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Orchid Cactus

Epiphyllum bloom as late as October.

More than seven thousand cultivars of orchid cactus are hybrids of various species. The majority are progeny of the genus Disocactus, which was formerly Epiphyllum. They are of the family Cactaceae, but are very different from familiar cacti. Most are from tropical forests of Central America where they grow as epiphytes. They literally hang from trees.

Orchid cactus, like all cacti, lack conventional foliage. What seems to be foliage is really their flat green stems. Their white, pink, red, orange or yellow flowers bloom for summer or about now. Flowers are about five or six inches wide or possibly wider, and alluringly fragrant. Some cultivars bloom only at night, then close their big flowers during the day.

Orchid cactus, unlike other cacti, prefer partial shade. They might burn if too exposed to direct sunlight during warm weather. They are also vulnerable to frost. Irrigation should maintain soil moisture, except during winter. A dry resting period of about two months in winter stimulates bloom. Nitrogen fertilizer can inhibit bloom. Orchid cactus propagates very easily from stem cuttings in loose media.

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Family Trees For All Plants

Sequoia sempervirens of the family Cupressaceae.

Botanical nomenclature is a standardized system of naming plants. It can be confusing since it is all Latin. Some of it is Latinized from other languages or is Latinized names of botanists. For home garden applications, it includes the name of a genus and a species. Variety names are more specific. A less specific botanical classification is that of family.

Hence, varieties are classifications within a species. Species are classifications within a genus. Genera (which is plural for genus) are classifications within a family. It should be no wonder why common names are more common than botanical names. However, the problem with common names is that they are regionally variable. They are not universal.

Taxonomy is the standardized system of classification for all biological organisms. It can be more involved or confusing than nomenclature. Families fit into orders, which fit into classes, which fit into divisions, which fit into kingdoms. Any average garden enthusiast certainly does not need to know all these categories. Such is for professional botanists.

Familiarity with certain botanical families might be useful, though. It provides insight into characteristics of some or most members of particular families. Different species of one genus are generally similar to each other. Similarly, different genera of one family might be similar to each other. Such similarities are not likely as obvious, but they are helpful.

For example, coastal redwood, or Sequoia sempervirens is of the family Cupressaceae. All members of this family are coniferous. With only three exceptions, all are evergreen. Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is also of the extensive family Cupressaceae. Therefore, without prior experience, it is easy to assume that it is an evergreen conifer.

Some families are very diverse, though. The Rosaceae family includes strawberries and apples, which do not seem related. The Cactaceae family is famously endemic to desert climates. However, several of its genera are conversely endemic to tropical rain forests. Therefore, expertise with botanical families is useful for some but not all generalizations.

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Six on Saturday: Six Mix

My Six again lack a common theme. These are just random pictures.

1. Coleonema pulchellum, breath of Heaven is supposed to bloom for spring but actually blooms whenever it wants to. This was supposed to be a low grower but is a large shrub.

2. Salvia greggii ‘Hot Lips’ autumn sage might actually be Salvia microphylla. I learned it as Salvia greggii. It is blooming right on time but it also blooms whenever it wants to.

3. Salvia greggii, autumn sage also might actually be Salvia microphylla. It blooms for autumn only but is more colorful than ‘Hot Lips’. Its bloom is the color of perennial pea.

4. Lathyrus latifolia, perennial pea grows and blooms through spring and early summer to then die back through late summer. A few that get water may bloom until about now.

5. Trifolium pratense, red clover happens to be a weed, but blooms with these delightful pale pink flowers. Bees are fond of them. It would be nice if more weeds were this pretty.

6. Echinops ritro, globe thistle is beginning to bloom again. It is relatively new to me, so I am unfamiliar with its bloom season or life cycle. I am pleased that it is so happy here.

Anyone who would like to participate in this meme should peruse this participant guide for Six on Saturday.

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Pradhan’s Ginger Lily

Pradhan’s ginger lily is alluringly fragrant.

Ginger lilies prefer spring planting to autumn planting. This is because they are in bloom for autumn. They grow through summer to get ready. Pradhan’s ginger lily, Hedychium spicatum ‘Pradhanii’, for example, is blooming now. After bloom, deadheading neatens remaining foliage until later in winter. Then, such foliage is tired enough for cutting back.

Pradhan’s ginger lily grows by dispersing thick and vigorous rhizomes. Foliar canes are about five feet high, and lean towards sunlight. Leaves extend from side to side of each cane. Floral trusses of inch wide flowers are about seven inches high, and three inches wide. Flowers are peachy pink and fragrant like Southern magnolia bloom, but stronger.

All gingers enjoy warm and humid situations. Within local semiarid climates, they prefer partial shade through midday. Sunlight promotes bloom, but may burn exposed foliage. Soil should be organically rich and loose. Irrigation should be sufficient to maintain even moisture within such soil. Fertilizer enhances green foliar color and may promote bloom. Pradhan’s ginger lily blooms somewhat earlier than other ginger lilies bloom.

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Autumn Is Time For Planting

Autumn is time for spring bulbs.

“Autumn is for planting.” This is a common marketing campaign among nurseries at this time of year. Also, it is generally true. Of course, as with most generalizations, there are some exceptions. Bare root season is during winter. Summer bulbs prefer planting after the coldest weather of winter. Many species nonetheless prefer planting during autumn.

