I have a very old cactus. I got it from my mother who got it from my deceased great aunt. My aunt has been dead for 20 years. It has been in water for as long as I can remember. It doesn't grow (no wonder). My mother told me it was a night blooming cereus ( God help my spelling). Clare, I went and got some potting mixture today that you told me about, but I'm scared to plant it because it has been in water for so long. After planting it in soil do I need to feed it. if so with what? This is the last piece. I really want to keep it going. Any Help?
Thanks,
Melanie
This message was edited Nov 12, 2005 3:19 PM
Family cactus
Hi Melanie, I'm sure it will be fine if you plant it in the cactus mix or any well-draining mix. You can plant it in one of those coco fiber baskets and hang it for extra good drainage until it gets a good root system going if you happen to have one on hand, and then you can repot it to a larger container later on after it has grown some nice roots. If you indeed have Epiphyllum oxypetalum, those plants get fairly large in time. I am very surprised that your plant has lived so long in water. After you pot it, keep it warm and above 50 degrees until spring. You can water lightly after you transplant it with Vitamin B-1, Start, or Superthrive, which all help to alleviate transplant shock. Post a picture if you can. Here is one of my Epiphyllum oxypetalum plants:
Here is a picture of my little guy. He's a surivor that is for sure. I am just glad that I have him. He is so small. That's a coffe cup he is in. He has been in that cup for years!!
I would plant him in soil today! It's hard to tell which genus and species that is right now, but we'll probably be able to figure it out once we see some growth. I am really, really surprised that it did not rot after all this time in water.
I think he made it his long because he didn't have good care. He has dried out for days on end. Tipped over and laid on the ground. That's the reason I am so scared to put him in soil, if he gets what he needs it will kill him! LOL OK so here goes...... I'll plant him this afternoon.
I think it will do great.
Mine was severely tortured. I got it from an elderly man about eight years ago then left if at my mothers in a pot. She left it outside all year round. I had no idea what it was. Finally, my mother said it was some type of cactus. I started doing research and I found Daves Garden, where I found the plant files with Epiphyllum oxypetalum. That was my plant. I had two roots with a tad of growth on them left. Snails had munched all over them and they were pitiful. I started taking good care of them and now my plant is just out of control. 4 years of great care and it's four feet tall and had several blooms this year and it's got another about to bloom anytime now.
I feel confident once you plant it and take care of it that it will thrive.
Good luck, it's worth every bit of effort.
Gina
I have found that these plants can take a lot of abuse and keep on living. I rooted some oxypetalum in water. When I got the large cuttings I didn't have time to plant them and stuck it in a bucket. When I finally got around to potting it, I found that it had grown some very large roots. I stuck it in a pot and that thing took off growing. It has tripled in size in about 4 months. Your plant has survived so long in water that when it hits the potting mix, it will really take off growing. Good luck with your plant.
Hi Aberdeen !!
I have lots of Family (Davises, Dowds, & Presleys) in West End, Southern Pines and Seven Lakes. Glad to see another familiar town :))
Ever visit Myrtle Beach ?
Happy Thanksgiving !! Margo