Dutchman's Pipe Cactus, Night blooming Cereus

On Mar 13, 2017, smileclick from Sydney,
Australia wrote:

Another night flowering cactus i've come across with a strong fragrance is Epiphyllum anguliger (it has a strong citrus fragrance). It has smaller flowers, interesting zig zag leaves and also seems to flower more when root bound. Mine started flowering late summer with repeat blooms every few weeks into autumn.

On Sep 25, 2015, Klio35 from Westminster, CA wrote:

I was given a small plant about 7 yrs ago. Because I live in So. Calif. with the hot summers, I put it on the shady side of my patio. Year after year, nothing happened. (I never repotted or fertilized it.)

Earlier this summer, I moved it to the sunny (hot) side of the patio. It now gets about 5 hrs of morning sun. The leaves now look a lot healthier, although slightly yellow--and, it has it's first bud!!

It totally surprised me, because we've been having one heat wave after another--temps reaching the upper 80's to low 90's at the beach, where I live close to.

Anyway, I'm so excited!!

On Jun 29, 2015, Tay78 from Orlando, FL wrote:

I have a question. My 10 year old plant just bloomed 5 flowers for the first time last week and now I see what appears to be 10 to 15 more buds starting. Is this normal? Also if any one has one that has not bloomed be patient, it's well worth the wait. I found that stressing the plant a bit accompanied by music and conversation helps. :-)

On Mar 19, 2014, sijanise from Garden Oaks, Houston, TX wrote:

My mother got her 1st plant in 1975. I can't even guess how many plants have been made off of the original. All it takes is one leaf put in a pot of dirt, and poof, you have a new plant. Roots and grows amazingly. My plant thrives on neglect. I just put it in partial shade and water when it gets dry. Last year it had about 10-13 bloom cycles but its at least 7 years old and about 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. I ALWAYS put it in my greenhouse for winter or bring it inside. It does not like to get cold. Its a tropical cactus after all. I have watch parties when a a bud opens...They are bigger then my hand and the smell is amazing. Its a great looking plant when not in bloom. I adore this plant.

On Jun 4, 2013, djhh from Bloomfield Township, MI wrote:

I have had this plant for nearly 25 years; through four residents and various window directions. I have always maintained a cuttings in water for replacing any I killed.

Last year I replanted in cactus soil and set in east facing window. I HAVE A BLOOM. (Bud actually). The bud is hanging under another another plant and was almost missed.

I am not sure when it will bloom. I do not think it is mature enough to open yet, based on other pictures. The sun is shinning this week.

On Sep 1, 2012, otter1971 from Saint Augustine, FL wrote:

I inherited my mom's plant, which I had never seen in bloom before. I did a little digging around and found that this plant likes to be slightly root bound, don't go for a big roomy pot. Upon re-potting it with some fresh rich soil in a slightly snug pot it has rewarded me with explosive growth and several blooms.
I have mine hanging on a fence under a my crape myrtle trees. The plant gets good light but not direct sun. In the spring it gets more light as the trees are bare. I do little to protect it from the cold but when the temperature is supposed to go below 40 I move it under the carport next to the house or in the garage if we're expecting a freeze. Good luck with this plant. It's not the most attractive thing, but the blooms are spectacular!

On Jul 21, 2012, Work1ders from Glassport, PA wrote:

Very easy to root, moderate to fast growth.

On Nov 29, 2011, xbellatrix wrote:

What someone said several responses below: "...be patient. In my experience, E. oxypetalum thrives on neglect and eventually rewards the patient gardener with an amazing floral show."

I totally agree with this. I personally had no hands-on experience with this plant, but my mother has. Two years ago, she left this plant in a pot outside (NYC) all year round, doing absolutely nothing with it. She had half a mind to dispose of it during the winter, but decided otherwise. I can't remember which month it was, but during the summer, we started to see a couple of buds! It blooms in the very same day, at night time. We brought it inside the house and took loads of pictures. By the time we woke up in the morning, it had wilted.

This summer, it bloomed again. It's very... read more beautiful. I'll be sure to take some pictures and post it here the next time it happens! I never really appreciated how magnificent and mysterious this flower is until today.

So, regarding that quote above posted by someone here, just be patient. It'll grow on its own time and pace. I'm not aware of anything the gardener has to do to help it grow, but I'll be sure to amend this advice if I find out otherwise!

On Sep 29, 2011, Meehlticket from Daphne, AL (Zone 8b) wrote:

I live on a hill five miles from Mobile Bay. I have kept my white night blooming Cereus in a large pot for the last year and a half. It was in the full sun - at least 6 hours of hot sun. For a while I thought it was too sunny for it because some of the leaves looked yellow or bleached out. Osmacote in the spring, plus it is in light rich soil.
We had a drenching yesterday, this morning about 8 blossoms popped open. There are 26 buds still waiting to open.
Someone once told me the secret to getting a Cereus to bloom is to avoid them temptation to divide the plant - it blooms on at least year old fronds. I don't know if that is true or not.
I have a red Cereus that was kept in part sun (4 hours or less of full sun) over the summers - same age - no buds or blossoms. ... read more I think that is a clue!

