but I can't rule out that I've been just lucky so far. Rhips are more delicate and will let you know they are not happy by drying up stems or dropping stems, so you will need to check them regularly and adjust conditions if you start to see die-back.
Which is why I will watch them closely, and the Epis less so. I have not taken temps out in the garage, so maybe I will when they go out there. Its typically 35-40F here for most winter nights, and I would guess 50-55F in the garage. And I am thinking.
I think my basement floor stays in the 50 range, so that would be consistent with what happens here. I sometimes put my small rhips in a sealed plastic bag, which maintains better humidity. This works really well for small cuttings, as long as the bag doesn't leak too much moisture and they get enough light.
Boy, do my rhips like the summers here. Long hot, humid days, with periodic baths from rain and the hose. They grow rapidly then.
Lovin all the information on wintering epis. Thanks for sharing..
Grace
Forgot to mention that if you bag the rhips, don't keep them too wet if kept cool - they can rot.
Rhips will be houseplants taking a rest no bags, no special treatment except more water if they want it.
Analog---
I have two large Epis.....One of them almost totally died last Winter....got all dessicated...
I have kept them in my LR hanging from the ceiling in fairly dim light. That is when they all grow those ugly, dry roots from their stems....UGH!
This Spring I transplanted them both in 10" HB's. They have been hanging outside in filtered light...
The dessicated one had only a small section that still looked viable. But is now OK.
Luckily--I had a pot of 3 rooted "leaves" and I combined them, with anything else that looked like it MIGHT make it....
The whole pot is thriving!!!! Hope next Summer it will bloom again.
I have a dark, cool, NO light basement--and in it I have to overwinter 4 large Brugs, about 10 pots of Clivias, and my 6 pots of Amaryllis. Mamma Mia!!!!! Somehow--they all make it.....
The Epis will still go upstairs in my LR--but I will keep them fairly dry.
One of these years I am going to just say---"WHY am I subjecting myself to all this?????"......
Gita