Earlier this year, I recieved several cuttings which I immediately potted up, hopefully right side up. About a month ago, I got a plant Disocactus echlamii, as a rooted cutting, with a flower bud.
One of the original set of cuttings has leafed out. A bit of stem has produced a set of 4 leaves. I have not seen anything like that before, but seems to be wonderful. Otherwise, there is been no growth from any of the cuttings right now.
Up until the end of May these cuttings were kept inside the house in an east facing window at about 60-65F. They were moved out during a period of warm weather that turned colder until recently. The cold was 50F at night rising to 60F during the day. Temperatures are now 10F higher, 60/70F.
Are these plants just dormant in the colder weather, and will glady start growing in a warmer place? Or do I have trouble brewing?
Cuttings without growth?!
No comments? Humph. Could some one hit me with a clue bat, please?
I have come to think epis, like a lot of plants have minds of their own. I have some cuttings that were in pots when I bought my collection. They are old cuttings, over 3 years, and still green , but no sign of growth. I have other that I have potted in the last 12 months that have grown a small bit and some that have put up 2 or 3 new branches that are longer than original piece.
Check the bases and if no sign of any growth, either just replant or recut the base and then replant. I have bits growing down the back where I throw out the old stuff, so have patience and love those that grow well for you. Jean
OK, that sounds like a plan. Thanks. Its quite odd to have one of them doing very well, 4 new leaves, and 3 doing nothing.
I give mine fish emulsion and they go crazy, though someone said it is bad for the envoronment or something. It works for me.
I guess I should have queried Google before enquiring: http://www.ecology.org/orchids/EpiCare.html
I have been giving mine Dyna Gro Grow fertilzier, which seems to be pretty darn good.
I unpotted all the plants that had no growth yesterday. The two worst looking cuttings had no roots, I recut the end, and put on rooting hormone. The rest of the plants had roots, the plain rooted cuttings all had small rootlets, I replanted these carefully to not disturb the roots (right!). The rooted cutting with bud had an amazing root system, which I potted up one size, and nipped off the flower bud. I suspect that it was putting all its energy into that bud.
I expect things will get going soon.
Rob
I have only had epis for a few years, and all but one I started from cuttings. Some sat and did nothing up until this spring, and I have read it is not unusual for them to take very long time to start putting out new growth.
So, with two good weeks of 75-80F days, all plants are looking like they will grow. The joke is the plant with 4 good leaves, which were opposite, turned out to be the notorious Kalanchoe daigremontiana, or Mother of Thousands.
She hit the compost bin today, as I want none of that plant.
I am kind of new to epi growing and just gleaned a couple of things off an epi forum, saved it in a Word doc. complete with a couple of comments from others. Just started using this fertilizer concoction this week. Worth a shot I'd say.
Fast-Aging Cactus Fertilizer
1 12-ounce can or bottle of beer
1 cup of Epsom salts
1/2 cup of ammonia
4 tablespoons of Miracle-Gro Bloom-booster
1/2 cup of molasses
2 cups of water
Mix and put into a 1-quart container. Use 1/2 oz. per gallon of water every two weeks, when you water your epis.
1/2 oz is 1 Tbsp.
"I've been using this at least weekly on ALL my plants. Because of the magnesium and ammonia in it, it's producing lush growth on everything."
"I've applied it to everything from cacti of all sorts to orchids, cymbidiums, African violets to an azalea, foliage, bloomers, succulents, lilies, inside and outside plants."
"I've kept this stuff in the capped bottle for about two months (till it was all used), and it did not develop mold, fungus, rot, or any other profoundly negative attributes. I shake it before pouring into my big water jug, and it has smelled the same the entire time, besides maintaining its initial clarity."
Potting mix
"For my Epis I use Schultz cactus mix and Schultz orchid mix, 1 part to 1, or 1 to 2. I also add in about a handful or so of diatomite, depends on the size of the container.
Cactus mix (contains one or more of the following; reed-sedge peat, composted forest products, composted rice hulls) sphagnumpeat moss, ground dolomitic limestone.
Orchid mix (contains one or more of the following: aged raw firbark or aged raw pine bark) arcillite, horticultural charcoal."