I have a couple of 'common' epi(Chrismas, Thanksgiving etc.) and I love them. I have them in pots, now. Recently, I was gifted with some special hybrids and special crosses...
Question: We grow orchids in trees, in the crotches or supported by 1/4 coconut husk. They love it! Can I do the same with the Epis? I just love them, but know zip/zero/nada/zilch about growing them other than in pots.
Any help would be VEEEEERY welcom!!!!
Carol
GREAT big question from Hawaii
Hey Carol,
Better watch out for another addiction starting!! LOL
I think they would love growing in trees, similar to your hoyas. Mine get aerial roots all the time so you might find they like to travel a bit too. Good luck with them.
Karen
Though I've never tried it, they generally root so easily from cuttings, there's no harm in experimenting.
I did find that they are indiginous to oak forests in areas like Mexico where they grow, naturally, in the crooks of trees much like you're thinking.
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Epiphyllum_hookeri.html
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/grow/encyclopedia/care_epiphyllum.php
http://www.ecology.org/ecophoto/articles/Epiphyllum.htm
What a cool idea! Please keep us updated, I would love to see how they do!
Thanks, Karen and MaryEv.... (that link to ecology.org is awesome).
Yep...I COULD get hooked...but no time!!! I have a bunch of them I am going to sling in trees around the house. Will send photos when they bloom!!!
Aloha,
Carol
Yep...another addict in the making...lol Good luck with them, Carol !!
Eric
This message was edited Aug 16, 2005 12:08 AM
Karen...
Could you just imagine living there with all our Epis, holiday cacti and other plants?? (sigh) lol
Actually...I COULD get addicted, easily!!! Except I am never UP when they bloom. Now, the holiday cacti I adore...
I think I will dedicate 1 or two trees to host them all....what a site!!!
Thanks all,
Carol
Ahhhh, but many are day bloomers! :) You'll get hooked, yet!
Carol,
You will be hooked in no time. I am still looking for some fragrant ones. I have heard they are incredible ! I have found epi's are easy to grow, tolerant to extreme conditions, and bug free! That is a good combination.
Karen
Couldn't agree more, Karen....
OK...off I go on an Epi kick.
Don't worry, I'll be back!! ;>)
Carol
Ha....fancy meeting you here Carol. I recently got into these epis myself. I already have a BUNCH of them rooting. Ha.
Yes, there are lots of day blooming ones and fragrant big beautiful ones too with bazillions of color combos to delight us. The only bad thing I can find about them at all is that the flowers don't last very long. Seems only a few days at max. :-(
Oh well, I have learned to keep my camera on the ready. Ha
Marcy
Yay Marcy...May epi is the natural progression from hoya?
no no....I am not moving "from" hoyas....just "adding to". Ha.
I can keep all the epis outside in the winter so space won't be a problem .....yet....ha ha. (I may have to plant a few more fast growing trees to hold all my plants.) Ha
Marcy
Carol,
more on the subject of Epis in trees -
I have observed Epiphyllum phyllanthus growing in a tree and on roof tops in Guyana. Also, years ago we saw Epiphyllums growing in Iguazu/Brazil, near the waterfall. I don't see why shouldn't be able to duplicate this in Hawaii. Gosh, you get to have lots of fun!!
Carol,
....and the rest of us in cold-winter climates will envy you for your growing conditions!
Raymond.
That is for sure !! HI should be an ideal place to grow epi's outside. You might have to put in more trees, Carol ! LOL
Between the hoyas, brugs, and epi's you are going to be in a colorful paradise that is heavenly scented!!
Karen
My goal, Karen!!!
I am cutting coconut husks (the pithy part) into 1/4th...then nailing the "pielike wedge" to the tree....it forms a 'cup' behind it and into that I will stuff the epi. That is how we plant the orchids on the trees...photos to come! I promise. I love experiments!!! Altho this was probably done by the Hawaiians before they had nails...it is an experiment for ME).
