BCSS - Forum

This is my first post as a new member. I have grown various cacti for many years and have a collection of Epiphyllums. I am interested to know what growing medium others use in these times of variable composts.

Welcome to the forum, Jackie. Your post about compost is in the wrong section of the forum, (Photography, computers and other tech) so I will report it, and hopefully one of the mods can place it in a more appropriate section for you, where it will attract more attention and advice.

Jackie wrote:This is my first post as a new member. I have grown various cacti for many years and have a collection of Epiphyllums. I am interested to know what growing medium others use in these times of variable composts.

I use sphagnum around the roots and a mix of pine bark and cat litter for my Ephiphyllums. But I grow mine in a high humidity glass cabinet under artificial light

I have just started my collection, so things may change

I grow mine in just the same compost as my other plants, and am being rewarded right now with a good show of flowers (Epiphyllums, and others). My compost is
1/3 Ericaceous John Innes
1/3 Coir
1/3 Granite grit
and water every watering with 1/2 strength Ericaceous Miracle Grow.

Hi Jackie , I mostly use multi-purpose compost . I have quite a lot of them including a couple that were my Grandmothers......I have no idea where she acquired what must have been an unusual plant to have back in her day .....there were no garden centres back then ....she used plain old garden earth . As for feeding the plants ..hmm....she kept chickens and rabbits so I expect the earth around her compost heap was good ...but yes she would have used garden earth . I have pictures of her with her Epies in full bloom .
My Epies flower best in my unheated greenhouse and I have a shade net over them so that they dont get sun scorched . Indoors they grow very lush but tend not to flower .
I think most of mine (in my greenhouse that is ) have now finished flowering and my next job is to tidy them up , prune and take cuttings .
The flowers are absolutely breathtaking ! I adore Epiphyllums ! Debbie

Reminds me of my grandma, who had a huge xmas cactus. When she repotted it, she put a well matured cowpat in the bottom of the pot...

ralphrmartin wrote: ↑Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:37 pm Reminds me of my grandma, who had a huge xmas cactus. When she repotted it, she put a well matured cowpat in the bottom of the pot...

Lol ! Love this ! Debbie

What temperature is required for Epiphyllums in the winter?

I used to keep quite a few down to 5C. They would get a bit marked, but survived surprisingly low temperatures. I guess some are more hardy than others, however.

I keep mine in my ‘hot’ greenhouse which is a 6x8 and is kept at above 7c. I’ve not seen any issues at this regime.