Re: mushy epiphyllum

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N Sterman wrote:

How come the ends of my epiphyllum leaves (branches) turn brown and mushy?  Others get all dried and scabby.

Nan

Mushy areas on these cacti usually indicate a bacterial or sometimes a fungal attack and this in turn is an indication of less than perfect health, such as that which results from root damage due to poor drainage in the potting medium and possibly also from overwatering in cool weather. Like most epiphytes these Cacti enjoy a moist environment, but stagnant water around their roots depriving them of sufficient oxygen they cannot abide.

You should I think cut back the affected stems to good clean green tissue and if possible dust the cuts with powdered sulphur which will help to stop reinfection. At the same time repotting in fresh medium ought to improve root action and stop it happening again..

If the rot still persists you might consider abandoning the affected plant and repropagating it from a piece of clean young stem.

Dry and scabby areas are not usually due to any pathogen, but indicate some physiologic problem. They may be caused by such things as sunburn, sudden cold, even bruisingor scratching from rough handling. They can also occur on plants receiving a high-nitrogen fertilizer. (Adaptation to doing with very little nitrogen in their diet is another characteristic of epiphytes.)

Hope this is some help

Moira