On Sep 2, 2011, mlrplast from Red Bud, IL wrote:

I appreciate all of the detailed information provided for this plant and all the posts and growing experiences.

I have had an Epiphyllum that was given to me by my father nearly 43 years. In that time, it has bloomed only 4 times (I have one blossom coming on now - which counts as #5). I grow it in a terra cotta pot and rarely, if ever, transplant. We live in S.E. Illinois.

I used to take it outside - but it nearly drowned one summer before I realized it and I had to start over - salvaging the leaves and replanting. It is now large again and occupies a corner of our sun room and has grown to ceiling height. It stays there all year long. It is too large to move and has wound itself around curtain rods and our cornice for support.

I see photos o... read moref these plants with multiple blooms and know I must be doing something wrong. Can someone share their watering, fertilizing, general growing tips with me? I would love to have multiple blooms yearly, if possible. Thank you.

On Apr 24, 2011, dpostern from peekskill,
United States wrote:

I CANNOT get my two night blooming cereus to bloom! I have had the plant before and could not get that plant to bloom either. What am I doing wrong or what should I be doing to force the plant to bloom? I have had my plants for over 5 years! Please help!

On Jul 11, 2010, Heathcliffe37 from Largo, FL wrote:

Can anybody please suggest how I can solve a problem with my Cereus plant? It is growing rapidly.....and buds keep appearing--like it is trying to bloom--but then small ants (sugar ants) keep attacking the vulnerable buds and destroying it. I am spraying the plant with numerous plant soaps and oils but so far no success. My guess is the ants are attracted to the small banana cuttings I put in the soil to feed it. I have, however, covered up the organic material with plenty of soil. Your feedback and help here would be appreciated. Thanks.

On Nov 7, 2009, KhengHoe from Arlington, VA wrote:

This plant can take a lot as an indoor plant. Little sun or water, &c. Mine has at least one round of blooms each year since it has been pot-bound. Instead of cutting off the long stems, let some of the grow out but keep them tied up.

Best of all, the flower is edible. Clean the woody/pulpy part from the middle of the flower. Then just a little egg and milk followed by some panko bread crumbs for a batter and it can be pan-fried or deep-fried. No flavor but a nice novelty food.

On Sep 25, 2009, nikkidavis26 from Delray Beach, FL wrote:

Well well well My first experiance with a bloom with this unknown plant I have been watching grow and grow for 3 years now So everynight me and my fiace go for our nightly walk around the house to see how are plants are doing So... How could you miss it It was there his amazing white flower with beautiful orange and yellow spikes I found out today what type of plant it was and I so excited to wait another year till it blooms again thank nature for these beauties!

On Aug 14, 2009, weekiwacheekat from Spring Hill, FL wrote:

I must be the luckiest grower of this plant ever! I'm reading that most of you waited years before getting a bloom and I had a bloom within 6 weeks of planting one meaty leaf in a pot.
My neighbor gave me 3 large single leaves which someone had given her. I kept them in some water for a couple of weeks. Seeing they weren't going to root in the water, I bought some light potting soil, filled up 2 very large pots and planted one leaf in each one. Because of our location on the water in central Florida, I thought the remaining one leaf would grow well planted in the ground. Several months later the leaf I had planted in a protected area (lots of light but no sun) was turning a sickly yellow and had no growth whatsoever. I dug him up and planted him in a pot and now he has cau... read moreght up with the other two.
Anyway!!! About a month after planting one of the leaves in a huge pot, I noticed that it was putting out a bud. I thought about cutting it off, thinking that this one leaf couldn't even have roots yet!! And I wanted the plant to have a good start and not spend the energy of blooming. I decided to leave the bud. After all, I had 2 other leaves starting and I was anxious to see this bloom everyone was raving about on this site.
Before 2 weeks was up, I was pretty sure it was going to bloom one Sat. night. My hubby and I went out at dusk and sure enough!!! YYYEEAH!! We watched until about 1 am before we got too tired to stay up any longer. We took many pics of this silly, one leaf with a huge, white, gorgeous blossom? You are right everyone!! This plant is a blast! Now I want a zig-zag plant, which a friend is going to give me a start of. I can't harly wait!
And, this is sort of puzzling because the same leaf put out another bloom about 2 weeks ago in the month of July!! According to everything I have read, it's supposed to blossom in the winter.
I have them placed about 25 feet from the water against a stand of verigated ginger, under a porch overhang. They don't like the sun but love lots of light. All three have grown shoots and leaves and look wonderful now.

