[John J]

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!

[Trevor Australis]

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.

[Alice]

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?

[John J]

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'.

[Alice]

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.

[John J]

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.

[John J]

This evening, at the end of its third day, it is finally drooping but two others are opening to take its place.

[Trevor Australis]

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.

[John J]

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.

[John J]

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!

[John J]

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.

[John J]

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.

[Trevor Australis]

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)?

[John J]

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.

[Trevor Australis]

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.