Hi everyone, I have an epiphyllum orchid cactus that has done well over its first year with me. It's put on significant growth, having shade and then hot direct sun for the last four hours of the day. I brought it inside for the winter about five or six weeks ago, and two weeks ago these little white extensions started coming out of the plant. They're not new spines, and they come from the ends of the leaves. Any idea what they are or what they mean? Thanks!

jackjack. Those are roots; the plant is looking for places it can attach itself to.

Now if you ever wish to plant some cuttings, rooting them at the tip works quite well!! Simply place them into the soil upside down. As Hetty says, the plant wants to attach somewhere!

I never thought of growing them as upsidedown cuttings! Interesting idea!

Some years ago a local nursery sold pots of upside down rooted Epiphyllum cuttings. They looked at first a bit strange like that, but soon added new growth and were perfectly healthy plants. Solves the occasional problem of losing cuttings to rot and they can be rooted right away without callousing.

I have grown them upside down every now and then. I have never had any problems with them rooting that way. It works for me because I don't always take the time to let them callous.