Epiphyllums, commonly referred to as Epis, or Orchid cacti, have tremendous blooms - in size, color, & (often times) FRAGRANCE!  Fragrance is the one aspect of Epis that is simply not admirable unles you own one.  A single bloom on certain 'orchid cacti' has the ability to incense an entire house.  Though they don't bloom often, and in many cases blooms only last a single night, stunning beauty and ease of care make Epiphyllums a wonderful plant that can suit many lifestyles.  Attractive and for themost part disease free foliage also makes them brilliant plants when they are not blooming!

(Ric Rac Epi)

The story of my first bloom...

It was going to be the day, I knew it the moment I saw the bud.  2pm.  Strolling through my local nursery I found myself almost kicking the 4'' bud, as it hung no more than a fott from the floor - calling me.  The Epi was hidden behind the foliage of at least 5 other plants, but the moment I saw it I knew...

No more than an hour later the monster of a plant was sitting in my living room, with audience in attendance, 2 buds waiting to burst.

Don't ask me how I walked away, maybe I needed a break from the excitment, but after three hours of staring at the buds I was called away on some business.  756pm.  Walking in the front door I could smell the fragrance before I even set foot inside!  I ran to the plant, which was just beginning to open...

By 830 I needed to unload my camera!

And by 10 it was in full bloom!!

Huge, stunning (if words can even describe...), and oh the sweet smell of beauty!

and then its over...

(for now at least!)

the wait begins again, and if your lucky you may get some fruits in the mean time!

Epis bloom periodically throughout the year, the best thing to do is have a bunch of them!

Ebay is a good source for Epiphyllums, a title that encompasses many different types of flowering 'epiphytic' cacti.  The term epiphytic, a varitation of the word epiphyte, is derived from greek 'epi,' which means 'upon,' and 'phyton,' which means 'plant.'  So titled because these cacti are found growing on various plants and trees.  Epiphytic cacti like oxypetlum (the on in my pictures), like to grow in the large notches and cracks of tree trunks throughout lush jungles.  Though many of the cacti are found in the jungles of Central America, Epiphytic cacti have been propogated for over a century and can be found in lush environments around the world...new species are constantly being discovered.

How do I get an Epi?!

Epiphyllums are somewhat rare plants, it is usually difficult and expensive to locate one that is mature and blooming size (hence my previous excitment at the nursery), but every now and then a careful observer can pick one out - many people don't recognize them when they are not blooming!  One of the most popular ways of aquiring an Epi today is by purchasing a cutting.  This allows plant lovers to grow their own Epi for what is likely less than a tenth of the cost of purchasing an established cacti plant. Cuttings are leaves of cacti, typically severed at the joint.  These leaves should be left to dry for a few days before planting to give the cut time to callous over (otherwise there is risk of rot).  3-4 days minimum - a week should do the trick.  Cuttings should be planted in sand/soil/bark mixtures that will provide good drainage and watered periodically.  Like most cacti and succulents, epiphyllum root very easily and do not require very much water to do so!  Once rooted a cutting will begin to grow immediatly and could reach blooming size in as little as a year or sooner.

If I decide to get an Epi, what kind should I get?

There are many different epiphytic cactus that we know of today, some are much more common and easy to find than others.  Many people decide what type of cacti to get based on the bloom - this is not something I reccomend (unless it is an addition to the collection), because, though as beautiful as they are, they don't bloom that often!  Many Epis are shaped similaraly, with small unique variations in their hanging/leaf sturucture.  For some unique foliage among Epis one can look at 'rat tail,' 'ric rac,' 'crenatum' & fernleaf among other Epiphytic cacti - these are common names.  Epis like these still provide the same beautiful large flowers, but the style is a but more unique than some of the others (in my opinion!).  There are also many of the Cereus forms of Epiphytic cacti that are quite beautiful year round - many of this type also have flowers that last up to a week!

I have many pamphlets on care, diseases, tolerance/hardiness, propagation/cultivation and other resources about Epiphyllum - My favorite plant!  I am happy to answer any questions this guide does not address or chat with anyone that needs advice - and though I certainly do not claim to be an expert, I am happy to point you in the right direction if I can't help you out!

Happy Epi Hunting, Hopefully this guide helped, All you have to do is click at the bottom to let me know - there are no forms to fill out! Also, please let me know (email!) if there is any other information you would like to see included here and I will do my best to provide it!

Abbie

AbbiesOriginals on ebay!