Epi Nursery

[Charla]

Well I got them all planted, some of the ones Doug gave me are named ...Padre and King Midas (bet it's yellow)! The ones Jami gave me however are all unknown, hope some of them actually form roots!

Here's the plant shelf I bought to hold the Epi's I already have, plus an angel trumpet I need to plant) and the epi nursery of my 18 new cuttings. Oh, my angles too, so fragrant in the evening.

[Jackie Ramo]

What kind of soil did you use to pot the epis? Nice shelf to display them

Oh yes, Angel trumpet!! I have 3, two variegated and one plain green. All the flowers are peach coloured though. The upside is they all have a heavenly scent. The downside is they take up a lot of room in the greenhouse in winter. This year I will have to take cuttings and let the mother plants die.

[Charla]

I used half Cactus Mix and half Orchid Mix That's what all the other rooted cuttings were in, and I added a little 8-8-8 time release fertilizer. I probably didn't need to but I dipped the ends into rooting powder.

My angels were all branches that a friend broke off and handed to me, I stuck them in the ground last spring. I have the yellow, pink and I hope a double white. She gave me the little pot with another pink started, think I'll give it to my daughter.

[Jackie Ramo]

Thanks for the soil info. I'll get some cactus soil in stock. Orchid mix I have on hand.

Yes, Angel trumpets are a lot like weeds. I bought one years ago and have switched back and forth between keeping the big plant over winter and then the next year just a cutting. I've always thought they'd do well in pond since they are big water feeders. Haven't tried it myself as yet.

[Kay]

Charla, you have inspired me to buy my first epi cuttings. They are ric rac orchid cactus and should have a red bloom. How old do they have to be to bloom?
Your angels trumpets are lovely. My sister in Florida bought a bunch of cuttings from ebay and will send cuttings in the spring. I especially love the yellows and the double forms. I can't wait for spring. I was so glad that I brought in my tropical hibiscus standards they are blooming and such a bright spot this winter.
Kay

[marla]

Charla, HI how's the knee doing??? You've inspired me again. Either I need to move where it's warm in the winter or get in some flowering plants. Right now the christmas cactas is just budding. But my daughter bought me a beautiful pointsettia, it's a rose pointsetia, I guess they inject a virus or bacteria I don't remember which, the leaves and flowerettes curl up. I had never seen one before so I hoping I can keep it alive and see what it turns out like next year.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/grandmavis/2006_0112christmas050052.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

That's a beauty Marla. My pink ones hit the compost yesterday before hubby decided it was is plant. One year he kept one alive until I dumped it in August... Scraggily thing that it was.

Charla, my epi's you sent are getting fat now so I think they have rooted and are taking up moisture. Lost all their wrinkles.

[Charla]

I think they have rooted and are taking up moisture. Lost all their wrinkles.

Think that will work on me? :smile: I have some cactus and orchid dirt left.... !rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

Charla, I have an easy recipe for getting rid of wrinkles. eat more chocolate :lol:

[Charla]

Jackie, I've been trying that ... but now the clothes are getting tight. Need more time for gardening to keep me in shape.

Kay, I'm not an Epi expert, I just ended up getting a LOT of cuttings and starts from friends. Some grow and bloom fairly quickly while others can take two to three years,I googled epithithelium for most of what I know about them.

A friend of a friend's... etc , just gifted me with 4 HUGE epi's , it will be interesting to see what color they bloom.

[Jackie Ramo]

I'm grateful that we got the new pup, a bit more exercise needed for him so that means I'm getting some too. Hard this time of year with all the good food and cold weather keeps you inside more. I'm trying to convince myself that house work is exercise but if it is I'd rather go to the gym...

[marla]

I don't think that house work counts or the wind would blow me away. Didn't get much of it done last weekend so I'll have to double up this weekend. Unless I go shopping, been thinking of picking up an Orchid for sometime, and maybe I'll find one of these beautiful epi's. Or maybe I'll just sleep in!!!!!!!

[Jackie Ramo]

I think house work counts... just not enough :-P

Two ofmy orchids ar in bud, including the one I thought for sure I had killed this summer. Had terrible root rot but is happy now. Once they open I'll post some pics, one is a phal not sure what the other one is I've had it for about 10 years and it didn't bloom for the first 5...

[Busy B]

Like the stand Charla! What I like more is not seeing any white stuff around on the ground! You lucky dog you! :wink:

Hoe come epi's look like Xmas cactus's? Are they in the same family? Sorry for the ?..I'm too lazy to look it up :smile:

Forgot to mention Marla..gorgeous pic!

[Charla]

White stuff belongs in the mountains so I can stand out in my yard and look at it.

LOVE that pointsettia, Marla. The knee is great, thinking of retireing this year, looking at a grey to adopt. That's what you have right?

Christmas Cacti, Schlumbergera X buckleyi, and Orchid cactus, Epiphillum are both in the Cactaceae family, both are tropical, not desert and are epiphytes like some orchids. Mine are going to have a problem tonight ...very windy and temp is 37. I have a sore throat, sniffles and don't feel like going out to move or cover them ... may not have as many this spring!

[marla]

Charla, glad to here the knee is doing good. Wow, I would love to retire, not quite there, probably never will be, have to keep working till I die just to pay for the heating bills here in the north :wink: .
A greyhound is a good couch dog, as long as they can get out for a good daily run, what they love to do I think Denise on the ADI board had greys. No I had 2 dogs, a lab/retriever mix that died about 2yrs ago, and a white german shepard that we had to put down two weekends ago. Dogs add alot to our lives, but for now I'll keep my memories and the 4 crazy cats we have. Maybe in the far future again.