Hi, I got some Epi cuttings last winter and was told they would not flower for 3 years, but I'm guessing I must have done something right since it is loading up with flower buds!!! It has 2 coming now with another 3-5 on the way!!!! I've kept it very cool and dry on the bottom of my plant shelf all winter and only just started watering it more. What I need to know is, can I move it? If it stays where it is no one can see the flowers at all, but if I move it will it drop its buds?

I'm pretty sure you've got to leave it where it is. They're closely related to the Christmas cactus and they'll drop their buds in a heartbeat if you move them. Something about the buds turning to face the light and twisting themselves off the plant.

I once read that if you turn the pot very gradually...like a half an inch every couple of days, the buds will adjust without dropping.

Do you really want to take the chance though?? I'd let it bloom, move it for like 3 ,minutes to take pictures to show everybody, and then put it right back where it was

Good growing!! I've had one for years with no sign at all of a bud.

Thank-you! Thats along the lines of what I was thinking so I'll just move it for the photo shoot!

I don't want to take the chance and move it, my Christmas Cactus made 2 flowers and one fell off.......I only shifted it an inch or so....so not sure what happened there.

It was kept in south light near a drafty sliding door for the winter and very little water, it was right down near the concrete floor too so it was quite cool. I was told it wouldn't flower for 3 years so I am quite surprised to see flowers!

Way to go, Steven!! Only time my red one makes buds is usually in the fall when the temps go down.

Thanks Donna!!!

I did have it outside for late summer/fall so maybe that has to do with it? But it definitely got some real cool temps over the winter in the spot its in. Next fall/winter I think I'll put it a shelf up so if it flowers again I'll be able to see them

I can't speak to epiphyllums, but it's not really true about Christmas Cactus's dropping their buds if they are moved. I turn mine around all the time and the buds don't drop.

What seems to affect bud drop on a Schlumbergera more than anything else is an extreme change in temperature, which explains why all the buds fall off when you bring one home from the grocery store.

I took another look and it has dozens of buds on it!!! I can't believe it! My Christmas cactus didn't flower anything like this is going to.

Heres what I did to it over winter for anyone who may want to try this next year:

It was sitting almost directly on the concrete floor in the basement in front of a south facing (drafty)sliding door and it got almost no water. Its planted in a shallow clay pot.

Anybody know if I should give it fertilizer now or wait till its done blooming?

Heres a few bloom pics!

I put it out for the summer but it's not looking so great last summer it did really well outside now its just sitting there doing nothing...

Steven, That is a really nice epi. Don't feed it until after it blooms. In the summer, i set mine under my oak trees and they get watered and fed right along with everything else. Then in november when the temps begin to drop into the 50's at night, I move them into a building with heat and a huge glass window. They then only get watered about every 3 weeks. They seem to love it. Some of them are more than 8 feet long now.

Thanks Linda! Its looking alot better outside now with lots of new growth on it, its mostly been getting rain with the occasional hose watering. They seem to thrive on neglect which is a big bonus!

Glad I was able to help Steven. I love my epis. There is nothing like them when they bloom.

Is the one in your photos a double Linda? I think I'll need to give mine fert next time I feed the outside plants...it hasn't been fed in a while.

I think it is a double Steven. I have lost the tag tho and can no longer identify it with any certainty. I had a big collection a couple of years ago, but some health problems have taken a toll on them.
The one in the picture bloomed in june. I will trade cuttings if you are interested.

Awesome photos! I wish my Epi will behave same way soon..so far it has been sending out new pads and roots...keeping fingers crossed! As long as it is still alive heheh!

I neglected mine all winter Tarev and it bloomed, almost no water and the coolest spot in the house. I've been told some people keep them in the garage over winter too and they bloom in there...so winter neglect seems to be the way to go!

Thanks so much for the offer Linda! Maybe we can trade in the spring

Steven, That sounds great. I have been trimming and repotting this week. I still have more to do too. I have 3 that are about to bloom. 2 white, oxypetalum and hookeri and 1 that may be red or pink. I am not sure. I will post pics when they bloom.

Yes, I would love to see some pics Linda!