If I have a Desert Cactus more than 3 years old, are there any good tips on trying to produce flower buds on these plants? Mabe its just a matter of time to see it happen with mine. If you do infact have any ideas/suggestions that I could try, please let me know.....
Thank you!
Barrysewall ;-p
I am NOT an expert of any kind---but, that looks just like my Night Blooming Cereus that is just spiking and growing, but--I have never seen any blooms on it yet....
It was getting too tall, so--in desperation--I just cut it back. Whapped off all those tall spikes!
If it makes it--GREAT! If it does not--Not gonna worry about it!
Gita
It looks like Epiphyllum Oxypetalum, as I think someone said previously on another thread. I would put it out on a veranda during the year when it's not cold. Not knowing your climate well, this would be most likely during late Spring into early Fall. Epis like lots of light but not direct hot sun. The flowers should be scented white and bloom at night. The other plant looks like some sort of epicactus, maybe an Aporo. It too will have the same requiements. Use a free draining mix and don't overwater. Keep drier in Winter. Hope this helps as I am not an expert, Jean.
That looks very small and immature for three years old. It should be much bigger for that age. I would suggest putting it outside when your last frost date has passed in filtered sun and repot it to a bigger container. Don't forget to fertilize during the spring to fall season. With a bigger container, some fertilizer, and outdoor light, you should see some blooms.
Clare_CA,
Can you tell me how much bigger of a pot I need to be using?
Thanks!
Barrysewall
Well, like other plants, just keeping moving them up another size when they get rootbound. Yours looks like a 3-gallon pot so you would want to give it a five-gallon container at first, then a ten-gallon container, and then a fifteen-gallon container. These plants get big and heavy when they are mature. I have several. One of mine is rootbound in a ten-gallon container, and another is rootbound in a fifteen-gallon container. The good news is that they can stay rootbound for a long time before you replant them and still do well. In time, they can become very big plants if given enough space to grow in.
Clare_CA~
Its not a 3 gallon sized pot, its very much smaller than that. Plus I never understood about 'Epie' plants before I planted it in plain old regular potting soil, the only special thing about this soil is that there is enouph horticultural Perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and limestone with extended release fertilizer. Now that I understand the way Epiphyllum' plants grow in the wilds of the jungle, next spring when the temperature is suitable for me to bring these plants outdoors I plan on repotting the 'Epies' that I own now into Orchid mix, perlite & Cactus & Succulent mix mixed all together....
Tell me what you think..
Barrysewall
Barrysewall, I just use regular good quality potting soil. You could use the other potting mixes that you mentioned if you want to. It really doesn't matter as long as they are well-draining. The epies probably don't flower that well in the wilds of the jungle because they may not get the nutrients, water, and light that they need to flower well. I wouldn't try to duplicate how they grow in the wild. I would just make sure that there is good drainage, an adequate fertilizing program, and lots of warmth and filteredl light. You should have plenty of good blooms that way as I do. These are seven-gallon containers, packed full of epies, in regular potting soil.
Clare_CA, WoW, your plants look very nice. Did it take quite a while to see them flower?
Barrysewall
Barrysewall, from cuttings, they took the first year to grow, bloomed sparsley in the second year, and put on a show in the third year.
Clare_CA,
Now since I've owned the 'Epies' that I have now, I've been fertilizing them with Schultz 2-7-7 Cactus Plus Liquid Plant food. Unsure of what else to use or if this ratio of fertilization is correct or not.
Do you feed your 'Epies' anything special that I could find at a regular plant nursery? Added a photo of the fertilizer bottle I use.
Let me know!!
Barrysewall
Clare_CA,
Also I planted an unknown 'Epi' in a 21 Quart pot that I just purchased. I'll add a photo of this as well.
Barrysewall
Barrysewall, that cactus fertilizer is fine. I don't use anything special -- just whatever I have on hand that I've giving to everything else at the same time. It is usually just MiracleGro a few times during the spring and summer. If you read through Happenstance's threads, she has a good routine which includes fish emulsion.
I don't fuss over mine. I find that they do fine without much attention from me. Your newly potted epi looks great. Once it flowers, you'll have a better idea about whether it is a hybrid or a species. There are a couple of species that put out that pencil thin growth habit.
Bumping up for Barry.
