hi everyone!
this pot was sitting on the blacktop in scorching sun at k-mart. the sprinklers were on and it was drenched. the first thing i did when i got it home was pop off the bottom saucer. a flood of stinky water came out. my reason for posting is to ask this question. on the second picture, does this look like sunburn to you? i'm hoping that's all it is. the rest of the plant looks healthy and it has some tiny new growth.
thanks in advance! debi
sunburned area?
the first picture looks good. I do not know diseases, but it looks like a mold has gotten into the area. what ever it is I would cut that part off.
Any one out there know what it is?
Sandy the epi nut
Debi: It looks like you might have one of the Ric Rac Orchid Cactus there. Possibly one of these:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54204/
or this one: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62665/
I'm not that knowledgeable about Orchid Cactus, but that doesn't look like sunburn to me, just looks like dried out branches which I get on mine sometimes, but if it was in the hot sun for long it might be caused by that.
Hopefully some of the more knowledgable growers will come along with advice for you soon.
What a great find and at K-Mart no less! I think I need to visit my local K-Mart garden centers more often! ^_^
Looks like Wren posted while I was typing. I thought it might be a fungus of some sort and I have cut out pieces of stems on some of my Epiphyllum's when they look like that. You might have to cut entire branches off, scrape or cut away the diseased part and re-root the remainding stems.
I did some googling for diseases of Epiphyllum and found this information: http://www.logees.com/ftg/CULTURAL-epiphyllum.asp
I wander which ric-rac it is.
I just found out that there are two "hookerii" E stenopetalum and E strictum (this one has scarlet pistil)
sandy the epi nut
thanks, both of you. i know there are more than one but it's too soon, i think, for an id. i'll probably have to wait until it blooms. i think there is another way to tell but i don't know enough about them to be sure. i had one years ago. it crawled up a buttonwood tree and withstood several hurricanes. their root strength is amazing.
anyway, i'm not going to cut the bad part out just yet. it's very flakey, doesn't seem like a growing fungus. hopefully i'll get a few more responses. thanks for all the links. i'll check them out now.
i've found that at least for this area, k-mart has more unusual plants and way more markdowns than any other box store.
Looks like it was a great find to me. Our kmarts and box stores rarely get the rarities like those........
May be I should check mine out I am in zone 9a. I did find some very stressed out epi's at the ACE near here. Let us know how it does.
Sandy the epi nut.
I just went out to check one of mine. I found one branch that is turning yellow ... either too much or too little water.
I also noticed this branch which is the gray coloration ... doesn't look like fungus so I will leave it alone.
I also noticed this branch which has the gray coloration ... doesn't look like fungus so I will leave it alone.
And, also this woody looking branch which I'm assuming is normal growth?
I wonder if there are any expert Epiphyllum growers on DG? Hopefully someone with some knowledge of these plants will pop in with advice.
i think there are a lot of experts on this forum. we'll just wait and see. i know one thing. i won't water it again until it's really, really dry. i was glad to see roots poking out of the bottom when i took the saucer off. at least it has a fairly developed system and will dry out before it rots......i hope.
The two I rescued where in very poor soil, that luckly did not hold water. The dingy lady said she watered them every day but thet where swiveled up. I tossed them in the dog pool then took as much soil from around them as I could and re potted them right.
Could that brown just be older growth. I have seen it often on the older stems of my E. oxy.
I have been looking for books about the epi's but the only ones I have found are just pictures and all they do is make me want more. LOL
Sandy the epi nut
I am pretty new to Epi's and don't know a lot about their care so I will be watching this thread in hopes of learning something from the more knowledgeable folks.
Yes Wren, looking closely at the stems on my Ric Rac, it sure looks like it may just be normal growth .. it is just on the older growth. I have a huge Epiphyllum hookeri and have never seen anything like it on that one. My Epi oxy is still young yet.
Different types of epis. I am seeing different growth patterns in mine. With so many I can see more different kinds. I wander how many species where blended to make the epis we know now.
Sandy the epi nut
Could be caused by sudden temperature change.
thanks. i never thought of that. we had a very light patchy frost a couple of weeks ago. if the plant was sitting outside at k-mart during that time period, that could account for the damage. thank you so much.
You have a very nice plant there.
Please post pictures when it blooms.
i will-but don't hold your breath! LOL with a large amount of luck, i may have a bloom or two next year or the year after!
I'm sure you will.
I can't wait to see what color it's going to be.
