I have a cutting or plant that is 3yrs old. The weight of the leaves is causing it to almost double over. Should I stake the leaves up or cut them off and force the parent cutting to grow new limbs(lbw) from the soil?
leaning epi
Hello hayu. I am only a novice with epis but have a huge number. I find the same thing happening with a lot of mine, so I either put them up on a shelf or in a basket where they can hang down. I have some that start growing up then slowly hang over. I think it's their natural way. I do have others that have more sturdier branches that happily grow upright to over 3' high. If you cut them you will still end up with the new growth probably growing the same way. I have tied a few up to stakes but you have to be careful as they can be broken or bruised easily. Someone else with more experience can most likely give yo better advice
Jean
I think a lot of Epiphyllum love to climb so you could stake it up! I have an Epiphyllum Oxypetalum that was doing the same thing ... so heavy that the pot kept falling off the shelf. I staked to a trellis this summer. It still has branches sticking out that aren't quite long enough to tie up yet but it seems to be doing great.
You can go either way.. I would not cut unless the stems are way to long or if you are trading cuttings.
You also might us a wider bottom pot. I have started using azalea pots as the are wider at the bottom.
If they are in a hanging basket and they start getting really large you will need chains to keep them from breaking the hanger. I have a Ric Rac Orchid Cactus in a plastic pot that I had to sit down inside one of those wrought iron hanging baskets. The weight of it broke the plastic hanger.
I just went out and took a picture of it. Look at all those aerial roots ... I think it's looking for something to attach itself to.
