Night blooming ???????

Forgive my butting in -- but:

A friend delivered to me a pair of leaves with a great story. He convinced me to start them.

They were stuck in an Arizona Tea bottle. My DDW placed them in a couple of pots. (They won't stay there!)

I do not hold out too much hope that I will ever live to see them blossom.. (FYI Figure my age -- my nom de Dave comes from my being in B-17G.s in the 8th Air Force in WWII) But, here goes.

It doesn't fit coleys or epi leaves. What are they?

Do I root them in sand or in water? Their coming in a bottle now confuses me. Any help would be appreciated.

Help -- please

Be well

(o_O)

This message was edited Sep 6, 2013 11:55 AM

They are E.oxypetalum… http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2443/
I have heard that they will root in water, though I have not tried. I received cuttings that had already been started. I have been told that they do like/need to be a bit root bound for blooming. I've had mine a bit more than a year and haven't seen a bloom yet. Hope the link helps. :-)

You might also want to scan through this thread… http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1240827/

This message was edited Jun 21, 2013 1:28 PM

Tim:

Thank you -- thank you. Epiphyllum Oxypetalum WOW

Now I have my work cut out for me.

I already have one four inch long (flimsy) root.

Sounds like a most interesting plant.

Thanks, again.

Be well

(o_O)

This plant will take in-direct sunlight well, I pot them in regular well-drainage potting soil. They thrive being outdoor, under canopy shade, and protected from temp. below 32F. degrees. Indoor over the winter, they hardly need water, just enough light (florescent light will do) then return to the outdoor the following spring for optimal performance. Enjoy.

It is now over a month since I embarked on this mission.

The two cuttings (leaves) look green and healthy -- but unchanged. They are still sitting in perlite and potting soli mix on my garage bench. When will I see some progress -- and what should I expect to see.

Would any expert hazard a guess -- or is my cause hopeless?

Be well

(o_O)

Hi flyboy,

I am not a expert...just a beginner. I would say to be patient. Keep them in bright indirect sunlight...watered moderately...a little bit, not much, 10-10-10 fertilizer. Others know better than I, but here's what mine is doing after a couple of months. The 3 arrows show the new growth. Mine was already rooted, so yours would take longer.

No flyboy…Not hopeless!
momlady gave you some great info. To that I'd say ditto…
On your garage bench? Is it getting good light? Have you given it a gentle tug to feel if it has any root growth?

I hesitate to put them outside. Summer sun here in Florida is very unforgiving. I might consider putting them out under the trees if it is advisable. ?????

I have them packed snuggly in the mix so they do not even wobble. But they are both a very healthy shade of green -- and quite firm.

I guess that patience is a virtue that I have failed to acquire. A search for instant gratification is now more in line with the stage of maturity I have.

Be well

(o_O)

I agree flyboy. The Summer sun can be brutal, but as Lily says…Canopy shade is great. I have 2 on my ENE. facing deck. They do get some morning sun, and they seem to be happy.

They are now outside in the shade.

I'm hoping, I'm hoping.

Be well

(o_O)

Keep us posted!

Will do.

It might take a long time before anything happens.

It's like watching water coming to boil.

Be well

(o_O)

Those look like a beautiful beginning! Best of lucks and enjoy.

That is an awful lot of stuff to remember -- but I'll try.

Thank you

Be well

(o_O)

Night blooming it's! Last evening I knew this one, of the two flowers will open up. Around 8pm ...
1. This one is about to open
2. The other flower which maybe open tonite.

At 4:20 am !!!

Lily_love, that is gorgeous!

Faith springs eternal.

Now, what is it?

Be well

(o_O)

ibartoo, thanks for the compliment. flyboyFL, your plant is healthy and growing. Those are new branches.

Yay, flyboy!!!! Looking good! New growth! Choose a good pot, potting soil, and you are good to go! Make sure that it's got good drainage, and hopefully it won't be too long before seeing blooms. Of course, having said that…I've yet to see any blooms on mine. :-(

Woo-hoo! Congratulations!!!

I have some cuttings started and I'm waiting for action...I think I'm a month behind you...tick...tick...it's hard to wait...but you know that...

O.K.

Now -- how big a pot -- and how much sun can it take?

But -- what is it? My new leaves do not seem to have any notches, like the mother.

Be well

(o_O)

flyboy, congrats on getting your epi to grow. The new leaves will be slender initially, as they mature, they become flat with the notches.

Do you have to repot the plant now? If it is just showing new leaves, it probably isn't root bound yet. The next size pot shouldn't be too large. I usually go up by 1-2 in in diameter, depending on the size of the plant.

My plants are in partial sun. Full sun could burn the leaves, and too much sun will cause the foliage to turn red.

They will in time…patience my friend…It still is the Epiphyllum oxypetalum…..

