Denise,

I have more than a little interest in Cyphos and other FPs; what are your questions? If I may, I'll tell you what I do - grow them as tropical grapes for 7 months of the year (most of that outside), because that's what they want to be, IMO. Perhaps your C. betiforme wasn't getting enough light/heat?

That last pic of your C. currorii - love the knuckles of plumpness!

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A fuzzy pic of the path of destruction wrecked on C. 'Fat Bas$%rd' when repotted in March of 2011. It's due for another in a few months is my guess.

Hi Jeff,
I'm not sure how to grow tropical grapes, but I could take an educated guess. Remember I'm in zone 6B so are you treating yours like grapes now or when you were in CA?

When the plants go outside in April my Cyphos get front and center full sun. They dont need to be acclimated, they dont leaf out until June, wait maybe thats WHY they wait.

They are in fast draing soil (loam and tones of gravel and perilite) and get fertilized in the summer a couple times. I also have them in an unprotected place so they get rain.

When they are in the basement, I admit they are not the closest ones to the lights since they are not in leaf.

Of course none of this applies to my C. 'Fat Bas$%rd' it grows in winter, summer does seem to matter. I see why its names that. It has leaves now, lol.

Thanks for getting back to me, I guess mainly my questions are where and when can I cut and will that make them branch or get fatter. Also, is my cultivation technique ok for my zone? Thanks!!

Denise

Denise,

I'm in Zone 4/5 now, but even in San Diego my Cyphos would go leafless. The treatment / culture of them was the same, though, in both places.

I find it puzzling that yours don't start leafing out until June, though. I have to usually abort the first set of leaves mine get in February - they're in the room that gets the most light in the winter. The second set of leaves are what are on the plants when they go outside in May.

I don't know enough about your cultural conditions to make a call on what you're doing, but as I said, it seems strange that you don't get growth earlier, which may explain why the leaves on your C. betiforme never fully form.

All of my Cyphos are leafless now, but I'll start repotting them next month; I think that and the increased sun sets them to leaf bud earlier.

Hi Jeff,
I did cut the top of the C.betiforme a while back because it was taking so long to leaf that I thought it was dead. Do you repot every year? I'm thinking if the culture is ok maybe theres a root problem. Theyve been in the same pot/mix for 4-5 years.

Denise

They need more direct light, that is why the foliage is weak looking. betiformis/currori are painfully slow in pots. You may never see any girth changes. You could try over potting in an extremely fast draining mix. The water and feed frequently. If the soil is compacted it will slow growth as well.

My vining Cyphos are waking up with this warm weather we've been having

Thanks, I'll repot and move to a better position under the lights.

Denise

Denise,

It's also odd that yours are in leaf - IMO, it'd be better that you allow them to go into their natural dormancy. I should think that would have the most efficacious effect on the growth of your plants.

4-5 years in the same pot and mix...?
In most cases, that'll severely limit the growth of a plant.
I'm in the Caudex camp....provide fast-drainage and copious root-run,
water and fertilize consistently during the prime growing season.

Josh

Thanks again guys,

Greenman- they are still in the same mix since it is mostly periltite & gravel. Not much soil and I do fertilize in summer. I'm afraid to have too much soil since we have high humidity and I dont want them to rot closer to Fall. So you think I ought to repot, oooookayyyy.

Jeff-the only cypho in leaf is my Fat B. I keep cutting off the leaves to make it go to sleep, but its being a brat. The larger ones keep their leaves until October then I cut them when they look used up, then into the cool basement.
I'll give it a shot since it is frustrating that I dont seem to get much growth. I'll keep you posted on the roots when I depot. Thanks!!

Denise,

As Keith says, if allowed to have free root roaming, these plants grow quite fast. As Greenman Josh intimates, that's too long between repottings, again IMO. Of course, I keep using the same pots because (1) they're the largest decorative ones I have and (2) they somewhat keep these beasts contained (see caudiscipline).

I do go heavy on the organic side of things for the potting soil of these plants - usually at least 25% manure, with some soil and mostly Turface (I'd use pumice if I could get it - perlite would work, too, if that's all one had). They seem to like it a lot.

Perhaps I've had this question in my mind too long, stewing like a prune - I've begun to think that the neatest thing would be for an FB to be planted in almost an almost pure manure / Turface mix, just to see how large it would get.

Ok, excuse my ignorance, but what is "free root roaming" and how can it be done in a pot?

I'll add more organic matter to the mix. I never considered manure, it makes me think its similar to peat?

We cant get pumice around here, so the only option is perilite.

From what you guys are saying these plants should be busting out of the pots by now. I'm so glad I asked the question and I can't wait to see some growth finally.

Denise

Now I'm thinking of all the plants that havent been repotted lately. Alot of Pachys seemed to have stunted. I repot the euphorbias every year since they grow so fast...Duh!!! OMG solved my own problem, lol.

Denise

Euphorbia knuthi

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Raphionacme flanaganii - not a Euphorbia, but has to be repotted every year.

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Wow!!! What a striking pose. What would you actually call that , "plants gone wild.". That's one way to propagate your garden I guess, ;). Any explanation of what is going on here besides a good time in the green house? I have to admit I don't think this plant would be happy in the cactus garden especially with all the thorns you know, ouch!!!
Greg

Denise,

Speaking of Raphios (and yours is tuberiferously shapely), that's one that's stayed in leaf for me so far during the winter - no signs of slowing down (it was repotted last month).