steered here for ID assistance

The generous people at the plant ID forum said I might want to come here to ask about my plant. I am trying to identify it after being given it by my sister-in-law a few years ago. It was hanging in an office and was almost dead. I have enjoyed it but had no clue about what it is. No clue. Not being knowledgeable about this type of plant, my description in the ID forum was, "has skinny tail, flappy beaver tails, and square fuzzy stems." (I forgot to mention the part about the cool scalloped edges.)

Anyway, I came to this forum, looked at a picture, and thought YES!!!, these look familiar, and my plant might just find its roots (ha ha).
If anybody happens to have an ID on what this is, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!

It definitely looks like an epiphyllum to me. It looks as though the people at the plant Id forum sent you to the right place. Welcome.

momlady: This is definitely a epiphyllum and in good shape. Has it ever bloomed? The shape would indicate that it is a hybrid and large enough to be blooming with adequate light. I suggest you put it outside in a shaded location until late Fall. Feed it 10/10/10 regularly and it may bloom next Spring. We will need a bloom to identify the name of your Epie. bob

This is so exciting! Thanks for your help! Alas, no blooms... yet. I will read up on care of Orphan Epi and work towards a bloom. Thanks for letting me know they want good light, but not sun, and regular fertilizer.

Should I repot in a lighter soil than standard potting soil?

And how about the water? I've gone easy on it, watering weekly, with moderate water in summer and lower water in winter. That must be in the ball park, since it's alive.

The big issue will be light. We have a modified Mediterranean climate here, with long cloudy/rainy/snowy winters. The cloudy/rainy/snowy weather is November through May at a minimum, very low sun level during this time. Sheesh, how can I stand it here, when I put it like that? Anyway, the July through September is dry and sunny, with a guarantee of very little rain, and the sun is not as powerful as in more southern climates. The summer humidity is very low. Would Orphan Epi like a grow light through the winter? Also, I am wondering if the sunlight up here is mild enough to put my plant in some sun, or if it must be shaded at all times. It has been in a southern window since I have had it, and I haven't taken it outside. Should I move it back from the window during the sunniest months?

By the way, I have been looking through various threads and y'all have amazing collections of plants and the flowers on them are GORGEOUS. It's a whole new world I never knew existed. I am in awe of what you folks can do.

momlady, I don't know where Maple Falls is, but from your description, I'm assuming eastern Wa? Last place I lived up there was Clarkston, where the weather wasn't too different from here. As to potting soil, I use a commercial cactus mix, but any fast draining mix should be ok. They are mostly dormant in the winter, so less water and no feeding during the winter months. Bloom booster when you see buds forming, regular feeding during growth (after bloom). When you say south window, does it get maximum light, or does the roof overhang interfere? Mine can take full winter sun, but they have adapted to it. When one gets suddenly moved, and we get a few hot sunny days they get fried. Some seem more adaptable than others, but I would think that full morning sun would be fine, once they have adapted to it. I have seen, and have some that have yellow leaves from too much sun, and still thrive, but I'm not recommending it. LOL!
Our wind is taking a break, so I'll see if I can get a photo.

Ok! Not great , but you can see the leaf color on the NOID orange Epi, and the Epi. Oxypetalum. These are in a southern exposure. but hanging from the Lemon tree, which gives them mid-day shade. Since we rarely have frost here, they live there year round.

OCCAROL, Bob, and ibartoo, Well, I ran out today and bought a hanging pot for my plant, gave it a bath, and gave it some water and fertilizer. Now that I have seen the beautiful flowers, I am jazzed! You all are laughing at me, I know. How many do you each have? And me making a big fuss about one.
I see what you mean about the yellow leaves from too much sun. It is interesting that it is still happy enough to bloom. It must take a bit of scorch in stride. I will change the sun exposure very slowly to see if I can avoid that, though. What a different lifestyle, "hanging from the Lemon tree... they live there year round." And I even see a lemon on the tree! Sometimes I get envious. But, my climate makes it easy to grow delphiniums and rhododendrons, which struggle many other places.
I live 5 miles from the Canadian border, a 45 minute drive from Puget Sound, and a 45 minute drive from Mount Baker. Being in the foothills of the mountain, the clouds bump up against the mountain and stop over our house, rising up, getting colder, and dropping their rain. So we have a wetter climate that you did in Clarkston. I have a pot on the deck with some succulents in it, and cleaned it up a bit the other day. There was moss growing in the pot with the hens and chicks. Only here! I should have taken a picture for submission to a "what is wrong in this picture" contest. I am attaching a pic of our house from several winters ago. It was unusually deep snow and it's been much less in the last few years.
How did you all get interested in these plants? And how many do you have? Have they taken over? I could see getting kind of addicted because of the flowers. Alice

