I am new at growing epis and was giving a plant by TimmiJo. I only had cactus mix around to replant it in and so that is what I used. It is not looking very good and I am thinking it needs something a little better draining. PLease share your tips for growing these.
What soil mixture do you use?
Hi Marie,
I have my epis in Miracle Grow potting soil, which has worked out for me, however, mine are inside my sunroom as they are too big to cart outside any more. I did get some epi cuttings two years ago, and they also stay in the sunroom. Believe it or not, I chop up my banana peels and throw them on the epis periodically. Here is a picture of my epis blooming last summer. These are epi oxys and the fragrance in the sunroom was unbelievable.
Closeup. I will say they need to be in the shade -- even in the sunroom, mine get sunburned, and the leaves turn pink. As hot as it gets in Arizona, I don't know where you have yours, but they do need to be protected.
Even closer. Good luck. You will love them!
I'm using cactus mix, in filtered sun,outdoors year round here.
I just moved mine inside. I have it potted in cactus soil since i figured they needed good drainage. I guess I will just have to keep trying eventually I have to get it right!
Is this the nightblooming type? Very beautiful!
I put mine in potting soil with a heavy mixture of wood chips, sand, composted oak leaves, and Perlite. I have a 22'X12 '
greenhouse that is well shaded by pecan and very large pine trees. I am very happy with my growth in my plants from cuttings to producing plants. bob
Beautiful bloom!! I long to have a greenhouse!! I had one for a short period of time until we had a bad storm and it blew to pieces!
Just about ready to plant some Christmas Cactus (?) cuttings which I purchased from Teaz Violets. Five different colors which is really cool.
I mixed my own soil which suprisingly enough after I went rooting around I found some pearlite 33%, some old potting soil which is mostly sand 33%, and some of the one ton of peat moss 33%. I plan to dip 1/2 of the first leaf in clonex and place one of each of the five colors in some pots that were down in the garage.
I have made sure that the mix is thoroughly wet. Are there any other recommendations you could make, besides misting them occasionally? They will get bright indirect light all day.
Sonny
This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 3:35 PM
I would throw out the vermiculite! It holds water. Perlite would be a better choice.
I found a recipe online for a epi mix that called for potting soil, orchid bark, perlite and sand. I adjusted the quantities to suit my needs. I can't remember where the original recipe came from but my version is:
4 parts potting soil
2 parts perlite
2 parts orchid bark
1 part sand
I'm not sure what all I changed but I know I doubled the potting soil because I use an organic one that contains: fir bark fines, forest humus, peat moss, perlite, composted chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano, and kelp meal
So far they seem to be happy.
Edit to add: I think the original came from Jungle Cactus - 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 perlite, 1/3 small bark
This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 2:01 PM
Oops!
My bad, I am using pearlite and not vermiculite. Duh!
Nice catch OCCarol!
I grew up near the Santa Ana River & Lincoln in Anaheim.
Sonny
This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 3:38 PM
Sonny, Bet you don't miss it! HAHa!
OCCAROL,
I really miss the way east Anaheim was, Lincoln was a two lane county road with eucalyptis and orange trees from the Santa Ana River to State College. Horses could be seen hitched up out front of the bar/garage at Orange/Olive Rd. & Lincoln on a Friday night...The smell of walking into the orange packing house in Villa Park during Spring harvest was something I can still vividly remember.
The last time I was out in the Anahiem area in 2000(?), I remember asking myself, "What in the hell am I doing here?"
Picture is of an area I work at on a weekly basis, and yes, the Lord does answer prayers!
Sonny
Oh MY! You're going waaay back! Things haven't improved any since 2000. The only thing that is even remotely the same is PCH, and that amazes me these days. I've been here for 55 years...grew up in Corona del Mar.
That's a beautiful vista!
Pewjumper--
'I have made sure that the mix is thoroughly wet. Are there any other recommendations you could make, besides misting them occasionally? They will get bright indirect light all day'.
Hold back a minute! Don't use wet potting mixture with your cuttings! They're very likely to rot. Let your mixture be dry and start misting your cuttings after about a week or so. If your cuttings have calloused over, they hold plenty long before needing any water. bob
orchidman1 When you say to mist cuttings do you mean the cuttings themselves or the soil? Do you keep doing so until they've fully rooted or can you water sparingly? Do you do so weekly?
Hmmmm....
I mixed the potting soil (sand), pearlite and peat moss in a wheel barrow and it was pretty dry. I then put it in the pots and ran a lot of water through the mix to make sure the peat moss was wet. I dipped the bottom half of the leafs in clonex and planted the bottom half in the mix using a fork to open a hole.
The mix feels moist, but not wet.
I guess we will see how the Schlumbergera truncata do. I looked like they had healed over on the breaks/cuts.
Sonny
tikipod:
I just mist both cuttings and soil well, but not dripping, for the first couple of months. If rootings have begun to take hold, I begin watering lightly on a weekly basis but keep on misting every couple days. Cuttings hold enough moisture to get through the rooting period fine.
Remember, they are of the cactus family I put in a misting watering system that takes care of this for me daily in my greenhouse. The whole system cost around $50. with postage on line.
I do most of my rooting during the warm months and only chance "breaks during winter.
Thank you. I've been using a small watering can filled only 3/4th way (filled only once, split amongst them all) for cuttings to prevent over watering. I'll stick with misting for my Epiphyllum cuttings.
Desertdenial 5,
I am sorry for hijacking your thread. I figured Epi's and Easter cactus were pretty close in their soil requirements.
So far so good, I am seeing signs of growth on most of my Easter cactus. I have not watered in a month, but I have misted the folliage & soil on a hit & miss basis with distilled water. I live in western Colorado so things can be on the dry side, I figure I misted about once a week. The plants are on a table in front of a south facing window where the blind slats are about half closed giving the Schlumbergera bright indirect light.
The amazing thing is that I open the blinds & windows after the sun goes down and I guess that was enough to get one of the large segments to form a bud, go figure!?
My other Schlumbergera threw out a bunch of blooms about three weeks ago and is now growing madly. I guess its time to start feeding the old esablished plant that bloomed. What do you folks recommend?
Sonny