Me too I love to see what it will look like. I have never had a problem with frost but I have never had this many. Hope I get the green house finished in time.
will the color help to determine the id? i had just assumed that it was E. anguliger when i first spotted it, but after doing some research, i'm seeing that there are several "ric-rac" types.
I have seen two, one had red flowers and the other was white with yellow outer petals.
What a SCORE!! They never have anything cool out here ... I was just in the Market Place and saw one for sale.. Great price I may have to race back over ther now that I let the cat out of the bag...LOL
Great pic's!!
Kylie
thanks! i got pretty excited when i saw it!
Don't worry too far for me to go, but you could send me one! LOL!
I am NOT an expert, but have had a Ric Rac Cactus for years and have sent out many, many rooted cuttings to people on DG.
Mine looks like yours and I KNOW the one I have is called: "Cryptocereus Anthonyanus".
There is (are?) other varieties, but I think the difference is how the "ric-racs" are positioned on the "leaves". In mine--and seems also on yours, they alternate. In others, they are opposite one another. Another name for the latter one MIGHT be "Fishbone cactus".
I had one that was too huge and it had bloomed for the last 3 years, but It was too large for me to keep. I donated it to the Rawlings Conservatory and it lives happily, perched up high on some rocks just above their pond in the Mediterranean House.
I had a second HB of it well along the way, and that is now growing close to the size of my previous one.
As to the hard, gray, dry parts--from my observation--it just happens. It is not a fungus. It is like the tissue dies in some places....You can cut that frond off if it bothers you--cut it in 4" pieces, allow to scab over, and plant in small pots to root. Usually, they are rooted in about 3-4 months. You will see new growth if they are.
The long, hard stem-like leaves with all the stringy roots appear mostly while I have it inside for the Winter--so I have thought it is a response to low light and humidity.
NOW! You can cut pieces if the raggedy stems and stick them in soil--and they will root and produce normal "leaves". Have done it many times...
Ric Racs are SOOOO easy to root! Any piece of it will root. Start them right in a light soil mix.
I hang mine outside for the Summer in almost full sun. I don't do anything special to it--just run the hose on it when I am watering other plants. Seems to do well.
Here was the mama I gave away
Here is what her bloom looked like. Pretty!
This is what the bloom-buds looked like...
And here is a tray of rooted sections. All shapes--any shapes--any pieces--they all root!
Hope this has helped you some, trackinsand.
Good plant to enjoy! Gita
Gita,what do you feed your's?
CC,
Nothing specific--I try to do some Fish Emulsion off and on. I know that any Epi does not need the Miracle Gro stuff--something organic and not to strong is best.
I also chop up some banana peels and put them on top of the soil---have read a lot about that helping--high in Potassium,.,,
I really don't know what is best--I have all kinds of stuff printed out--but it is all "lost" in the piles and piles of paper on my computer desk.
I am very irregular and lazy about feeding anything. I hate it! My Garden would be so much better if I did more of that. However--most people think my Garden is just amazing as it is anyway.....
My big problem is maple roots everywhere--so nothing really thrives in many of my beds.
Oh well--that's another story.......
Gita
Selenicereus is the new genus for yours now, not Cryptocereus anymore but i will be watching closely and hoping like mad that the one i have is yours. i love those red flowers. thanks for all the photos too. i think i will just leave those scarred areas on for now and not do any cuttings until next year. it's kind of been through the mill at this point and i just want it to rest and get really happy. i'm going to leave it outside except when the temps fall below 50 at night. i'll hang it in the garage then. those cool/cold nights never last too long here as a rule. i'll check out the various pictures again regarding the positioning of the leaves. i knew there was a way to tell, just couldn't remember what it was. thanks again for your response! debi
Love the flowers. Next year I would like to trade for some.
Sandy the epi nut
Gitagal, That is such a pretty bloom! Is it fragrant? Looks like yours is real happy :)
I've got to find one like that !!
debi,
WHEN did the name change? Thanks for the update!
Angel,
I don't recall that it was fragrant.....They still only last one day....
Take some time and go 'deeper" on this Orchid cactus Forum. many people have this plant--especially in FL. Like i said--a piece breaks off--and you can stick the WHOLE section in fresh soil and it will root.
That's how my second one started. The wind blew the big pot off of it's plant stand. and about 1/4 of it broke off.--maybe 4 years ago? I just put it in a new pot--and now it is huge.....
gita, not sure when. names change all the time, especially in cactus/succulent species. it's frustrating.