Momlady, I am not laughing at you, I am thinking, Hey, another friend who will soon be as crazy over these as the rest of us. LOL. When I got my first plant I was told it was a night blooming cereus and I couldn't find any information about it. This was before the internet. LOL. I thought it was ugly and then it bloomed. I shared it with someone and she set it outside to die ( she didn't know what else to do with it) and then it bloomed.( We were both addicted from that point on.) I don't have any idea how many I have, but I have plenty and will be happy to share some plants or cuttings with you. Some have names, some are orphans but all are gorgeous.
I would love to be able to grow delphinium. It just gets too hot and humid here.

Welcome to the madness.

Thanks, ibartoo! There's nothing like getting that first bloom! Especially when your hopes are so low. I had a stapelia that bloomed for me that was really exciting. (Then I killed it, I think overwatering.) But I remember how amazing it was to have it flower.
I also remember (cough) pre-internet days. :-) Things are so much easier now, as long as you know how to search and how to weed out the ads/bulls***/etc. Thanks also for the offer on the cuttings...I will take you up on it as soon as I can get a bud on Little Orphan Epi. Then I will know I can provide conditions that these guys are happy with. Wondering what I can send down to SC in return...hmmm, I have various hardy succulents like pork 'n' beans, but gee, that's not very exciting, ummm, what else would like the heat? My plants are pretty much the opposite of yours. For example, ginger just languishes...no growth, no flowers. Hibiscus, ditto, phygelius, ditto again. The list of unhappy heat lovers goes on and on. But, let me think on that a while and I'll come up with something nice I have that works for a warm climate.

Nobody is laughing at you. We all started that way and there are lots of folks in the north growing them wherever they can find a spot.

Carol

Thanks, Carol, for the encouraging words! I can't wait to see if I can get a bloom!

I got a catalog from Logee's today. I have never bought from them or even really looked at the catalog, but went through it in detail this time. Plant lust!
I am really getting the bug. I said I wouldn't get more until I know for sure that I can get blooms on the one I have, but I am already going to eat my words.

Logee's offers Epiphyllums 'Just Beautiful' and 'Unforgettable' at 10.95 for a 2 1/2" pot. In particular, 'Just Beautiful' seems appealing because of the 7" flowers and the orange color (I am always on the lookout for orange; not the easiest color to come by). They also have Epiphyllum oxypetalum and a variety called 'Mark Twain.'

To get to the questions: Would a neophyte epiphyllum grower be wise to go ahead and buy any of those plants? Are any of them more likely to be easier to get to bloom than the others? Is Logee's a good source? Is there one you'd recommend? And last, how do I make cuttings so that I can offer reciprocity for trades? I could make one of the unknown one I have now and also of a named variety and then I'll have something to offer!!

Alice

Does that price include shipping? Most of the on line companies charge higher rates for anywhere west of the Rockies, for some reason. I could send you a whole box of cuttings for that, but they wouldn't be rooted, and most not named. The orange one I posted earlier is an ex lg flower...and I have a second one that was supposed to be purple...NOT. That's the problem when you get cuttings from neighbors. LOL! That being said, I have paid $5 to $8 for cuttings(bagged, 5") from vendors at shows, and not had real good luck with them. Given a choice, I take stem cuttings as they are faster to get established, and bloom, however you can take cuttings of any size from mature leaves, let them dry a bit, dip them in rooting hormone, and stick them in a pot. Do Not Water until roots have formed!. That is the problem with the stem cuttings...they are too big for small pots, and have to be staked in larger ones...no easy task.
Have you checked to see if there is a Epiphyllum Society anywhere near you? I imagine they're a bit scarce in your neck of the woods, but it would be worth looking. That would be a source of info and sharing plants/cuttings.
Do a little research, and if you want I can send you a box of cuttings for postage when mine are done blooming. I've shown them all on here, but would have to search for the post. That was last year and I can't remember last night!

