I know that we have a few members who grow beautiful Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum) and I look forward to seeing ya'lls lovely photos posted here on our brand spanking new Epiphyllum forum! I also hope to see new additions in the Epi database: http://garden.org/plants/brows...

I have a couple of half-dead Epi's due to lack of care the past few years


But, we are moving next May and our property has tons of shade so I hope once we are settled that I can begin anew and I will take better care of them.

Those are gorgeous blooms Lin. I have epiphyllum oxypetalum, strictum, and a noid pink one. I used to have a lot more but I had to throw them away because I couldn't get rid of scale and aphids. The ones I have now are survivors.

I've never had aphids, but scale does present a problem from time to time.

Becky what do you use to control scale?

Cameron - I typically garden organically, but with some of my plants, I have to use chemicals. Scale is one of the few plant pest that requires me to use a chemical. I use 2-In-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care. I mix a diluted treatment (with water) and water the plants with it. It may take a while to see it work, but the chemical will stay in the soil and plant for a very long time. I also have to treat my Gardenia bush (in a container) with this same chemical (for scale also).

Lovely blooms Lin!

My epis are hidden right now inside my growcamp together with one Hoya and other succulents that needs to be drier during winter period, nothing showing right now. But I am letting them have some liquid gold today, nothing like Mother Nature's juice..hope it does not get too cold tonight for them. Maybe this will be their last dose for this year, and will really try and protect them from too much cold rain.

I used to just let them survive winter outdoors unprotected, but I do see they struggle a lot, at times barely making it. So giving it a different approach this year and see how it goes.

beckygardener said:Cameron - I typically garden organically, but with some of my plants, I have to use chemicals. Scale is one of the few plant pest that requires me to use a chemical. I use 2-In-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care. I mix a diluted treatment (with water) and water the plants with it. It may take a while to see it work, but the chemical will stay in the soil and plant for a very long time. I also have to treat my Gardenia bush (in a container) with this same chemical (for scale also).

Thanks for that tip Becky. I've tried using diluted alcohol, neem oil, and insecticidal soap, but none have worked. The scale just comes back with a vengeance. I'll try the Systemic Rose &Flower Care.

@tarev Your epis look great Tarev. I wish I could keep mine outdoors all year.

Here is my epiphyllum oxypetalum, my largest epi

Looks very healthy!

Thanks Carol. I couldn't believe how much it's grown. Hopefully it won't lose a lot of growth like last winter?

Oh, I have some too.

OMG! Those are gorgeous epis, Anna!!!

Anna, those are drop dead gorgeous and breathtakingly beautiful. I want some of what she's having. I can't stop looking at those photos. I already feel a new addiction coming on. Thanks for enabling, ah hem . . . sharing.

Those are beautiful Anna. What do you feed them to get all those blooms.

Oh Anna, they are stunning!!! You should put a few pictures in the database: http://garden.org/plants/brows... if you don't know the cultivar names you can upload them to the general entry: Epiphyllum

I suppose I need to hang my head and admit that I don't have them any more. I did take a start from the red, pink, and yellow, and put them in one hanging basket. I still have that. They just got SO huge I couldn't deal with them. I also have some other epy's..........those have names but I don't have pix. I guess I better take some when they bloom again.

Thanks for the appreciation of them, tho they are no longer with us. LOL

Anna, Those were spectacular! Even if you no longer have them, we would love to hear your secret formula for growing them.

We can still learn from others' mistakes/regrets or whatever the case may be. Don't feel bad, I'm sure that all of us at some point, get tired of dealing with certain things, plants included. In fact, that's just about how I got the few cuttings that I do have. A generous enabler on this site offered the ones she was cutting back for postage. Several of us took advantage of the offer.

Anna the pink one reminds me of German Empress.

That one is on my wish list.