Cooling weather is less stressful for new plants while they begin to disperse their roots. Yet, the soil is still warm enough to promote healthy root dispersion. Later, rain will keep the soil evenly moist and provide all the moisture new plants need. Even if growth is not evident above the soil, it is probably active below. Roots grow until cold winter weather.

Simultaneously, most common pathogens and weeds are less vigorous during autumn. Many diseases need spring and summer warmth to proliferate. Insects are similarly less active now that the weather is cooler. Although weeds have dispersed their seed, some of it will not grow until next year. New plants can have the whole garden to themselves.

Planting in autumn gives the plants an advantage next spring too. Although they appear dormant through winter, they slowly continue to disperse roots. By spring, their roots are more dispersed than they would be if planted in spring. They are ready to grow as soon as the weather warms after winter. There is less delay to disperse their sustaining roots.

Many bulbs and bulb like plants are naturally dormant by late summer or early autumn. Spring bulbs, such as daffodil, hyacinth, crocus, tulip and allium, will soon be in season. Not only are they dormant, but some also bloom better after vernalization by winter chill. Bearded iris are already dormant and ready for division. So are many larger perennials.

Because some plants are dormant or visually tired by now, some nurseries have sales. This could be a good time to purchase certain items at a discount. Daylily is an example of a perennial that begins to defoliate about now. Nurseries do not want to keep them in stock while they are dormant and mostly bare. New foliage develops shortly after winter.

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Six on Saturday: October 10, 2026

After a week of summerish temperatures in the nineties, autumn is beginning to express itself, although some plants still believe that it is summer.

1. Weeds are going to seed now more than the rest of the year. While most disperse seed almost continually through their growing season, some disperse more prior to autumn.

2. Cotinus coggygria, smoke tree retains is purplish foliar color rather well until the end of summer. Pollarding enhances such foliar color, although it also compromises bloom.

3. Cornus X ‘Eddies White Wonder’ dogwood is already beginning to show a slight bit of autumn foliar color. Only a few leaves are like this while all the rest remain bright green.

4. The same dogwood is also blooming with a few flowers. I do not know if these are late from last spring or early for next spring. It does this annually and still blooms for spring.

5. Feijoa sellowiana, pineapple guava supposedly ripens about now, but actually ripens for late autumn or even early winter. These fruit are abundant but still need to plumpen.

6. Leycesteria formosa, Himalayan honeysuckle is producing its first two berries here! I realize that each of several trusses should produce several berries, but these are the first!

Anyone who would like to participate in this meme should peruse this participant guide for Six on Saturday.

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Lantana

Trailing lantana can also bloom white.

Autumn weather is not yet too cool. Trailing lantana, Lantana montevidensis, can bloom until cooler winter weather. It is almost never completely without bloom while weather is warm. Eventually, it sheds some of its foliage as it blooms less or not at all for winter. It dislikes the shade and dampness of fallen leaves. Raking removes most of such debris.

Trailing lantana trails with sprawling and thin stems. It is generally less than a foot high, but can spread more than six feet wide. It can climb higher than a foot into shrubbery or other support. Its inch long leaves are strongly aromatic. Its tiny lavender flowers bloom in small, dense and circular trusses of about twenty. One cultivar exhibits white blooms.

Trailing lantana is most popular as a small scale ground cover. It can alternatively grow with a mix of flowering perennials. It cascades nicely from big pots or elevated planters. Though undemanding, it prefers good sun exposure. Partial shade compromises bloom. Trailing lantana tolerates mediocre soils and lapses of irrigation. It is vulnerable to frost. Also, it is toxic to grazing livestock. It is readily available from nurseries, in four inch and gallon pots.

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Autumn Weather Eventually Becomes Cooler

Some foliage turns color for autumn.

Cool season vegetables and cool season annuals might still seem early. The weather is not yet notably cool, although it is not as warm as it was for summer. Nevertheless, it is now autumn. The weather will become increasingly cooler and eventually rainier before winter. Plant growth will decelerate. Some foliage will become both colorful and messy.

As the weather cools, irrigation will become less demanding. Evapotranspiration, which is evaporation from foliage, decreases substantially. Deciduous plants defoliate, so can not transpire. Evaporation from soil also decreases. Rain will dampen everything that is not under a roof later in autumn. Then, irrigation will be redundant until the rain pauses.

Rain later in autumn typically accompanies storms. Stormy weather can damage trees, or potentially destabilize some. It is therefore important to address arboricultural issues now, prior to stormy weather. Arborists will be busy later, so may not be able to respond to emergencies immediately. After autumn, winter storms can be even more destructive.

As plant growth decelerates, pruning and mowing will become less necessary. Hedging may not be necessary again until growth resumes in spring. Late pruning can stimulate new growth. Such growth would be susceptible to damage from stormier winter weather later. Rain might sometimes delay lawn mowing, which should be less frequent anyway.

Some deciduous foliage becomes colorful as the weather cools and the nights lengthen. Even more of it becomes messy. As autumn progresses, it necessitates raking from turf and hardscapes. Unraked foliar debris causes mildew within lawns, and shades out the grass. Foliage also stains hardscapes, clogs drainage, and becomes a slipping hazard.

Gardening certainly evolves with the seasons. Some tasks become less demanding for autumn, or unnecessary. Others become more important. This autumn may precede an extreme El Nino winter. It is therefore advisable not to neglect garden maintenance as it becomes necessary. Minor concerns can become major when the weather gets stormy.