Hi, I was given this dehydrated epi last spring. I have cleaned her dead roots away, repotted and fertilized her yet she's still sick looking. She won't rehydrate and she keeps getting mealy bug despite washing and spraying. Thinking of cutting her back. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Ella

I do not think it will do anything much at this time of the year. They usually perk up for me more towards Spring. Just clean it up again, remove any dead stems. No fertilizers. Hopefully your media is well draining enough. It will hate being in a very soggy media, that eventually kills the roots, hence the plant unable to take in moisture leading to that very dehydrated state.

Once you have cleaned it up, you will see your plant is in a container way too big for it. I would repot it in a smaller one with drain holes, and just use orchid bark mix, making it gritty and well draining. I also add clay rocks or pumice too if I have them on hand. . Epis are epiphytes, so they do not grow well in heavy soil. If you have ever grown bromeliads and orchids, that is how they prefer to be planted like.

They do like to be watered after all they are tropical plants, but got to drain out and dry out fast and you may have to run your ceiling fans to give more air around it. This would also lessen fungal issues if your media is staying too wet too long than needed while indoors. I hardly give them fertilizers, but if you wish too, delay it more towards Spring when they are in active growth again.

Just a comment on watering. Epis like to be misted. You can mist it daily and water less often. Epiphytes tend to absorb water thru their leaves rather than their roots.

@Ella75 The battle with mealies is because the plant is in poor health to begin with.

If I had this plant, I would take a few cuttings of the green foliage and root them. That will start you with new and healthier plants. Once I was comfortable with the cuttings taking root, I would dispose of the parent plant. These will grow quickly. Good luck with it.

To add to the great advice you've already been given, I would take the cuttings, allow them to callus over a week to 10 days before potting them, discard the parent plant right away since its in such poor health, there's no point in keeping it IMHO

I just want to say thank you to all who commented on this thread. It's not mine but it was extremely helpful! I'm a newer collector of epis, amongst others like them, and am having thromboembolism getting them to boost & grow! They turn yellow and they do not like where they are. I believe that you guys have answered my questions!
I will actually take photos of them now, and then after a month or so in their new environment..
Hopefully you will see the improvements!!

@Xjardan. I do hope you will share photos as your plants progress. And welcome.

I love Epi's ever since a member here sent me a clipping, once she was established she took off like a rocket, now I'm the one giving clippings away.

Wow autocorrect teaches me new words!! Thromboembolism?!?! Nice 😂😂 I wanted to say that I was having trouble getting the epis to grow but hey, that word will do 😂🤣

Somehow it seemed appropriate to me.