Re: Night-blooming cereus
- Subject: Re: [SG] Night-blooming cereus
- From: M* D*
- Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:40:03 -0300
Jim-
Thanks for the pruning info for NBC (Epiphyllum oxypetalum). My Dad has
one that it now too large to move outdoors- lives in a south facing
window, with room temperatures of about 70 F year round, and constantly
puts out the round shoots to lengths of 8 to 12 feet or more! Little shop
of horrors indeed. It blooms in three or four flushes a year, generally
August to October, sometimes as many as 20 spectacular blooms a night!
It is our belief that this (and other Epiphyllums) are prevented from
setting buds by turning the pot. In other words, the main trick to get
them to bloom is NOT to turn the pot. That was a hint sent out by the
American Epiphyllum Society back in the 70's, and it works for us.
I have a friend who lives in Caracas. NBC is treated like a climbing
'vine' there- climbs over walls and houses- she describes going out to
market early in the morning (still dark out) while the blooms on the
cactus are still open; when she comes home from shopping, the sun is up
and the flowers have all collapsed.
Marlene Davis
Nova Scotia.
On Mon, 8 Jul 2002, J.E. Shields wrote:
> Yes, Marge, I think that is the proper name for the flat-leafed, spineless
> "Night Blooming Cereus."
>
> To prune, watch for the new basal growth that comes out quickly as round
> (not flat) shoots. If you pinch out the very tip of that shoot when it
> reaches what you consider sufficient length (12 to 24 inches maybe), it
> will cease elongation (it does apical elongation, not basal as in many
> bulbs) and throw some lateral shoots. These laterals will be flat leaves
> and will bear the flower buds later.
>
> Or you can just hack it down to stubs about 4 or 5 inches long, and let if
> sit there and sulk for a couple of years. After sulking, it will
> eventually start to grow again.
>
> Lots of fun!
>
> Jim Shields
> in central Indiana
>
