I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we can post our blooms as they occur throughout the year.
This is my first for February. Its Bagdad. There is another bud that might open before the end of the month. I think my other buds will hold off until March.
Notice some of the plants are so top heavy the pots fall over. I'll probably trim back a lot of growth so the pots stand upright.(more cuttings) The blooms don't do well with the branches on the bench.

Thats a pretty one, Mike. I took some of mine out today. I may have to put them back in for a little while, but they needed fresh air.

that is pretty. Linda, yours is also pretty--your avatar. What is it?

Thanks Linda. I went and attacked a couple of those large plants in toppled 2 gallon pots today. I had to trim a lot of growth off to get the pots to stand up. They look a lot better and take up less bench space. Some branches were not worth keeping but I ended up with 70 cuttings from three different varieties and still have four pots to clean up. I have the bench space for the 6 inch cutting pots but not looking forward to this time next year. Does it mean another greenhouse. Am I crazy or what.
Also found 9 new buds on Strictum and its only February.
Looking forward to lots of great photos this year.

Deebie, That avatar it is an epi that bloomed for me last year. It had a tag in the pot, but I had used a pencil and could no longer read the name. It is now of my orphans. It looks like it could be Millenium, or California Dream.

Mike, I have thought about your dilemma. Crazy for another greenhouse? Well I can't see anything remotely negative about another greenhouse. (LOL) In fact, I would like to put a couple more small greenhouses in my yard and then turn the aviary/greenhouse into a studio. I added another epi to the bunch this week, I will soon need to add more greenhouse space.My Strictum usually doesn't bloom until August. How did you get yours to bloom in February?



Our nights are getting warmer now, I can put mine back outside for a couple of weeks. I will trim mine up then and re-pot some cuttings I rooted last year.

Beats the heck out of me Linda. Strictum was one of the last to stop blooming last autumn.

I'm with you Linda, my Strictum doesn't bloom until fall, usually in September. I wonder if feeding mine more regularly will help it to bloom sooner. Or else, our growing season is not long enough. I usually keep mine cool in the garage for the winter, but this year, I kept a small pot growing indoors. I'll make a note if it blooms earlier.

Welcome to March.
Three blooms out this morning. 2 Guiding Star and one Bagdad. The Guiding Star are small, about 2 1/2 inches. I think the plant is weak and they won't open all the way. The Bagdad is a much better quality bloom than the one last month, probably due to warmer longer days.
Strictum buds are hanging in there. A couple of small buds may have dropped but probably will get four or five.
Checked out my largest "Grand Prize" plant and find six or seven tiny buds developing. A non Epi person would probably need a magnifying glass. May not open until April.
The last pic is Rhypsallis Elliptica (spelling might be wrong) Blooms are about the size of a ladybug.

Here is a better focus on Guiding Star

Mike, I am so excited for your blooms. I took most of mine out of the cold frame this week. Going to have nice temperatures for the next 2 weeks. By then, we may just get a brief cool spell, but the cold weather should be finished. We will see.
My ackermanii had 1 bloom in February, and it looks as though it is setting lots of buds now. German Empress, and a noid are trying to set buds now. I hope they bloom soon.

Very nice, Mike. I have Rhipsalis Elliptica too, but it's new for me, and I've yet to see it bloom. Like Ibartoo, I think I'm going to take my plants out of the garage, for a little sun. But I have to keep a sharp eye out for a sudden cold spell. I need to put them somewhere I can quickly cover them, if the weather changes, rather than haul them in and out.

Here is the latest March bloom, Wild Acclaim. I have a job telling some of them apart.
Lots of buds coming. Looked back at last years blooming record and this year is looking about the same but just more blooms. I will post new blooms as they come. The Curly Locks that were planted as seed Nov.2014 now have buds.
Back in November I had a seed pod on Epi. Phyllanthus (I think that's the name. Ursula will confirm). Well it just fell of the plant a few days ago. I separated the seeds and put them on paper napkin and, voila, this is what I have after about 5 days. Next challenge is to get them into pots..... but oh so many.

Mike, you make me want to go for seeds again. LOL

Doing seeds is kind of scary. I wait until they have two seed leaves and then gently lift them and put them into pots of soil. 4 rows of three in a four inch pot. I did 24 seedlings this afternoon and can hardly see the difference in the number of seedlings. Of course some seeds will not thrive and I only select the strongest. I'm thinking about 50 seedling with a 50% survival rate for those so that's still 25 more pots of plants. It can get out of control! Of course if they all survive ... say no more.
(I noticed some buds on your Strictum this afternoon)

Rob, that's a lot of seedlings. What do you use for potting soil for the seedlings. Is it different from what you use for mature plants?

Hi Carl, this is Mike :), who is Rob,

My problem is I have a job throwing out good seedlings. I could end up with more than 50.

Nothing special just the Miracle Grow potting soil for the seedlings and cuttings. I've done some Fuschia cuttings recently and they seem to be doing well in Miracle Grow ($16 for 2 cu ft)

I use the cheaper Supersoil ($8 for 2 cu ft) for mature plants. It tends to be more fiberous although I noticed recently it varies from bag to bag. One bag I had a couple of months ago was almost like sand and would not drain and the latest one has lots of wood fiber in it, but for half the price of Miracle Grow and with the amount I use I have to watch the budget. If I had the time I would probably mix some cinder and orchid wood chips in as well as the Epis like good drainage.

Looking our for the spring specials on potting soil about this time of the year.

Mike

Mike, yes, that is Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. phyllanthus. And that is a lotta seedlings!!

Sorry, Mike. I went up and read your name. Must have been a brain fart.

Thanks for the info. Basically, you do nothing special.

I tend to mix my own from compost (made from the collected green waste at the dump), red lava rock and some garden soil. I try to keep the drainage good. My epis are doing very well other than scale. A lot of that is due to crowding.

My problem is that I never throw out a piece that breaks off. I just stick in a pot and root it. I'm going to have to give some away soon.

I haven't tried seedlings yet. Almost. The ripe fruit with all the tiny seeds was tempting. All of mine are NoIDs. And all of my fruit have been from bee or wind crosses.

How long from seed to bloom on average? With irises it's 2 years and I was told daffodils take 7 years.

This pink one goes crazy at bloom time every year.

That's a pretty pink bloom, Carl. and thanks for joining us and posting your photo.

Interesting discussion Carl, no problem with name but it was kind of spooky as my wife's name is Robin.

How long have you been growing Epis.

Green waste mulch from our dump is a problem. We fear picking up Fire Ants. The county also throws in wooden pallets which could be treated and lots of nails. I had one load delivered some years ago and found plastic and parts of golf balls. It was like an archeological dig.

Yes, scale was a big problem for me last year, and branch rot. Worst case I have had in years. Lost quite a few older plants. Spraying and hand wiping branches.

Sounds like we both need a support group for our obsession. Can you post some pics of your plants, I'm curious to see your overcrowding. I find it difficult to give away my "children" once they are growing. My greenhouse is like the International Space Station - I keep adding rooms.

The variety I am now growing from seed is a fast grower. I did some Curly Locks seeds 18 months ago and they are now blooming. But beware, some of the regular Epis take seven years or more to get to bloom age. I did some of those some years ago and they have still not bloomed. Its a labor or love for those kinds but something everyone should do once.

Enough for now, must go out and look for more buds!

Mike