How big a pot?…My suggestion would be a small one…maybe 4-6" no more than 8-10"??? Just guessing here…I've been told that this plant somewhat appreciates being a bit root bound…

How much sun?…Mine only get the early am sun…no more than an hour or 2…before 10 am.
They seem to be thriving…So I'm thinking I'm doing something ok.

O.K. guys. I hear and I obey.

Now -- when and what should I start to feed it? What about a shot of Epsom salts? Should I plant it a little deeper in its new home?

This is a little like -- at my advanced age -- adopting a strange kid.

How about a contest -- when will it flower -- and will I live to see it? I will think about a prize.

And, yes. its twin has also sprouted a couple of leaves.

Be well

(o_O)

I myself, I don't often fertilizer these plants. Once in a blue moon, I give them a mild dose of balanced fertilizer. Currently my Oxi. Epi. is once again sending out buds, last week I had 3 that bloomed all at once. And I also have a 'dayblooming' one that perhaps will bloom early tomorrow morning. I'll send pic. then to share.

You've lot of interesting questions, I really don't know when yours will flower. Giving the right condition, long growing season as in your climate, and filtered sunlight, hopefully it will reward you with blooms soon. :-))

Please note, the 'nightblooming' Epi flower will be pendant, and will curl up like a dutchman's pipe when it ready to unfurl. Whereas the 'dayblooming' Epi. will point upward as shown on the 3rd picture when it ready to open.

Flyboy, here is the info I copied from the Epieforum years ago:

June to Sept: 10/10/10
Oct :0/10/10
Nov-Jan: Nothing
Feb-Apr 0-10-10

In this forum, I've also seen fish fertilizer recommended, at a rate of 1-2 tbs per gallon of water, by other gardeners who have been getting their plants to bloom beautifully. Some people don't fertilize at all. The Matt's landscape website also gives some info on fertilizing epies.

It took some of my epies 3-4 years to bloom from cuttings, but I also have a shorter growing season than you do. I haven't seen my oxy bloom yet, even though it has really grown in size.

Lily~

That evidences my confusion. What are coming out on mine are "leaves," not "buds."

Whence cometh the buds? Do they spring forth from the new leaves -- or from the original?

Help.

Be well

(o_O)

Cem~

Ooops. You posted while I was composing and submitting.

Does anyone plant these directly into the good earth?

How large do they grow if unfettered -- and would they fail to bloom, if so?

Be well

(o_O)

Like Annette from Duluth, Ga. My epi. took several years to bloom from cuttings. The flowers form on old leaves apparently. flyboyFL, if you enlarge the 2nd picture above. You'll see the off pink 'buds' on the leave. Those are 'flower buds'. The leave buds appear lighter green than the old/mature leaves, and these leave buds are shiny 'flat', green buds.

Lily~

Oh. Thanks. I guess that I have a long time to wait for "pink buds."

Be well

(o_O)

flyboyFL., I don't know what zone you are in, but if you don't have freezes, and have sandy (or at least fast draining) soil, you can plant it in the ground, and give it a tree or trellis to climb on. They will climb! That being said, it needs to be much bigger before transplanting, and they do like to be a bit rootbound to bloom.

flyboyFL wrote

Yesterday I thought this 'dayblooming' epi. bud would open this morning, I was wrong. It hasn't yet! Here it's this AM.

Occarol~ and Lily~

Thanks.

That does it.

One into the good earth -- and the other into a pot.

Be well

(o_O)

flyboyFL, how is the one planted on the good earth responding? It's such good idea to keep the other one in pot... just in case.

Here is the mentioned 'dayblooming orchid cactus'. I don't usually stay up late, the only time I saw this type of flowers in my garden is early in the morning, thus, 'dayblooming'. Although, others have claimed that they bloom at night too. So more research is encouraged about this plant's culture. The flower is currently showing its glory.

pf has it; http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2100/

The last picture is that of Adenum's flower. Another type of easy-care tropical/tender perennial that we can enjoy in the garden.

Nearly 11 am the flower appears to begin to fade as the morning filtered sun rays hit.

gee Lily~

It is (was) beautiful.

What does the remainder of that plant look like?

Is it potted -- or in the good earth?

How long have you had it -- and did you start with a plant or a cutting?

Be well

(o_O)

Thanks. It's in pot culture. I've had the plant in several years. I'm not sure the exact number of years, though.

It was a stroke of luck, I thought the plant are attractive for foliage only. Then one summer, I noticed a couple of red fruits, that year I missed out on the blooms, but the flowers were pollinated and formed fruits. I did a little research and found out what the name of the plant was. There after, I keep the plants in area where they can easily be found-- and enjoyed. In my region, we've relatively mild winter, however, we do get frost every so often, so in winter, these plants are safely tucked indoor, and brought back out door the following spring.

Be well ^_^

p.s. I believe I got the plant as a hanging basket from Home Depot, or Lowes, or even Walmart....it's more than 4 years old, but less than 10 years old.