Re: Selenicereus grandiflorus
- To:
- Subject: Re: Selenicereus grandiflorus
- From: S* A* O*
- Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 12:30:58 -0800
At 09:23 AM 11/9/99 +0000, you wrote:
>Can anyone give me some advice on a Seleicereus Grandiflorus I have
>acquired? Its very battered, some is sort of corky and other bits have
>gone bleached looking, I think its in a state of suspended animation.
>I've supported it on canes - it must be about 3' tall (some bits have
>fallen off), in a clay pot filled with a sandy, gravelly soil. Any tips
>on how to treat it?
Selenicereus grandiflorus (syns Cereus grandiflorus, Cactus grandiflorus),
the 'Queen of the Night' cactus, is one a several cactus that go under
this name and are often confused with each other. The tend to be very
scandent, 'vining' cactus, growing up palm trees or whatever in their
native haunts in the Carribean or other sub-tropical areas. Most are
hardy to about the mid-twenties, depending upon species. Hylocereus
undatus & Peniocereus greggii (a desert plant) are others. This common
name is also applied to night blooming plants such as Ipomoea alba.
As a general rule, cacti should not be fussed with regardeing potting,
etc, when the weather has started to turn cool and wet - they can tend
to rot off under such conditions when the roots are disturbed or
damaged. If you can, it might be best to wait until spring. Otherwise,
if repotting is absolutely needed, give some heat and keep dry to help
ensure good 'healing' of cut parts. After transplanting, DO NOT water
for several days or a week or two, and then, be sure and let the plant
dry out well after each watering (but it does like to be watered).
This plant likes partial shade, growing as an understory plant in its
native land. The top growth can come out into sun, but the base should
be somewhat shaded. The soil can be a very loose, gravely but also
humusy mix. A mixture of an orchid and cacti soil would likely be
ideal. Keep out of strong wind is possible.
These cacti tend to look poorly, their sprawling growth is not
particularly attractive but it is interesting. It is best to give it
a spot where it can easily climb onto a trellis or another plant.
Continually tying it up or dealing with stems gone awry will most
likely result in breakage and a poor-looking specimen.
The flowers are amazing when they come, blooming only at night!
this is THE reason this plant is grown. If you can find a nice
situ for these species, where they can easily be ignored when not
in flower, but accessible at night when they are, it'll be great!
You often see old specimens on patios and in courtyards.
Regards,
Sean O.
related URLs:
http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Thinktank/4721/cacti/page0055.html
http://web.missouri.edu/~extgrice/nbc/ng.html (other discussion!)
Sean A. O'Hara sean.ohara@groupmail.com
h o r t u l u s a p t u s 710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose' Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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