The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Cacti and succulents => Topic started by: John J on May 01, 2014, 06:53:42 PM

Title: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 01, 2014, 06:53:42 PM
A few years ago we got 3 different, very small, Epiphyllum hybrid plants from a local specialist grower. We have nursed them on in pots at the front of the house and this year they have all produced flower buds. Our patience finally paid off this evening as the first of them opened up. This one is called 'Desert Moon'. The picture quality is not great as it was a bit breezy and the light was not good, that's my excuse anyway!
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Trevor Australis on May 02, 2014, 02:37:27 AM
That's great to see John. Lovely and easy to grow, and an inspiration to Med gardeners everywhere. Pot plants add another dimension to our gardens.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Alice on May 02, 2014, 04:21:59 PM
Stunning, John.
Is it one of those plants that produces spectacular flowers at night which, according to a comment in the "Mediterranean Garden" some years ago, look like wet socks the following morning?
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 02, 2014, 06:22:59 PM
Was it me that described them that way, Alice? It is certainly apt for the flowers of Epiphyllum oxypetallum, they open as it grows dark and are hanging all limp the following morning. This is our first experience of this particular hybrid and we were very surprised to find that although it opened at dusk last night it was still fully open this morning and even now, at 9pm, it is not showing much sign of closing. We have 2 others that have produced their first flower buds this year and we are waiting to see what they look like. They are 'J T Barber' and 'Elektra'.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Alice on May 03, 2014, 01:07:06 AM
I don't know if it was you, John, and I can't at the moment find the article.
I am sure it referred to Epiphyllum oxypetallum and I was quite amused because that is exactly what the flowers looked like the next day - wet socks.
Glad to hear that the flowers of the hybrids last longer. Looking forward to seeing photos of the others.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 03, 2014, 05:05:42 AM
The flower stayed open last night and this photo was taken this morning as it heads into its second day, although it is beginning to show signs of ageing. One thing that is noticeable is that even though it has a scent it is very light and nowhere near the mind-blowingly powerful one emitted by E oxypetallum.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 04, 2014, 06:36:31 PM
This evening, at the end of its third day, it is finally drooping but two others are opening to take its place.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Trevor Australis on May 05, 2014, 01:14:41 AM
The Epi's are pollinated by night flying moths with a very long proboscis. If you don't have such creatures about it seems they flowers last 3 days before collapsing without being fertilised.

I like growing Rhipsalis too. They are smaller  than Epi's but have much more varied stem/leaf forms.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 05, 2014, 04:47:20 AM
Trevor, I have never seen any pollinators of any kind around our E. oxypetallum over the years and these new hybrids don't attract any either, unlike the flowers of the Hylocereus undatus that literally swarm with bees.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 12, 2014, 04:40:54 AM
Our E. 'JT Barber' has eventually opened. Rather paler than 'Desert Moon'. The supplier identified the different varieties by writing their names in marker pen on the flattened stems. He had in fact written 'Dessert Moon' on the first one but I guess that must have been a slip of the pen!
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 17, 2014, 06:34:36 PM
This is E. 'Elektra'. Apologies for the terrible photo quality but it was too dark for my little camera to cope with. If the flower is still open tomorrow I'll try for a better one.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 18, 2014, 04:25:27 AM
Still open this morning so photos a little better. Very disappointing that the hybridisation process seems to have eliminated that amazing scent that the species has.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Trevor Australis on May 19, 2014, 12:39:53 AM
How many flowers do you get? What size is the plant? I assume you grow it in a hanging basket or pot. Do you feed it? I find it hard to comprehend the flowering regime of these plants and when I should feed them. Should I feed for growth or to promote flowering (with high potash content)?
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 19, 2014, 07:18:48 AM
To try to answer your questions,Trevor.
The E. oxypetallum is a large, unruly beast (see first photo) that produces masses of flowers in mid summer.
The hybrids are relatively small as yet (second photo is 'JT Barber', third is 'Elektra on the left and 'Desert Moon on right) and have only flowered for the first time this year now, in May, which is much earlier than the species.
I have been feeding them with a balanced liquid fertiliser at infrequent intervals (meaning when I remember to do it!) starting in the spring and ending after the large one stops flowering, usually sometime in Sep. During the winter I reduce the watering, just keeping the compost moist.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Trevor Australis on May 20, 2014, 12:00:19 AM
Thanks John, that gives me a few more cultural clues than I had. Watch out for an epi called Marniera chysocardium - it is HUGE with massive fishbone style leaves that I love. Mine is about 3m high but has never flowered. It doesn't like our winter chill, even in a sunny greenhouse.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 20, 2014, 07:12:57 AM
Trevor, did that used to be a Selenicereus? We have a Fishbone plant that I believe is a type of Selenicereus although I'm not sure which. It used to flower but over the last few years seems to have gone into a sulk and refuses to do so. I've recently moved it to see if a change of scenery might cheer it up a bit!
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Trevor Australis on May 22, 2014, 12:18:00 AM
I'm not certain about the name tho' I do understand that Marniera has been challenged as a 'new' genus. Obviously the Marnier-Lapostole family (Les Cedres Bot. Gdn.) are happy to be thus commemorated for their serious support of botanical exploration, plant introduction and science. I will try to double check on the current view of what the plant is.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 11, 2015, 06:11:07 AM
The first of our Epiphyllum hybrids to flower this year. This one is E. 'Desert Moon'.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 14, 2015, 06:40:50 AM
Our Epiphyllum 'JT Barber' has decided to join the show. I have tried to find out who JT Barber was and why he warranted having this hybrid named after him but with little success. It seems he lived in Chelford in the county of Cheshire in the UK and after the Second World War he catalogued many of the hybrids being produced in the USA at that time. Apparently these were difficult to obtain due to the British government restrictions on shipping dollars out of the country.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on October 12, 2016, 07:35:27 PM
Our Epiphyllum oxypetallum has decided to go in for a late display this year, perhaps due to the fact that the daytime temp is still pushing 30C even now in Oct. These photos taken at around 9.30 this evening.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Alisdair on October 13, 2016, 09:22:45 AM
Wow!
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on August 21, 2017, 07:34:37 AM
Opened the blinds this morning to be greeted by a rather late flower on our Epiphyllum 'Desert Moon'. Its size can be seen in comparison to my hand. Not the greatest photo but holding the camera one-handed is not the most stable platform.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: Alisdair on August 21, 2017, 09:46:00 AM
John, sensational! (I've taken a copy for myself, in the hope that you'll let me use it on the MGS Facebook page sometime....)
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on August 21, 2017, 12:10:15 PM
If you think it's good enough, Alisdair, then be my guest.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: John J on May 02, 2018, 06:59:10 AM
I don't know the name of this hybrid as the person we got it from had only written 'yellow' on the leaf. This is the first time it has flowered.
Title: Re: Epiphyllum hybrid
Post by: David Dickinson on May 02, 2018, 09:23:25 AM
Beautiful flower John. Pity the name wasn't given. I know that plant labelling is a sore point with you too.