My 2 epis are looking better than they ever have before. After spending the summer under the trees I think I found a window they like for the winter. It faces East. Its still early March and weather outside is in the 30's so they're not going outside any time soon but I'm wondering if its too early to fertilize them? I know little to nothing about epis. I had a plant bloom once in 05. But not since. I'd really like to see blooms on them! Advice please

If they are showing new growth you can lightly feed, as long as they aren't going to be subjected to late cold snaps.

Thanks Carol!

They've been growing all winter. All my house plants have been growing. My Christmas cactus (4) are on their 3rd bloom and one Hoya has grown over a foot and another about 7" while the Easter Cactus is starting its 2nd bloom.

Do Epis have a bloom season? Like spring blooming, fall blooming? I don't know what to expect or when to look for it.

Thanks for the help!

Mostly spring blooming for me, but some crosses will bloom several times a year.

I talked with you months ago about my noid that turned out to be German Empress.

Hopefully, with the feedings will come flowers! Would you advise waiting til April to feed?

You can feed any time they are actively growing. In my area where they stay out all year, they are just starting to put out new growth and buds. Once I get mine hydrated again, I'll put some Osmocote in them and call it good until they are done blooming, then add another feeding to get them through fall. In the meantime I have to water on a regular basis, as we don't get any measurable rain from April till Oct.

Miner County is considered the driest county in the state but we're not that dry!

Now where did I put that Osmecote. . .

I am feeding this week. I had taken a lot of them out of the cold frame for the spring, but we will have a drastic cooling this weekend and I thought it was best to put them back. LOL I can't wait until blooming season. Here they begin in mid April. I can't wait.

I Have three starts that need to be up-potted, but will wait until May to be on the safe side. Then I will feed the survivers, trash the two huge ones that no longer have a tree big enough to hang from, and I will be out of room for more.

It must be nice being able to leave them outside all the time. I don't have any more room for any inside. All the windows are full.

They get way to big to be house plants. The two I'm going to trash are in 18" baskets and HEAVY!

Hi Carol,

If I had a pickup truck with an outboard motor I'd be on my way to save those to big ones.

I have five good size plants on my front deck and counted 24 buds this morning. Strictum on the driveway has four or five buds and just a few here and there on other plants. Might get a couple of blooms later this month but most will start opening in April.

This is the first year I have many pots outside. Scared of too much rain. Its been relatively dry for weeks and then last Wednesday we had two hours of heavy rain. Hope pots wont be too waterlogged. Sunny and dry again for last two days.

Now that would be a picture. Crazy gardener drives Pickup from Hawaii to California for free cuttings.....I can just see the headline.

I struggle with the plants that get too big as well. I am not able to take care of the larger ones as well and I just don't have the space to protect them over the winter. Are you taking cuttings before trashing them?

I did take a few cuttings for Debora before I trashed them. I just don't have room for any more.

Aww. too bad for the big plants Carol! But I do understand what you mean when they get too big. My area being much colder and wetter in winter, helps control its overgrowth, oftentimes, getting rotting at some parts, but the remaining ones takes over, so life goes on.

Wow! I didn't realize these Epi's go so big!

Now That spring has sprung here, I Guess I have to put feeding on my to do list. All of a sudden, I'm seeing lots of buds and new growths.

Linda, I'll be happy to share some with you. I'm sure that Carol sent me more than enough.

Thanks Deebie, I have plenty now, but I just wouldn't be able to resist taking tons of cuttings. LOL Then wondering what to do with them in the winter.