Buds on my Ric Rac Cactus! Can Spring be far away?

Here's some of this year's crop of cuttings. The cut up sections were really broad. See all the new growth?

Gitagal, you have d-mail

Wow! I love y'all's photo's of your Ric Rac Cactus. I have one in a hanging basket that I've had for about 10 years, at least .... and I've never seen blooms on it! What do you feed these things to get them to bloom? I have a couple of small cuttings I got in trade from another DG'er and they have rooted and seem to be doing pretty good. I would love to know what type of fertilizer/plant food to use on them! And other Epi's as well.

Plantlady,

Hang in there! Like I said, mine bloomed for the first time last year, and I have had it for 13 or more years. I have only re- potted it once. And then, there they were! Out of nowhere there were about 5 buds on some of the fronds . The bloom sure was pretty!

Here's the buds.

Here's the bloom.

Here's a better picture of the buds.

Oh My Goodness ... That is Beautiful! Ooooh .... Now I'm gonna be waiting and watching in hopes that mine blooms like that! What type of location do you keep your plant in? Does it get any sun at all? Mine has been in full shade, always ... does that make a difference? And what type of fertilizer do you use and when?

Sorry for all these questions .... I sure would like to have my plant thrive and bloom like that!

Beautiful!

lin (is that your shorter name?)

mine hangs outside in pretty much full sun--all summer. When I take it out in May, it goes right to that spot and stays there. I have a steel pole in the ground that used to hold my old Sears pull-out laundry lines. It now has a board across the top and I have hooks in each end of this board. That is where my Ric-Rac hangs. On the other end I hang my Hoya Carnosa, which is now also an ungodly tangle of vines. Ugly--I tell you, but about 2 years ago, it started blooming away like crazy. Not messing with this one either.

As for fertilizing, Whatever i am using for other things, I use on my Ric-Rac as well. I do water it regular as well. I do not do anything "special" with it. To tell you the truth, by now it is so sprawly and the fronds are so long and stiff that I do not really like it, but I am not going to mess with it--especially now that it has bloomed. AND--I have a second pot approaching the same size!

I think you could hang yours in at least half day sun. Is there any reason you have kept it in total shade?
Being a succulent, and a in the Orchid cactus family, I would imagine it would appreciate some sun.

I dug up some more pictures.....

Here's a picture from 8/2005 when I repoted my Ric-Rac.

Here's the pole my Ric-Rac and Hoya Carnosa share all summer long.

Here's my Hoya last summer. I tell you, once it started blooming, there was NO stopping it. Just NEVER, NEVER remove those little nobbies the bloom leaves behind!!! That is where the flower will come from again next time.

Here's the whole Hoya basket. It just takes my breath away!

Last one---I promise!
This is another shot of the Ric-Rac flower--just to stay true to this thread....:o)

Thanks Gitagal: Yes, Lin is a short for Linda .... some family and friends call me Lin, other's Linda .... some "Cookie Lady", but that's another story altogether! :)

I have always kept my Ric Rac and my Epi's in shade ... they get bright light, but no sun. Maybe that's why I don't enjoy many blooms! I always thought that Epi's were Jungle Plants that got bright indirect light, but no full sun?! Misunderstandings abound with me when it comes to some things though! I am afraid the intense sun down her in Florida would For Sure Fry some of the Epi's .... but I think I might try moving them to a "brighter" location, with maybe morning sun in an Easterly Location to see how that works!

Thanks for the great Info! You're plants are Gorgeous! I have a Hoya like yours that an elderly freind gave me back in the mid 70's ... someone on DG Id'd it as Hoya Krimson Queen, but it may be Krimson Princess. The blooms are Beautiful ... does your's have fragrance? I haven't noticed any on this particular hoya of mine, but will pay more close attention this year to see for sure. I have a Hoya Lacunosa that smells heavenly! One lady described it as a kinda soapy smell, but I don't think it smells like soap at all ... very fragrant!

Oh .... I want flowers like that on my Ric Rac ... I'm gonna try to change it's location and see what happens!

Thanks for your lovely photo's and advice!

Lin,

You are right about direct sun burning any "jungle succulents" as they are used to living under the canopy of the forest. I have found that out the hard way, putting my X-mas cactus in direct sun as well as mt Aloes. Both ended up with maroon around the edges from the "burn".

My post is next to a huge Maple tree. I believe in the very late afternoon some of the direct sun is filtered a bit by the tree. And you are correct in also saying that your Florida sun is probably more intense than here. Just do what you feel is right. If your plant doesn't like it, it will "tell" you.

