Did I forget to tell you that there is ODORLESS fish emulsion available? LOL
Look for a brand that says "Odorless" or "Deodorized"
That fishy aroma usually goes away in a day or so......try to get it in the pots, not in the surrounding area!
Cats and fish emulsion are not a good combinatio, even the deodorized kind. I don't have very many house plants, but I do have plants in my sunroom. When I fertilize them, I have to keep it closed up for a day or two because the cats just go wild!
The Epis Are Coming, The Epis Are Coming!! 2005
Oh dear. I guess if they're going to get some special fertilizing this year I shall take them to my office and do it there, then bring them back at the end of the week. I should probably get the deodorized kind for the office....LOL
ROTFL Karen! Maybe I'll try that next time I want to have the house to myself LOL. Too funny! Of course, I'd actually have to buy some house plants first ;-)
Candy, I was happy to find ANY fish emulsion....even the pelleted kind :-)
-Julie
Just a tiny update on the cuttings I got last Feb from Epis By Pat.........there are some indications that there might be a few buds in the making.
Either that or new leaves, just too small to tell. But, 'Hot Lava' does have a bud that's big enough to see! Here's the link to 'Hot Lava' in Pat's catalog: http://www.epies.net/
Can't seem to get a direct link to the page to open, so you'll have to go to the main page, hit the Epiphyllum 2005 link in the upper left hand corner and then go to Page 2 of the Epi listings. 'Hot Lava' ...... yum!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOo now that's PRETTY! I can't wait to see a Happenstance Photo of that one Candy! :-)
-Julie
Neat, Candy! I should have a flower from my newly rooted cutting any day now. I will post when it blooms.
Salvia_lover......houseplants? Who needs houseplants? All you have to do is open the bottle to have the whole house to yourself! I have also found that mentioning loudly that I'm going to start the housework will need help drives them outside immediately!!!! :~D
Re: Driving your family away
All I have to do is turn on the Self-Cleaning cycle on the ovens. :-)
Doesn't bother me to have some "alone" time. LOL
I sure would like some alone time right now. I just fixed the master staple machine. Now I'm being yelled at for not doing something else. I just can't do two jobs at once any more. Happenstance I have an extra rick rack plant for you, if you promis to propagate the plant and give the starts away. I also have an old Rainbow Garden book I will send along with it. On the front cover it has 'Slightly Sassy'
which has maroon inner petals, and lighter outer petals that are longer and lighter then the middle ones.
I looked in my book it says that the 'Rick Rack' cacti are Cryptocereus anthonyanus this one has flowers that have a spicy smell at night.
I think the one in the picture above is called a Epiphyllum angullger (Clair's picture post, dated March 20) one of the rick rack cactus Epiphyllum chrysocardium "Fern Cactus" has pure white flowers. There are several species of rick-rack cacti that came from Mexico. Myron Kimnach and Bill Baker was one of the plant explorers that went on an expedition to find these plant for us. They are at the Huntington Gardens at this time, hanging on a north wall of a greenhouse, with shade cloth over them so they won't burn. These are all species F/C we have very few hybrids of Epi, Bill still has his original plants. Norma
Thank you for the offer, but I have one on order for May delivery from an online vendor. Perhaps someone else would like to try it.
Norma, I would take very good care of that plant if you are determined to send it out into the world! If H doesn't mind, of course! I promise to share, too! I'm going to TRY to come down your way next month, perhaps I could buy it from you then?
Karen :~D
The Epis have moved out of their protected corner by the sun room and are hanging out on the back patio. I also reset the automatic sprinklers yesterday and spayed the back hill with Roundup. So I guess it's my fault it has started RAINING again!!!!
Wow, Candy, we are of like mind. I too sprayed the back area with Roundup the other day. There is so much crab grass back there! The instructions say that rain won't wash it off so it should be okay. Your epi's will probably love that rain water! I'll have two blooms to show you on my epi's any day now. Stay warm and dry:-)
If I have any blooms this year it will be a miracle. Storms and wind and wet for the last few days are really beating them up! Hold on tight little buds!
Fingers crossed!!!!!!
mine are as well!!!!!!!!!!!
These have to be the slowest opening buds in the history of buds! How much longer, Candy? I had one about half the size, but it fell off. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this one will bloom.
LOL @ Clare.......when you quit watching it!
Clare, that one loooks about a week or slightly more. DO NOT disturb it!
LOL, Lilypon! Okay, thanks, Darius!
It's close that's for sure. At this stage a lot depends on the temperature. 75F would be optimum because the flowers can last longer when it's cooler.
I am looking at perhaps losing the entire season, due to 2 mornings this past week at about 42F at night. This wouldn't be a problem in the dead of winter, but with the buds developing it may have zapped them all. Only time will tell. I do know that at this point last year (given several weeks at 90F) they were at about the same stage yours are right now. And I had loads of blooms by the end of the first week in May for the garden tour.....that's not going to happen this year for sure. Last year was unusual as mid-June is usually when the flushes of blooms start here.
