Epiphyllums and other Cacti

I've decided that after coming back home that I would start growing Epiphyllums again (had to give away my last few because of lack of space, moving etc. ) and I've had some real luck on that well known online auction site with a local seller who has been practically giving away un-rooted cuttings (99p!!!!), which I will be picking up tomorrow:yess:

so far I've been able to get un-rooted cuttings of

Selenicereus grandiflorus
Epiphyllum 'London Sunshine' (nice yellow)
Epiphyllum 'Pegasus'
Epiphyllum 'Millicent Ballard' (a large white)
Epiphyllum 'Cooperii'

and a very well rooted cutting of Epiphyllum 'London Desire' (peachy pink colour) from another source

I can't wait for the flowers

I've also been trying to join a well known Epi forum but I can't get my account activated grrrr.

 

Well I picked them up this afternoon and so far I'm quite pleased some are a bit "soft" so there at least a week old which isn't bad I suppose (they need to callus anyway)

Here's some piccys I will be rooting them in 100% perlite to eliminate rot


New Epi Cactus Cuttings by AesculusGC, on Flickr
New Epi Cactus Cuttings by AesculusGC, on Flickr
New Epi Cactus Cuttings by AesculusGC, on Flickr

 

There is one beauty that grows up an electricity pole about 6kms from me, it must be 4 meters tall at least, but it is old and untidy looking but has beautiful flowers. As I am on red clay, I guess it must be pretty similar soil ... soil

My aunt and my Sis grew them but I didn't want to here because of the untidyness ... and I run a 'neat and tidy' garden done in 'rooms'. :yess:

 

Will you need an Epi Pen with those?

 

I'd love a photo Victoria if you go past anytime they are beautiful plants but they do look a bit untidy most of the year

 

Will do A ... but it's not in bloom at the moment.

 

no that's fine I just wanna see the big epi

 

Here we go A ... (sorry, looks like I had a smudgy lens ) ...





I have named it Epiphyllum phyllanthus which is the climbing cactus, but I may be wrong so please correct me if you know which it is.

The house to the side of it is a 'casa antiga' like mine and it would be a little over 5 meters to the pitch (our internal ceilings are 5 meters) so it gives you an idea of the height.

And you will note the Aloe arborescence are in bloom at the moment.

 

Wow it's huge Victoria I'm afraid I wouldn't know much about which species it is as even "experts" can only distinguish between a few species when not in flower (so I'm told ) but it's very impressive, I just hope mine don't get that big or I'll be sleeping next to them

Thank you

 

Well a number of the X Epicactus have got some tiny little root nodules on them now and even the smaller Selenicereus grandiflorus cutting has one tiny root so all is going well

only one that doesn't have any roots is X Epicactus 'London Sunshine' with one of the cuttings having to be re-cut because it started to rot and the other just not doing anything

although I had a nice surprise through the post today as I bought a couple of small Echinopsis from a BCSS member on their forums (Google is your friend) and he also sent me some other cacti as well

so the collection is growing:

• Opuntia sp.
• Echinopsis spachiana
• Echinopsis huascha
• Echinopsis mirabilis
• Harrisia nashii

and I also have some Echinopsis hybrids which have germinated from seed I purchased on eBay and also some Frailea castanea seed and Echinocereus viridifloruswhich has still to germinate

all in all my windowsills are are practically bursting, I will post some pictures tomorrow when it has brightened up

 

You're going to need a greenhouse

 

Noticed that my Echinocereus viridiflorus have now started to germinate as well

 

and my Frailea castanea have now begun to germinate

 

Well all my seedlings have done really well and are looking great! the epicactus cuttings all have at least two 5mm roots on them now and the Queen of the night cuttngs have a few small roots and lots of aerial roots although they do have some new growth which is good

I also picked up another friend at a florists over the easter weekend, I spotted a small rather sickly looking bit of what I thought was a Rhipsalis growing in the back corner of the window display and inquired if it was for sale and the lady pointed upwards to about 5 large hanging plant's so I'm now the proud owner of a very nice Lepsimium bolvianum which has lots of lovely buds on (I think the florist hadn't noticed the buds before she told me the price because it was a bargain at £4.99 ) the buds are flushed a very pretty peachy orange but I think they are pure white flowers?

I've also completed a spreadsheet of all my cacti and assigned them all unique accession numbers to help me keep track of everything.