Good morning, gardeners!
Autumn arrived in Dallas TX last Monday after what seemed like an endless five months of 95o+ summer and four months without rain. Temperature swings of 45o+ confused the h*ll out of three varieties of potted tropical plants: epiphyllum Hookeri, epiphyllum oxypetalum (night blooming cereus) and plumeria.
My very strong SIL usually helps me get the large, heavy pots of tropical plants moved into the house before temps fall to 40o. He was unavailable on Thursday afternoon (high temp 91o), so of course the temp fell to 42o Friday morning after we experienced a gully-washer from a cold front afternoon/evening/overnight thunderstorm. This morning’s low was 41. The tropicals had to fend for themselves this time. The next 10 days have predicted 80o+ daytime temps with lows in the 60s. Go figure; it’s Texas.
My very first diary on Daily Kos was about epiphyllum hookeri. Thought it a fitting subject for my 4th anniversary diary.
The epiphyllum hookeri (epiphyllanthus var. hookeri, ‘Hookers cactus’) shown above was started with a few cuttings from a friend’s plant 15 years ago. This plant is not an orchid. The cactus will climb 7+ feet if given a very temperate environment (never below 40o F), dappled shade, water and a trellis. Some of the branches on this plant are 4+ feet long and in the past have attached their air roots to the fence during the summer. It’s a struggle to pry them loose. They especially like to climb trees.
Here’s what the starts look like:
These starts were cut from the mother plant about 2 weeks ago, were allowed to callous over the cut end and are ready to be mailed to a gardener friend in California. The two starts on the left have one new top shoot and one new side shoot, each of which will produce another long stem. The center ribs and side veins are clearly visible. Roots generally grow from the bottom center; flowers and branches grow from the side veins and sometimes from the first root. I recommend planting at least 4 cuttings in one pot.
This plant takes a long time to mature — usually about 2-3 years, for a 10” diameter planter — then takes off with a vengeance! I’ve found that fast draining potting soil (and low nitrogen fertilization during growth period and bloom time: every other month from April thru Sept) helps speed the growing/flowering process. So does a small pot; however, small pots tip over very easily because of branch weight. In growing zones not suited to outdoors, epiphyllum hookeri is a very good house plant; give it bright indirect sunlight and lots of room! This plant can grow to become unwieldy. I have yet to learn why some veins produce new growth and others do not.
The epiphyllum produces large, fragrant white flowers that bloom only at night. Blooms wilt as soon as the sun rises. Only root-bound plants will produce flowers. Fruit (edible) will be produced if blooms are pollinated at night by moths or bats; or bees at very early sunrise when blooms are still open.
Many branches get broken moving these massive plants into the house. I just keep sticking the broken ones back into the yellow pot and hope for the best. Plant #3 had more bright indirect sunlight on its left side. All the tropical plants spend the winter in the master bathroom — on the vanity top, in stands on floor, and pedestals in the tub. Room has south and west facing windows and a large sky light. Plants go dormant in winter and don’t require much water. (Yes, I have another bathroom!)
The other tropicals I’m trying to grow are plumeria and epiphyllum oxypetalum (night blooming cereus). The cereus got way too much direct sun this summer and will need careful winter rehab in the house; debating whether to prune now. A tiny 2 inch plumeria start was gifted to me some years ago from the same California friend who got me hooked on epiphyllums! Plumeria loses its leaves in autumn. Can’t decide if these tropicals are a blessing or a curse.
Hope the autumn migration of your potted plants from outside to inside was smooth!
My Dallas gardening friend with the 30 year old epiphyllum plants has offered cuttings to anyone who wants them. Her plants have become so large they take three people to move. One in particular needs a serious haircut because it is growing lopsided — in a 15 gallon planter that’s tipped over and won’t stand up. Kos mail me with your address if you want some.
Happy Gardening to all.