Years ago, my mother gave me a cutting of a plant that a friend had given her years and years before that. The friend was one of her childhood friends and my mom asked me to keep the plant growing as a reminder of that friend [Aunt Peggy] who was part of my childhood.
The plant never did much in D.C. and New England but it was cool looking and so I kept it growing. It was one I had in the car with me when I left Vermont and eventually moved to Oregon.
Two other plants that made the cross-country trip were a jade plant and a Christmas cactus from my friend Freda who had given me cuttings about 15 years earlier. [All my other plants were given to friends as I had no spare room in my car and was not going to land anywhere for a long time.]
I eventually learned the plant from my mom was an epiphyllum and that it just loved Portland’s weather. In a few years it began to bloom and outgrew many pots and got too big and heavy to bring inside in the winter.
The other 2 grew more slowly and so I had room in the house for them each winter.
Fast forward to last winter and our artic blast and record setting cold 
My epiphyllum was wrapped in layers and was well sheltered or so I thought. I checked it regularly and one day it seemed "funny" so I managed to bring it in. Seems it died from the roots up so I did not see the damage until it was too late.
I found one small piece of solid green and put that in a rooting mix and in a small pot. I watched it daily and as long as it remained green I repeated the rooting powder and watering.
Then this past August – a full 8 months after I started this tender care – it started growing…At that point I realized more fully that it was my mother’s presence in my house.
I really feel good that her request of me to keep it growing had been accomplished. So Aunt Peggy and Mom – your epiphyllum is still alive – as are my love and thoughts aobut you.
My Freda plants are doing well – but Freda died this past July.
Love you too Freda and will keep the plants healthy.
P.S. ALL houseplants are now in for the winter
Years ago, my mother gave me a cutting of a plant that a friend had given her years and years before that. The friend was one of her childhood friends and my mom asked me to keep the plant growing as a reminder of that friend [Aunt Peggy] who was part of my childhood.
The plant never did much in D.C. and New England but it was cool looking and so I kept it growing. It was one I had in the car with me when I left Vermont and eventually moved to Oregon.
Two other plants that made the cross-country trip were a jade plant and a Christmas cactus from my friend Freda who had given me cuttings about 15 years earlier. [All my other plants were given to friends as I had no spare room in my car and was not going to land anywhere for a long time.]
I eventually learned the plant from my mom was an epiphyllum and that it just loved Portland’s weather. In a few years it began to bloom and outgrew many pots and got too big and heavy to bring inside in the winter.
The other 2 grew more slowly and so I had room in the house for them each winter.
Fast forward to last winter and our artic blast and record setting cold
My epiphyllum was wrapped in layers and was well sheltered or so I thought. I checked it regularly and one day it seemed "funny" so I managed to bring it in. Seems it died from the roots up so I did not see the damage until it was too late.
I found one small piece of solid green and put that in a rooting mix and in a small pot. I watched it daily and as long as it remained green I repeated the rooting powder and watering.
Then this past August – a full 8 months after I started this tender care – it started growing…At that point I realized more fully that it was my mother’s presence in my house.
I really feel good that her request of me to keep it growing had been accomplished. So Aunt Peggy and Mom – your epiphyllum is still alive – as are my love and thoughts aobut you.
My Freda plants are doing well – but Freda died this past July.
Love you too Freda and will keep the plants healthy.
P.S. ALL houseplants are now in for the winter