Alice: I have sent you a D Mail. bob

Carol, thank you for off offer of cuttings, I will probably take you up on it. I will see if I can make some cuttings myself. I have no idea what the bloom would be like...guess it's potluck. Thanks very much for the info on what to do. I noodled around and found a post with a lot of your pics on it, so maybe that's it. You're like me; already today I can't remember the name of the thread...hang on a sec...got it, "Is Sopi the only one with a bloom in April?"
Great idea, I hunted for some kind of Epiphyllum Society nearby, but I'm not finding any. Looks like I'm too far north for major activity. But I'll keep checking. There is a major garden club in a nearby town, I never joined, very expert and I think cliquey (maybe more correctly that should be "comfortable around each other because they've known each other so long") but I might attend a meeting and ask around. If anybody knows or knows how to find out, they would. Alice

Yep! That's the one.

Hi everybody, I went to repot my plant in a hanging basket with some good soil and look what I found! It's very small; does that indicate a small bloom is on its way or does it have the possibility of continuing to grow? Should I water more or fertilize more or just hold the course?

Definitely a bud! I would just hold the course until the plant settles in it's new home. That bud will probably grow a bit if the plant is strong enough to support it. If not, or it's in shock from the repotting, the bud may abort, but at least you know the plant is mature enough to bloom.

Good luck!!! It's really exciting when waiting for a plants first bloom. bob

Thanks for all your good wishes, everybody. It's SOOO exciting! I am looking at the other threads and the BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL pictures, picking up tips. My bud is a little bigger but still small, hmphhh! I want a monster truck flower, not a Ferrari flower... :-)
I noticed some aphids on the bud. Now where they came from I have no idea. I do have a systemic pesticide on the back shelf that I keep for emergencies. Is that a good thing to use or should I just squish 'em like I did today?
I don't know what's going on at my house. In addition to my epi, my corn plant is blooming after 8 years, and I also have this one lone NOID orchid I have had for almost as long that has never done anything except get corrugated leaves from lack of water. Now it has a bud, too. (But the one I am excited about is the epi; don't know why, just am.)

I think that a systemic wouldn't work fast enough to protect the bloom at this point. I don't like to use it on mine at this time of year because the Bees love them, but I do use it after the blooms are gone to control scale insects.

Ok, thanks Carol, I guess I'd better just pick/wash the aphids off. I agree with you about the bees - and actually, this plant is on the kitchen windowsill, so it's me I'd be exposing. For things outside, I am super careful. We have a neighbor with bees, and sometimes we call her up and tell her that one of her bees is lost and in our yard and would she come get it. I think it's funny but I'm not so sure she does. :-)

That is funny. We have lots of bees, My son and I love them, but hubby hates them. They are actually wood borer bees, but they act like little hummingbirds with no fear of humans and when they buzz around you it is almost like they have something to tell you. LOL.

I am going out to look for buds now. You all have me inspired.

So, ibartoo, any buds? Crossing my fingers...
And my little bloom is opening. Here is a pic so far. I will send another when it is fully open.

Not yet Momlady, but your little bloom is pretty! Lots of my plants are putting out new growth though. They are beginning to look better now. They have had a rough spring.

Here the final state of my bloom before it started wilting. I thought it would open fully, but it didn't.
It is bigger and prettier than I deserved, considering I didn't even know what kind of plant I had 6 weeks ago. Thanks for all your tips!

love the shading on that! Maybe it will have bigger flowers next year.

It is beautiful!

Looks who's popping out a couple more blooms! It's really fun. By the way, what are the bumps along the edge of the leaves? On a couple of the leaves, they are quite large.

Some of those will develop into next year's blooms.

No WAY!!! Thanks, occarol!