I just got a nice size starter plant that is strange. This plant has flat leaves, three sided leaves, and thin round pencil leaves that are similar to a rat's tail or rhapsalis which are covered with needles.. When I saw the plant I thought it was at least two very different varieties growing in the same pot. I am told the flowers are salmon colored. Is this a common epi? I am used to seeing tri sided leaves and flat leaves on the same plant, but a rat's tail too? I will try and post a picture...
Any idea what it might be?
Karen
Multiple type leaf epi
Karen,
Does it look like this one?
Eric
Hi Eric,
Yes it does look really close to that. What is it? Does yours bloom? What color are the blooms? Mine came from a plant that is over 17 yr. old. The lady just knew it was some kind of a cactus.
Thanks!
Karen,
I bought this Epi about 4-5 yrs ago. I think it is supposed to be E. Ackermanii. All I really know is that it's supposed to have bright red blooms. I've never gotten it to bloom, but then again...I didn't know how to grow them, fertilize..etc. until here recently. Clare (DG member) seems to think its the Ackermanii. Hopefully (now that I know what to do...lol) I'll get it to bloom this coming season (fingers crossed). If I can help in any way, please let me know.
Eric
Hi Eric,
It is great to know there is another epi addict in NC !! What I thought I have as an Ackermani isn't anything like this.. That one blooms bright red and the hummingbirds love it. The leaves don't have that pencil type rhapsilis stuff going on. I am such a newbie on epi's, that trying to figure out if what I have is an epi or rhapsalis, or something other is a challenge!! The lady that gave me the start said she had it bloom twice for her, but with salmon colored blooms. She didn't know a lot about the plant other then she inherited it from a dead relative. You know what it is like in NC!!! As soon as I can find all of the attachments to download a pic, I will. Thanks so much,
Karen
Karen...
You have the epi addict part right...lol I just got in about 14-15 different types of epi's in about 1 1/2 weeks ago and just got them potted on this past week and still have about 5-6 more to pot on. Plus, I've got about 8 christmas/thanksgiving cactus'. I had to go to my local nursery and get some more 4 in pots this morning. Yes'm...I've got it bad!!! I'm going to build a plant stand tomorrow, to put them all on. They're sitting all across my front porch handrail now. Since you're a newbie to epi's, let me suggest a book about them..."Epiphyllum Basics II" by Sean Minogue. Its a small book (thickness wise), but a lot of info and some gorgeous pictures. Rainbow Gardens Bookshop(www.rainbowgardensbookshop.com) is where I got it. There's several more books that I'm planning to get, but have to have the funds from them. If there's anything i can help with, just let me know :)
Eric
Eric,
Have you found any epi's locally or do you have to get them on line? I picked up my first epi from Big Bloomers in Tramway, close to Sanford. I had it bloom for me a couple of times. Like a fool, I gave it to a friend thinking that I could get another one from Big Bloomers. Well, they sold their last one before I had a chance to replace it. Luckily, I had a small cutting saved and it is growing lfine. They could not provide me with much information about the variety it was, but I liked the leaves. When I found out it bloomed, that was a bonus. I have acquired several others from people in this area that don't know anything about epi's and don't know what they have. I have 6 but have no idea what they are. Do you have any luck getting angular or rick rack to bloom? I heard that is a tough one to bloom. I have a nice large one but no signs of blooms.
Karen
Good Morning Karen :)
All of the epi's that I have, I've gotten on-line. No one around here that I know of carries any. There's not many that even carry christmas cactus (except during the holidays). The majority of epi cuttings, I got from Epi's by Pat (she's in DG). I've gotten several off of ebay also. After talking to Pat ( she's super-nice, btw) one day, I found out that we had been bidding against each other in ebay...lol All but the epi with the 3 types of leaves are cuttings that I just got potted on last week. I haven't tried the ric-rac yet, but I've been looking...lol Do you have any of the night blooming epi's. I thought about getting 1 or 2 but, with my luck, I'd be at work when they decided to bloom...lol When I get the plant stand made, I'll send a picture or 2. Lowe's has 1 made of metal that they want 50.00 for the center section and 29.00 each for the end sections. So, I figured I could make one a lot cheaper, more money left to buy epi's ;)
I've just posted a picture of my first E. Ackermanii bud -- it will open in the morning, I'm sure. I got it from Epis by Pat just a couple of months ago, so it doesn't have much growth attached.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/534989/
Kaperc,
Beautiful!!
I love the color !! That one is going to attract the hummingbirds. WoW, having one bud after a couple of months is a treat.
Well, there's one more epi fan in NC... ME! I have about 25 epies and cc cuttings potted up, plus an Epi Oxy and an E. Ackermanii that I've had for several years.
I was in Boone for the last 3 days, had lunch one day with a new DG member who has a big epi in a pot but the leaves are not like either of mine. Broader than E. Oxy... I hope to get a cutting next time I go up.
Hi Darius,
Does your E. Ackermanii look like this ?
Oh, Yes. I meant to say that from your photo way up in the top of this thread.
This is a winter (inside) photo from about 3 years ago. It is much larger now, and in a coir-lined 12" wrought-iron hanging basket.
Then its a E. Ackermanii, i quess. I've had it for 4-5 yrs now and still no blooms. Thanks Darius :)
Feed it!
Yes Dear!! lol