This is my first winter bloom from a orchid cactus. At about 1 inch wide, there's not a lot to show I don.t know the name. I do think, however, we need a new message line for off season bloom such as this. Is this bloom familiar to anyone? I will send another picture when it fully opens.
This message was edited Dec 19, 2011 9:39 AM
This Noid is blooming on the very end of a triangular stem atop a very clean, well shaped plant. It has been five days since the first picture (above) and now four petals have opened. Very little progress and I'm still waiting to see what this bloom will look like. bob.
Jan 3, 2012 and finally my Noid is opening into a beautiful blossom. It may still not be fully open. We'll see. bob
I have been wondering if it ever opened.Love the color!
Dee
Really love the color also. I,m wonderin type and name, of course. bob
Finally , 20 days later, we get that full epie look. This bloom is a No ID that is about 3 inches in width and has a beautiful hot pink stripe coloration which just jumps out at you on a background that is cream colored. It was sent to me as a Noid three seasons ago when I started collecting epies (300 hybrids ago!) I am very pleased with it, much like when my first Mor Mor bloom opened. Susan Kennedy of Minn. gifted this plant to me . bob
Beautiful!
Yes, it is beautiful! Bob,you must have a lot of room.I have just started with cuttings, so they are small and not taking up much space. I am at the stage where I want every one that I see. My husband keeps asking me where I am going to keep them when they get bigger, if I get more. I'm thinking the closed in front porch, the sun room, and I can always hang lights in the basement and spare bedroom...lol..love looking at everyones pics, and can't wait to see blooms on mine. I have gardened for several years, but I do believe that these have the prettiest blooms, of any plant that I have seen.
Dee
Dee, They are real estate hogs, with a short bloom season, but they are sooo worth the wait!
I have really come to love the plants themselves. Such unique shapes and growth habit. I enjoy rotating them inside and using them as houseplants. Then there's the bloom... bob
They definately need lots of room, but I know they will be sooo worth it.I was tickled to death just to have my 2 holiday cactus bloom in November.Gotta love any plant that gives such beauty, that time of year here in Indiana. I went after Christmas and got every one that they had left for .85 cents each...22 of them lol. Nice big plants! I have no ideas which ones are which color, but when they were blooming, I saw every color but yellow. I'm hoping that I can bring them into bloom this Spring, and maybe trade some nice plants for some epi cuttings. If not I will just have beautiful blooms all over the house, come november..lol For now, I just get excited every time an Epi cutiing puts out new growth!
Bob, your plants are amazing. So healthy looking! I'm so glad that you are posting pics. I need to see green in the winter. Blooms are even better! I will be starting perennials under lights soon, but for now I am enjoying going back thru the posts and reading and enjoying pics.
Dee
I have been looking at different sites that sell Epi cuttings.I have got to order a yellow one, come Spring.Do you a favorite yellow/gold? If so, which one?
Dee
Dee:: Hit me up in the spring and I'll get you some yellows. bob
OOoooh, that is so pretty! Thanks, Bob, I sure will!
Dee
orchidman, your blooms are gorgeous. What do you feed your plants? They are so healthy. This is my second year growing epies from cuttings. I hope to have a few blooms this year. Annette
I use 10-10-10 alternately with Miracle Gro fed through my watering system.about once per month. I use an in line injector which makes life much simpler. I don't water or fertilize at all during the winter months, I also have a misting system I use for 5 minutes 3X per week in the summer and once a week in fall and early spring. bb
Bob, what about cuttings that are putting out new growth? Should I not be watering or misting them?
Love the color of that one.Reminds me of watermelon.
Dee
Thanks for the information about fertilizing. Annette
I do give my plants water about once per month, but not heavily. They seem to be doing ok for now, and no scale unlike last year. I have around 56 plants now all started from cutting in 2010.
Cem, thanks for responding. That's a beautiful plant collection!
Dee
Dee: I Don't water, mist, or feed from Dec. 15th through the end of Feb. This treatment also applies to my cuttings. I never water cuttings until they begin rooting. Rot is your most problematic happening with epies. Many growers feel that watering a new cutting "shocks" them. Don't know about that but do know that I don't lose cuttings this way. bob
Mor Mor
That Mor Mor sure is pretty. Love the color. Thanks for all your help, Bob. Do you treat holiday cactus the same as the epis, as far as winter care goes?
Dee
eeS: I am treating my holiday cactus like my epies this year but this is the first time I have done so. I am trying to prevent any more rot which became a problem this past summer. I really think the "rest" will do them well. bob
Thanks, Bob. I love that pic. Every time I see it, it reminds me that I want to put together a big basket of them to hang above the dining room table, next fall.
Dee
Steve in Austrailia has solved my mystery for me. My bloom is Deutsche Kaiserin! The cream predominant color threw me off. Usually pink, Deutsche Kaiserin can be white with some pink trim. Thanks Steve!
Love this Thread, Bob.
Thanks kell.
