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Cacti & Succulents

Cactus Orchid newbie question

14 years ago

Hi, I received some cuttings last year, single ones for different varieties. They are healthy looking, although some have not bloomed yet. Question: When I see photos posted on this forum of these profuse, cascading plants, are they like that because several cuttings were planted at one time, or will even a single cutting propagate by itself, over time?

I am so envious of the owners of these lush hanging pots, but quite puzzled as these epis seem to grow quite slowly. Can I hurry the process by making cuttings of the side wings, as I call them, and rooting them alongside of the one cutting already growing in the pot? Thanks!

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Comments (5)

tjicken
14 years ago
They branch spontaneously, so you will get a "cascading" plant from a single cutting.
You can root cuttings next to the main plant, but if each should grow at its normal rate you would need a big pot after a while. They grow slowly when they just have rooted, but they will grow faster and faster as the roots grow and they start to offset.
I once had an Epiphyllum that in a few years grew from a cutting to a 150 cm tall plant that filled the biggest pot I have ever used. Most hybrids are slower, but I would not push them, they actually grow fast for being cacti.
gardenbear1
14 years ago
Most epie cuttings will take up to 3 years or more to bloom, epies like to be pot bound before they bloom, if the pot is to big it will take longer,I keep all my cuttings in a 4inch pots for about a year or until they out grow the pot,I found that some epies do there growing in the spring and fall, I have one epie thats over 4 years old and has never bloomed,while others gave me blooms with in 2 years, give your epie time to grow and become pot bound and then you should get the cascading plant you want with all the new growth.

Bear
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This is my EPI, I purchased it in a 8" hanging basket about 6 yrs ago. It's never bloomed. I recently took it up to the local greenhouse. They have one that's just beautiful. They treated plant for mites , repotted and fertilized for me. I keep it in the south window, per their suggestion. The plant they have is loaded with beautiful red blooms.This room stays around 67 in winter months. We live in Wisconsin. The soils is compose made at greenhouse with terra-Cotta pieces mixed in soil. The advise I've been given is from the local Greenhouse. She was kind enough to send me home with a small bag of fertilizer to feed plant, she also stated to mist all plants including this one with rubbing alcohol to kill mites. Do this for 2 weeks 1 time a week make sure plant is well misted. I'd love to see blooms on this beautiful cactus
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
14 years ago
Yes, you will just need to be patient with these plants. From cuttings it can take three years to bloom. Like the previous posters said, they need to be potbound and attain a certain size before they have the resources to hold the buds and flower. You may only get one flower at first, but as the plant grows in size, it will be able to support many more.

Some people put multiple cuttings in one pot, but one cutting is fine too. Once it is established it will quickly send up lots of shoots from its base. These will cascade over the side of the pot and soon you will have a specimen plant that you will not have room for!

This plant only had three blooms last year.

{{gwi:474335}}
gardenbear1
14 years ago
Dave, now that's what I call a super plant. Does it have a name ??

Bear
peebee1
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to all for the info,guess I will just have to be patient and wait for growth.
dave in nova, how old is your plant? Like gardenbear1, I am also interested in the name of this one so I can look it up. Beautiful plant. Do you fertilize?

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