Hi everyone, I haven't been here in quite a while. I have some epi's that have grown into tremendous plants. Is it possible to cut them back to smaller plants without stunting them? They have put out very long round stems with the flat leaves on those. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Lind
Is it possible?
They can be cut back and the cuttings will make a pretty new plant also.
This info came from The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents... by Terry Hewitt
Quoting:
Hope that helps...
Pruning
To look attractive and grow well, most succulents and some cacti, particularly epiphytes benefit from some shaping and restriction of their growth, to make them bushier and more compact. The other purpose of pruning is to remove any unproductive growth that may impair the vigor of the plant.
Prune ... Epiphytic cacti after blooming.
Always avoid ragged cuts. Cut back the longest stems to encourage new bushier growth near the base.
Eventually plants that have been regularly pruned will become woody. Use some of the prunings to root as cuttings to replace the old plant.
Pruning an Epiphytic cactus:
1) Cut back top heavy stems that have branched from the tip. Use an anvil pruners to make a clean straight cut across the parent stem just below the leaf joint.
2) Stunted stems are unlikely to flower. Remove these and any old or diseased stems at the base of the plant, again cutting straight across the stem.
3) To stop dieback occurring, prune out stubs or dead stem ends; cut straight across the healthy part of each stem.
4) Prune back old stems that have flowered to new young shoots, making an angled cut that runs above and parallel to the leaf vein that feeds the young shoot.
5) After pruning, the plant may look a little shorn but it will quickly produce strong new flowering shoots and a much more elegant shape.
Thank you so much Podster. I have several that really need to be sheared.
Yes, I always do the pruning in order to make room to move them in for winter.
Hard to imagine winter after this past summer. Whew!
Excellent info, podster! I see I have some serious prunning to do.
Thanks ~ I felt it was worth saving and definitely worth sharing!
Thanks again Podster, You have saved me much room in the gh for the winter and probably increased my collection immensely. I must get busy now.
Have a great day.
Lind
Bad for us to be thinking about winter when it is still this warm, isn't it? lol
But if I don't plan ahead...
It will be a while before winter comes here, but that is actually a plus. I still have time for the cuttings to root before they are subject to the long period of neglect they will have to endure between january and march.
Hi: I have a ? about epi, mine have grown very long 18 to 20 inches each. Will they ever bloom ? Should I be considering pruning them or will that harm the chances of giving off flowers. My plants are over 2 1/2 years old I received the cutings through a trade. What should Jake do ?
I don't think I would prune them yet. And yes, in my experience the blooms will form on the new growth so if you do take cuttings, you want to root the cuttings rather than discard.
For these guys to bloom...
From my limited experience... root bound, lots of sun, drier conditions.
Does anyone have any opinions?
They also bloom on old growth, so I wouldn't prune yet. Some seem to be slower than others to bloom. I also read (probably on this forum) that cuttings that were not "mature" take a long time to bloom. I know the Stem cuttings have always bloomed the second year for me, while the smaller leaf cuttings take longer.
I think you are right OC. I don't trim until October since some bloom is always a little late on my Oxy's and Strictums. I was bringing some in yesterday and found blooms coming on several plants yet. By October we will be safe to trim which will also allow more light into my greenhouse. It's getting way to crowded but that's the way it's going to be. I take my tips from the branches cut off and start new planters. With Oxy's I don't even wait for them to callous over yet they always take hold.
