Since I read that Epi's like to be root-bound, I have a question. I had a bunch of cuttings rooting in a 12" pot since last fall. Recently I removed the named ones to individual smaller pots, leaving perhaps 6 or so in the large pot. Would you recommend I transplant the remaining un-named epi's to one smaller pot so they become root-bound sooner? Or will the roots grow together making it impossible to separate them by color when they become large enough to bloom?
Thanks.
On Becoming Root-Bound
As long as the remaining ones are different kinds, I would separate them and pot them into smaller pots, it will just make it easier later on. On the other hand, a mixed pot might be pretty too, although a purist might frown upon this.
To fill out the pots quicker, I take cuttings as soon as possible and stick them next to the mother-plant into the same pot.
Let's see what others do....?
Thanks, Ursula. I probably need to do that (take cuttings and add to mother plant) to my big Epi Oxy since I sent a huge rooted chunk (like half!) away last year. It would topple in a smaller pot so adding cuttings is probably the best idea and there are many leaves suitable for cuttings.
I'll wait on the others for more opinions. One thing I do not know is whether the un-named ones are all different, or a mix of some the same and some different.
Darius, I'm in the same boat. I have several pots with all different colors. I do keep my Epi oxy and species in separate containers, but all my colored hybrids are together, and many of them are unnamed. I have some in large containers too, but when I went to stick more leaves in, the soil was filled with roots, and since I didn't want to break roots, I didn't force more in.
Here is a picture of them taken at the end of this past February:
Here they are mid-May:
I think Ursula is right that smaller is probably better. It will be a long time before the ones in my big containers become rootbound if ever. What was I thinking? Oh, I remember. I wanted the urn look.
Here are some different named varieties stuck all in one smaller pot:
Clare,
talk about addiction!!! Yours are growing beautifully! Healthy looking stuff you got there.
LOL, it's true:-) My name is Clare, and I'm a plantaholic. ((Hi, Clare)) Thanks, Ursula. Thanks to you, I have some wonderful new plants:-) Here is my basket collection:
I'm faced with repotting my three big tubs of Epis this year. I sat down and figured out that it had to be Spring of 2000 when I last redid them. It is a frightening thing to think that I might mess up next years blooms, but it has to be done.
I'm finally tagging them, so I can get a couple of interlopers out of the "white" tub and seperate out the various pinks that are appearing in the other two tubs.
I'm still struggling with whether to pop for some "nice" pots or just go with three additional big plastic tubs like I have been using. They are big enough that with some wrought iron stands under them I can keep the leaves from dragging on the ground.....where they are fair game for the dog. :-)
Clare - I belong to that club too! All 12 steps involve buying more plants, so I don't think there is a cure.
LOL, Candy! About your repotting, do you have to repot because they are very rootbound and dry out fast? I bet you won't mess up next year's blooms at all. If you can get some nice pots for inexpensive at that place you visit, I would go for some nice pots. If I had the money to spend, I would buy some nice urns for my epi's.