Cactus blooms 1 night a year, but it's worth wait
In my quest for unusual houseplants, I was fortunate to find a night blooming cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum).
This cactus, native to South America and Mexico, produces gorgeous, fragrant flowers that bloom only one night a year. This summer, my husband and I experienced the miracle of these flowers as they opened their glorious petals and released their exquisite fragrance.
The night blooming cereus has long stems that vary in thickness. It can grow to 10 feet tall and can be trained to climb.
The night blooming cereus blooms when it is 4 to 5 years old during the summer months.
In Western Pennsylvania, the night blooming cereus is grown as a houseplant that can be placed in light shade outdoors in the spring and summer months and brought inside to filtered sun in the fall and winter months.
Cereus are fertilized in the spring with an organic houseplant fertilizer.
A well-draining potting soil or cactus mix is their preferred growing medium. Propagate by stem cuttings, allowing the stem to dry and harden before inserting it in a propagation medium.
Our cereus is about 5 years old; it is about 5 feet tall and is rather unruly with its tumbling stems.
We have the plant staked in a large container.
During the last week of June, our cereus began the blooming process. Over a week's time, about eight, long slender pink stalks, followed by white petals, about 5 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter, appeared.
These flower buds resembled a small sea anemone.
The buds remained closed until around 8 p.m. July 7 when they opened for their one night showing. The flowers were awe-inspiring.When in bloom the flowers resemble a starburst, with at least four layers of soft, white petals framed by long pink sepals.The flower's stamen and pistils were delicate white and yellow and nestled inside the white petals. The faint fragrance was sweet and pure.The next morning, our blossoms closed and appeared the same as before their bloom.If our cereus had been pollinated by a moth during its brief bloom period, our plant would produce large red juicy fruit.The night blooming cereus is an unusual plant that is easy to care for and beautiful to behold. Consider owning one and make sure you are home to experience its one-night show.<em><b>Lisa Marie Bernardo is a Penn State Master Gardener of Butler County.</em></b>
