Hello everyone, I'm thrilled to see that epi's now have their own forum.

I grow a few here in GA, all started from cuttings. They've survived this year, despite my neglect.

I would love to hear from you all about how you care for your epi's, and what kind of fertilizer is recommended to get them to bloom.

My plants are presently in the basement. I usually take them to my back deck when it warms up in the spring. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was not able to take them outside this year. They'll spend the winter by the window, sharing the space with my other tropical plants.

Anna, I also am amazed at all the blooms on your Epis- awesome!
I have a large ackermanii, a couple years with me now. Red bloom. Winter has it in the basement, summer it hangs in a dogwood tree. New this year, two smaller ones of another one that has pink bloom, a hybrid or maybe Disocactus- pink- picture from the mother plant. I am still learning with these. This summer I pruned all the long branches in hopes that it would fill out instead of having just those super long stems. I think I need to fertilize much better, now, seeing Anna's.

Another admission......I don't fertilize them much, just let them do their own "thing".

Anna, Your plants are beautiful. I have a great collection, but they either haven't bloomed or bloom very sporadically. I was much better about feeding them last year, but they overwinter in an old aviary and have very little light during the winter. The plants are healthy, but without the light, they don't set buds much. I have 1 bud right now and it is on an ackermanii that hangs directly under the light all winter. I would love to see 1 of mine covered in blooms like yours.

What do you all use for fertilizer, and for those of us who have dormant plants, when do you start back fertilizing?

I don't fertilize much for anything. But last year I got Vigoro blue crystals stuff. I like the 'weakly weekly' idea of fertilizing, and use rainwater for all watering.
My red EPi ackermanii set buds and even bloomed last year while still inside late winter, with little light. The couple I have don't seem to believe much in going dormant. I'll think about adding fertilizer back in February , March at least, if I DO remember to do it..

Most of the sellers recommend a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer summer to fall, none in winter, and bloom food ( 0-10-10) in spring. I try to stick to the numbers...when I remember at all. Mine do live outside all year though, and most likely get time release pellets and hose water in summer. Fall, winter and spring are mostly just dates on a calendar around here, rather than actual weather patterns.

Thanks for the fertilizing info @ctcarol!

I do have some 0-10-10 that I'll apply to the plants in the next few weeks. We'll see if I can get some blooms this year.

Thanks for reminding me to get the 0-10-10. I will probably feed mine next month. Surprising amount of growth showing right now!

I have used the brug formula to fertilize mine too. Ammonia, beer, molasses and epsom salt. They seemed to like it. Last year I used a low nitrogen formula. This year I will probably try to get some more of the 0-10-10.

I've just discovered this epiphyllum Forum.
I've had several blooms in November and December ( when it is Spring here).
These are some of them
Disocactus phyllanthoides






Summer carnival




Letty Mae



Editha Paetz

Love your blooms Cecilia! Mine are still in lala land.

Some other blooms
Foxy Lady


Pegasus




And this was given to me as Clown but when it bloomed I was told it was mislabeled

I am trying to understand how much cold temps the epis can really take. Before I leave them outdoors too in winter, with all the sun and rain, but with cold and wet I see patches of black rot, which dries out later on but leaves a really bad mark. This year I kept them undercover. Trying to see if I can start bringing them out. Or maybe not..will just hold out a bit more till end of Feb.

Thank you Tarev.
There was a big flood in 2013 here and I lost several plants. They stayed 12 hours under one meter of water. And I lost the tags of some others. So, I don't know exactly what I have.

Wow! 12 hours under water! that is really heartbreaking!

Yes ! And that water was also into my house, so I had to pay attention to many other things before taking care of my plants.

Glad to see your collection is back and thriving very well!

tarev said:Love your blooms Cecilia! Mine are still in lala land.

Your blooms are gorgeous Cecelia! Very little growth going on here in Georgia.

Sorry to hear about the previous damage to your plants due to the flood, I'm glad you have plants that are doing well now.

My plants won't be able to go outside until the end of Apirl, due to the risk of frost, which can still occur here in late April, and our last frost date being sometimes in mid May.

Thanks for sharing your blooms, which are so pretty, and refreshing to view at this dank, cold, dreary time of year here.

wow Cecilia, stunning flowers!