Thanks for all your kind comments about my plants. You can really make things look good with a camera. , like close-ups and just the right angles.

Gita

Fantastic pics, Gita. It looks like you have a Selenicereus anthonyanus by the look of the flowers. Lovely!

Gita wonderful pictures. Not long until blooming time again.
I FINALLY found some buds on mine. It is hanging deep in my little gh and hard to get to it. It is not going to bloom like it has in the past. I think after it blooms this year I will pot it up a little and trim out all the sunburn. Mine hangs in a big pine tree and gets filtered early afternoon sun. I plan to move it this year to a place where it will get filtered sun until noon. Maybe that will prevent sunburn. Thanks for the pictures. I hope you have new ones to post soon.

Betty

I hope so too, Betty.

Just a reminder to all that would like to have this plant--I have a pile of rooted cutings ready to mail out. Just send me a D-mail and we will take it from there.

NOW---I have a question to ask you all about my Epis. I am not sure I posted this already or not, but I sure have not had any replies.

I have 2 Red Epis. Got them as a single leaf about 4 years ago. They have now grown to a good, sprawly size. In the winter, I have them on a shelf right up against my big LR window. They do not get direct sun, as I have a high patio roof outside this window, but it does have 4 sky lights in it.

This winter I have noticed a weird. spikey "leaf" formation from the tips of two of the leaves. Can someone tell me if this is of any concern? Is this just s normal growth that will flatten out and become a regular leaf? They really look weird! They have tet to bloom, by the way. Maybe this summer????

Here's a couple of pictures.......Gita

Here's another one. Thanks.

Gita: That just looks like new offshoots to me ... branching out with new branches. I wouldn't cut them off, or if you do, you could let them callous over a couple of days and then plant them up, they should root quite easily.


Lin

Mine has done that. It's not to worry about.

Don't know how well it shows with the jumble of stuff behind it but one of my epis sent out two sprouts like that--that turned wide at the end and now are producing leaves. I love the unruly growth of these things! These sprouts are over 48 " long.

Bill

Bill, mine are dark green and very solid. Yours look like they're kinda tender. I wish I understood them better so I could get them to bloom for me. Mine never have.

Bill,

In your picture, what is the tall plant with the broad leaves that you have tied to the stake? The leaves look almost like my night blooming Cereus. If it is that. do they grow this tall????

Gita

My colored epi hybrid leaves come in all shapes and colors and sizes. You can have three or more different leaf shapes on the same plant! It happens, and it is normal. Epiphyllum oxypetalum, like Bill's, puts out tall branches quite often. I have one that is easily over six feet tall. If you want to keep those branches from growing too tall, you can cut them, and they will side branch.

Gita, My NBC is over 12 foot tall. LOL One of them grows up into the trees over summer and I will cut it back and thread it back against the support for winter.

I couldn't find the picture I wanted to show you but here is one made last Fall.
Betty

Picabo/Betty .... That is one Gorgeous NBC .... do you keep it in full sun? I have one that was given to me by a dear elderly couple back in the mid 70's and it's in full shade ... I don't get too many blooms. I am thinking about moving mine to the front of my house facing east so it would get some morning sun, not much .... but very bright light. I would be afraid the intense sun down here would kill it if I put it in direct sun. The people who gave it to me passed away years ago and I cannot remember what location they had it at their house! I do remember that their very tiny back yard was like a jungle with many, many, plants ... but I can't remember if this one was in sun or shade!

Betty,

Now you are scaring me!!!!!

My NBC is in a 6" pot on my windowsill. I had NO idea it will grow that tall!!!! :o[ I got it from karen (Kachinagirl) about 4 years ago. What am I going to do with it????? :o{
I have to bring everything in for the winter. IF it ever gets that tall, do you cut it back, or will that destroy the possibility of bloom? Also, if it NEEDS to be outside year round to perform at it's best, what will mine do? Usually, I bring all my plants in by middle of October. They do not go back out until very end of April or beginning of May.

Your picture of the blooms is beautiful. I can't wait to see mine bloom. Do you know how long it takes or what has to happen before it will bloom?

As I am writing this, I am hearing sleet against my window. We had about 3 beautiful days. One even got up to 80*! Look at it now! We might even get 6" of snow tomorrow. Ah....such is life in Maryland!!!

