I brought my epis inside before the first frost and now I'm limiting watering for the winter. How often should they get watered? I don't want to give them root rot. When do I increase watering and start fertilizing to encourage blooms? I've read the thread on using a bloom booster fertilizer, is it being used full strength? I also have Spray N Grow, which is best? I would find any input useful, I'm a newbie growing epis and I can't wait for my 1st blooms. Thanks ahead . Annette
Winter care for orchid cactus
I water my plants once a month, and they are in the garage where its 50F and they get 8 hours of 4 fluorescent tubes. Nothing fancy. All are doing well with this treatment now for 3 months as I am wanting to give them a good rest and a chance to bloom in the summer.
Thanks for the info, my epis are in the basement next to my orchidarium which gives off good light, and by the windows receiving some sunlight. They seem pretty happy. When will you start watering again and start fertilizing?
Mine are also in the garage (basement level) at 50 degrees under gro-lights (which I often forget to turn off at night). Next to them are my Rhipsalis. All seem to be doing just fine. I water maybe once a month. I plan to start fertilizing again before I move them outside in late April or early May. It will be a very diluted fertilizer in a spray to begin with. It depends on what the weather does, though, as this winter has been extremely cold here. But I am in TN which is a different climate from Analog's in WA. ^_^
Thanks for the info about the fertilizing Cville_Gardner. Our weather here in zone 7 has also been unusually cold for zone 7. We had an early winter surprise with freezing rain last week. I suspect I'll be putting my epies out at the same time you've suggested.
Yes, this is really supposed to be Zone 7 too, but I have listed 6/6b because I am following those temperatures now. Now they are saying a White Christmas for us, most likely. Believe me, I can pass on the sentimentaliy. ;-) This will be one of only 6, I think, and most of those were just a light dusting or flurries. We're a good 20 degrees below the usual norm for temps. :(
Over-watering and over-fertilizing will kill epis and rhips quicker than anything except cold. Better to err on the side of caution. I sometimes wait until mine just start to shrivel before I water them. And they bounce right back. That way, I know they need it. But that's not a recommendation. ^_^
We had a 20-30F surprise, I wrapped everything, put a heater on low and held 60F for a few days.
Yikes. We had a 9 degree surprise last week. These surprises are getting old fast. A tiny bit of this in Feb maybe, but not this early or this long. I hope everyone is able to maintain all their plants safely!
My epis are in a balmy 55-65 degree basement. Glad I brought them in weeks ago. Can't believe this weather either, thought we had global warming:-) Expecting
1-3 in of snow on Saturday as well. I'll continue to restrict watering as you've suggested.
White Christmas for you too, huh. Oh joy! I'm really not a Scrooge but I'm beginning to wonder. I guess it's Global Warming ... except when it's Global Cooling. LOL.
Ok, so the soil is dry, the midrib on the epies are visible, some plants are looking wilted and I'm be tortured by some scale on the plants!!!! HEELLLPPPP!!!! I'm concerned about these plants. Do I increase watering the wilted plants? Will they bounce back come Spring? Any advice helpful. Thanks
I always water when they start to look wilted. A diluted spray of half water/half alcohol on the scale or dipping a cotton swab in alcohol and wiping off the scale is what I do. Others may have other ideas.
Thanks Cville_Gardner. I removed some scale by hand today, I'll definitely water tomorrow. I have 68 plant so I'll have to do the water/alcohol spray. Do you leave it on the plants after spraying once the scale is gone or do you rinse the plants after treating?
I leave it on but some rinse it off with water. Either way, I think.
Thanks. Going on eliminate the scale rampage today.
I just discovered some mealybug on a big potted Yucca recurvifolia outside. So guess I'm going to do the same thing as you. It's been down to 12 here this winter ... they never give up! :(
I know what you mean, scale on the epies, mealybugs on my spicy jathropa tree and now I found aphids of all things on the hibiscus last night. Just got rid of spider mites on the plumerias. Next fall these plants will be getting a good cleansing and sprayed down before bringing them in for the winter!!!!
Is it normal for epis to turn red in the winter? This one, E hookerii, started turning red in the fall before I brought it in for the winter. I don't think it is as red as when I brought it in, but hasn't changed much. It is in my basement (50 to 55 deg.) on a counter beside a window.
Gary
Forgot the picture.
Did it get a lot of sun exposure? I understand that they can turn red if this occurs. The color may or may not go back to green once the sun exposure is decreased. Let's hear from the experts. Annette
Not a lot of sun. It was under a porch and got 3 to 4 hrs of morning sun.
I had E. hookeri in CA and do not remember that coloration. Hookeri has white flowers, correct? Any chance it was mislabeled?
Yes it is white and a nite bloomer.
That's E. hookeri ... nice! The only reason for that red coloration that I have read is that the plant did/does not like a high amount of light and/or heat. I know this summer was so hot for so long here. How was it there in IN?
Very hot and drought conditions most of the summer.
That just might explain it then. I would be interested to see what it does from here on ... if it returns to the original coloration or remains that way. Doesn't look bad, IMHO. ^_^