Thanks everyone!
Hey...have you seen the fake...not really...trees built in Botanical Gardens with chicken wire and spagnum moss and tree fern bark. Smashing! Heck...you could do that in every room!
Carol,
Don't give me ideas!! You know me and plants. LOL I have thought it would be nice to have an indoor "wall waterfall" going into a little pond done in flat stone. I could put some trees around it...not that I need any "fake ones" . My 5 ft. orange and grapefruit trees could work. HMMMMMM I might need some "fake ones" to plant things on though. Not sure how the orange trees would hold an epi! LOL
You would have loved the house a friend of mine built (Wow it was over thirty years ago).
The entrance was about 2 1/2 stories high to a glass roof. The wall across from the front door was floor to ceiling stone with a waterfall going into a pool on the main floor. There were flowers and other I can't remember whats in and around the pool. She had fish and even "FROGS". There were stairs that circled up by the waterfall and over to the Master bedroom on the top floor. She moved over twenty years ago, I would love to go peep in the door and see if it is the same.
I have often pictured my epies, hoyas and orchids growing on her stone wall. LOL
Betty
This message was edited Aug 17, 2005 8:29 AM
This message was edited Aug 17, 2005 8:32 AM
Now that would be my dream house!! I would also want a hot tub in an all glass room where I could have more plants, though. Maybe I am going to have to take a trip over to Nashville and we can request a showing. I would love to see it! Now my mind is spinning away!! LOL
Karen
It would be fun to do a walk through and see if my mind remembers it the way it is now. LOL LOL LOL
This was built before Hot Tubs were so "Hot" They did have a pool room... Complete with cues. Not water though .....LOL. I know I have pictures of it, If not I am sure my old friend will. She designed the house from ground up.
Got to go Grandsons coming any minute.
Betty
This message was edited Aug 17, 2005 10:12 AM
A decorator friend of mine broke up the feeling of a long rectangular living room with some tall Poplar trunks, just the trunks in different widths wedged in from the floor to the ceiling...which was low. There must've been 5 or 6 trunks. Very impressive.
Now...one could do the same theme with just one!
Interesting idea. Around here the poplars run to 2+ feet in diameter, maybe a bit much for a bunch in a clump!
Well....maybe there were Birch? I know the trunks were mottled white/grey. Very attractive!
Well, birch is usually smaller but poplar is straighter. Young poplars are quite straight and slender, unlike the mature poplars that grow over 100 feet tall.
See, all this talk of planting cactus in trees and waterfalls in the house set me up perfect!! When I went into a nursery on my lunch break and they had thier tropical trees on sale, of course, I had to get some. I picked up 3 aralia trees that are about 4 ft. tall. They are still a little small to put cactus in or hoyas -- but I couldn't pass them up!! LOL HMMMM,
maybe a wall divider of aralia trees. I still need my waterfall. I might have to settle for a fountain or two for the time being..... LOL
Karen
Karen, your DG name says Horsewoman... what kind of horses?
The kind that keep me broke !! LOL I have a thoroughbred leopard app, and arab. Right now they are expensive lawn ornaments because I am not riding them much. They are just big pets and babies. The thoro is off the track, ran the East Coast circuit. The leopard app is nothing but flashy, big, and bold. The Arab looks like a carousal horse. Do you have any?
I used to raise halter-quality Egyptian Arabians, when I lived in Boone.
Your horses sound great.!!!!!! DH would love to have an off the track thoroughbred, He loves the races. He don't ride but loves to feed mine peppermints. I have a Paso Fino mare. I had an Egyptian Arab for years. He fell on ice and broke his neck.
Also showed Halter and reining Quarterhorses. In early years I showed Open Jumping and Hunters. I seldom ride anymore. My Arab kicked me in the hand and broke my thumb. I sorta lost my self confidence. Don't want to get hurt at my age... LOL LOL