Gita

Gita,

That one is indeed an Epiphyllum oxypetalum and is still going up. I used to grow these in large pots and the plants would get too big to move. The ones I have bloomed the fastest were root bound in small pots--6"--as is the one in the picture. It is only 8 months from being a leaf with no roots to this size and has not bloomed. Am hoping for next spring. :o}


What I am drooling for is when your Ric Rac gets here and eventually gives me one of those gorgeous purple flowers. I bought a pot for it yesterday so I'm ready--lol

Bill

I have an epi Chrysocardium (the GIANT one) and it got so beautifully huge & was blooming for me every year but it got overgrown by ferns in the pot & I lost most of it but one piece. I repotted it last weekend, removing all the ferns & putting in new potting soil. It is now in a smaller pot and I fertilized it with the beer recipe. I just hope I saved it in time. My Epi antonyanum is huge but hasn't bloomed in years. I repotted that one, too. I guess fertilizer is the key. Which, in your opinion, is better, the bananas or the beer? Thanks so much for your help.

Oh ... I want to know the recipe for both of those fertilizer's ... Banana Fertilizer? Beer Fertilizer? Wow ... sounds interesting! Can someone post those recipes for me or supply a link!

Thanks soooo much ... My Epi's and I appreciate it.

Buttoneer,

I am NOT any kind of expert on the Ric-Rac or any Epis. I have read a lot about using banana peels--no harm, I guess. I have tried some on my Epis, but they were still very young.

Beer fertilizer???????????????? I know what beer is (yum), I know there is beer batter (makes the best onion rings), I know there is beer bread, and I know you can use beer to catch slugs. NOW-----what about the fertilizer thing??????? Give!

I use whatever I am using in my garden. MG, Fish emulsion, Peters, anything. Then I just go and squirt some on my Ric-Rac while I am at it. Mostly, I ignore it. NOT a good Mama!

Bill, You have a long wait for the RR to bloom, unless the good old CA sunshine does some wonders. Hey, if you want another cutting, let me know. I just potted them all up in individual pots. I have 15!

Gita

Gita

I have always (until this year when I never seemed to have the time to so it, LOL) been a BIG believer in putting Banana peels on my Orchid Cactus. I just drop the peels on the soil and let them rot.

I also use very dilute fish emulsion When I think about it. 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water

I have a wonderful formula that I have also used and will look it up and post. You can almost hear the plants grow when you use it. LOL

I have used the beer formula but don't remember the recipe. It is in the GH. If someone with a better memory doesn't post it I'll get it tomorrow.

Betty

Ok, here's the Cactus & Succulent Beer Fertilizer recipe:
1-12 oz can of beer (millers preferably)
1 cup epsom salts
1/2 cup ammonia
2 cups water
Mix & put in a 1-quart container. Use 1 TBSP per gallon of water every two weeks during the growing season.

Since I don't drink, I went & "bummed" one from the next-door neighbor. They gave me a can of coors lite (I figured the guy tried it & didn't like it, so the rest were put in the back of the refrig.). I am trying that. I figure the yeast is the same, just less sugar. Anybody else use this recipe?
Gita, tell me about the Epi cuttings you have to share. I'm interested.

Picabo: Interesting about the Banana Peels ... I have always done that on Staghorn ferns ... I guess it's the Potassium in Banana peel that the plants like! Yes, please post your fertilizer recipe!

Thank's for that beer recipe Buttoneer. We don't drink either, but I'm sure a friend would give me a beer for the recipe ... or, can you buy just one can of beer at the store?


I just burst out laughing, this seems soooo strange, asking for recipe's for food for my plants! Usually I'm exchanging "people" food recipe's!

I think you have to buy a 6-pack. Can you imagine this chubby 64-year-old lady walking into the bar & asking for a 6-pack of Millers? LOLOLOLOL

Hey Buttoneer: Hee Hee .... It would be even funnier if you went in and asked the bartender which brand of beer is the best beer to use for fertilizer!

Jumpin on the tail end here with the ingredients from the Beer Fertilizer, as reported on both the Epiforums and the DG Hoya forums:
12 oz beer(Lager is reported to be best)
1 c. Epsom salts
1/2 c. ammonia(regular kind, not lemon or any other scent)
2 c. water
1/2 c. molasses (blackstrap is reported to be best)
Vitamin B-12(1 250-500 mg tablet crushed)
4 TBS(tablespoons) of bloom booster(optional)

Use 1 tablespoon of the potion per gallon of warm water

I've used the recipe and noted differences in my Hoyas, but not a lot of my other plants. I need more beer so that I can make another batch.

GH

I'm going to try the nana peels in my epis. Wonder if they will work for other plants as well?

GH

I eat a "nana" every day so now I will begin saving the peels.