Candy, I'm so sorry about your buds, and my fingers are crossed that you will get more buds in order to have a mid-June bloom. This is my one and only large one. I have one very small bud, and I can see new buds appearing every day. My guess is that I will have the most blooms in May or June also.
This will be my first epi bud ever! I just hung the basket so that I can see it from my kitchen window, and Darius's advice was ringing in my ears. Does moving the basket constitute disturbing it? I hope not! Of course, I'll post a picture when it blooms.
Temps have been in the 70's lately, and it is 75 right now. Nighttime temps have been cold and have fallen into the low 40's also. It was 44 the night before last, and I have tropicals outside that do not like those temps at all. My portable greenhouse has been taken down so I just hope this cold spell doesn't continue much longer.
I'm in the same boat here too. It was 40 last night with daytime temps reaching 68 to 70. My Epi buds are anywhere from 1" to 2". My fingers AND toes are crossed! (you should see me walk.....)
K
Thinking good thoughts for Epi buds across the gardens of the world.......
That thing about retaining the same orientation and not moving Epis (or Christmas Cactus for that matter) is an old wives tale in my experience. I've always moved the pots around and flipped them to keep an equal amount of sun on all sides during the blooming period. It's never been a problem for me. Mine don't seem to mind being moved, sometimes just a few feet and other times from front to back yard. Now that the pots are so big, I don't move them around as much, but "disturbing" them isn't something I worry about.
Bring in the soft music and see the Epis from last May 6th, the day before my garden tour. :-)
Beautiful, Candy. I agree with you about moving them, but being the clumsy girl that I am, I was keenly aware that I better not touch the bud or any where near it lest I accidentally break it off! I've been known to do stupid things like that. I won't touch the basket again until it blooms. It is supposed to be 46 tonight. I really wish temps would stay in the 50's.
Wishing you lots of buds, Kachinagirl and all!
I've got mine in the porch.....following your directions to a T this year Candy! Might have to drag them in tho (with windchill we will be well below freezing tonight). :b
Ladies, I have found so far three -four forms of that rick -rack thingy, mine however are field collected species from over about 30 years ago, (Myron Kimnach collection) they are small cuttings so far. So I don't know if yours are hybrids or not. That could make a difference.
One of my large species does have a flower bud on at this time, If I can remember I will take a picture and someone on this forum should be able to identify the plant, I just gave my last books to Jesse K when she visited. So she has my reference books at this time. It is so nice to hear you all so excited about them. I can get the old 'King Midas' hybrid from across the street. She shares. Norma
Norma, the only Ric Rac Cactus that I am familiar with is Epiphyllum anguliger and Selenicereus anthonyanus. Here's a link to help you identify yours: http://www.ecology.org/orchids/index5.html#Epis
Yes, the one of mine that is about to flower is a colored day-blooming epiphyllum hybrid.
Beautiful, epi's!! I would luv to get a piece of a rickrack if any one has a baby. So far I have a huge red epi and a couple of piece of ones that I don't know the color. Hopefully they will bloom this year. I also am getting some cuttings from a trade I did this year. I'll have to remind the person that it's okay to send them.
:) Donna
What if we started an Epi Round Robin?
K
Here's a picture from earlier today. "Open, open, open..."
Good going Clare! Gotta be soon.......
I'm trying not to hover over my big pots with their damaged (?) buds....my small young plant was still in the greenhouse during the chill, and it is looking good. Not quite as far along as your bud, but at least I know it will bloom!
Julie......check in with your bud(s)!!!
Hi Clare, and Happenstance.
My epiphyllum Showboat is in bud also. I can't wait for it to bloom. I will get pictures of it when it does.
Patti
Waiting with almost baited breath now. :)
Candy, yours look great! My fingers are crossed for you for your other buds.
Patti, I can't wait to see it! Showboat is stunning!
Lilypon, you post yours too if you can!
Where's Julie? Julie has the night-blooming white fragrant one that I am dying to see.
Clare unfortunately mine doesn't have buds yet. :( It's chilling in the porch so hopefully I'll have some later on. I did however find the night-blooming one at Canadian Tire today! Ü
I'll just print everybodies pictures off and lecture mine on what they should be doing. ;)
LOL, Lilypon. Congrats on finding the night-blooming one! Those are super special! Well, you'll be showing us blooms when ours are all done, and that will be just fine:-)
OMG Clare! I'm in shock! Isn't it a bit early for that thing to be so far along? WOW WOW WOW! Not that I'd complain if I were you :-)
Candy, yours sure are straight horizontal soldiers aren't they :-). They look great :-)
Here's a pic of my biggest baby, growing vertically in contrast to Candy's horizontal guys LOL:
-Julie
and another pic of 3 of the littler babies I'm cooing over daily :-)...
Thanks Clare :) ....... Imma hoping and praying that mine will be here eventually!
Julie they look great!! Ü