Rita's Epiphyllum
31 May 2010 10:34:53
Rita's Epiphyllum
Two days ago, when I was watering my orchids, I noticed that the 3rd Epiphyllum leaf piece, that Rita gave me last summer in Belvedere, has started to grow.
Rita gave me one leaf, to make a cutting from, and told me to be very careful about which way up to plant it. I took the leaf home and cut it in 4 and planted all 4 pieces. Two started growing that autumn, one is not yet growing and this one has just started.
But the really funny thing is that it looks like I planted this leaf segment upside down as the shoot is emerging from below soil lever, rather than from the top as with the other successful pieces.
I laughed first at being such a wally, after Rita's careful instructions, but then I noticed something. The piece which is now growing 'upside down' is a leaf tip. I can tell from the way the leaf tapers into the soil (see front of photo). The first one to sprout was also a leaf tip and that was obviously the right way up (behind in photo). As each leaf has two tips, that means I did plant the cuttings the right way up!
It would seem, therefore, that the 'right way up' changes half way up an Epiphyllum leaf and half the leaf should be planted one way, the other half the other way, always with the leaf tip up! I think...
But one thing is sure - Rita is somewhere having a good old laugh at me now : )