On Jun 26, 2009, dingulus from Edwards, CO wrote:

It's great to see this plant on here! I grew up in West Africa and we had these plants around the house.

It brings back great memories of when I was a child. I recently got a clipping from a plant and am growing it again and after 4 years I have my first bud!

I'm not sure if anyone posted this but there is a hint if you want to make the flower last longer than 1 night (If you want to show friends that don't believe how great it smells or couldn't be there the night of the bloom). Anyway, when the flower is starting to bloom you can clip it and put it in water in a bowl, then keep it in your fridge. It will last several days this way. If you have a lot of blooms you can save a couple! Be careful, it will still wilt in the sun right away!

If... read more someone already posted this then I'm sorry for the redundancy!

On Sep 14, 2008, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

This plant when it's not blooming looks a little bit like Audrey II from "Little Shop of Horrors." It spent the summer outside under a crabapple tree, entwining its menacing tendrils in the tree's lower branches. It has not been fertilized, and it has been sparsely watered. It may have been snagging neighborhood pets for nourishment. Come to think of it, where have all the squirrels gone?

In any case, it took eight years, but tonight (9/13/8) my e. oxypetalum bloomed. It is worth *all* of the effort. The bloom is eight inches across, and it puts on a two hour opening show. Following JFullerRenfro's excellent example, I shot a few photographs with a flashlight which have turned out to be stunning. It ain't the photographer. This flower is an amazing subject.
<... read morebr /> The fragrance of the flower is woodsy and intense up close, but once you get a few feet away it is enchanting. The fragrance is light, spicy, and not sweet, although very pleasant. It lingers on you.

Don't be afraid, be patient. In my experiernce E. oxypetalum thrives on neglect and eventually rewards the patient gardener with an amazing floral show.

On May 2, 2008, argtndgo from Cerritos, CA wrote:

A friend down the street would put a lamp on his plant's almost every night out by the street. He brought his plants over from Vietnam. People would stop and look to see what was going on. The next morning he would lay out 10 to 25 flowers each on a dark sheet as a form of trophy. He said to let them be and don't do anything but water them. He will trim them every other year to get them in line, but nothing else.

I asked him 10 years ago for a cutting and mine has now been growing in a 10 gallon pot since then. They flower when they want, usually with 2 to 4 flowers a night on the plant. Sometimes I get flowers all week sometimes a few weeks in between.

I never knew they would grow indoors so I will have to bring one in for the great smell! Thanks for the info... read more.

argtndgo

On Feb 23, 2008, xaia from Kitchener,
Canada wrote:

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is an amazing plant. Much like a Christmas cactus, a mature orchid cactus can become a beloved family treasure. It is one of my favourite houseplants as its care requirements are minimal, yet its looks make for a very unique and handsome plant. My 'Queen of the Night' has increased in size year after year, it doesn't ask for much unlike some of my other tropicals which is really nice. I put it out for the summer in the shade of either my home, or move it out under a tree in the yard where it will spend the summer and early fall before coming in for the winter. It grows really fast late in the winter and puts out long cane-like stems, which I prune by half to 3/4 of their length in the spring before I transition it outdoors. Following this, the summer growth appears an... read mored develops into those lush, jade-green, flattened phylloclades. When it does bloom the flower is absolutely gorgeous, large, white and buff, and very, very fragrant (the perfume industry has their work cut out for them to duplicate this one). The process is one to witness as it's fleeting, yet really enchanting. You will never forget a Queen of the Night when it blooms. I have propagated it with ease and shared it amongst my family and friends, it's as simple as taking a cutting, allowing it to callus for an hour or two and sticking it in a moist, free draining growing medium and forgetting about it for a few weeks. Given bright, indirect sunlight, even moisture with a drier winter rest, and a good feeding during its active growing period, this Epiphytic cactus is sure to please any who choose to grow it! I'll never be without one! :)

On Nov 14, 2007, Vic77 from North Tonawanda, NY wrote:

Hello, I am giving a “positive” experience, as I don’t have any “negative” :-)
So, I got the plant, very young, I guess cuttings from this year.
It grows well, but I guess I have to wait couple (or more!) years to get the flowers…:(
Oh, well… If anyone has a little plant (maybe 1.5 – 2 years old, or older) for trade
Please let me know. I have something in my “have” list.
About the plant – I found the brown spot on some leafs after the cold night. It happened to be the spots, which touched the pot! The pot was so cold that leafs got the freeze burn from it. I took it inside, now the spots (in the middle of the leafs, as they were connected to the pot side) looks like the dry brown spots in the middle of the green good leaf.
It’s reminder for me – no... read more cold for this plant!
Other then that – it’s OK.

On Sep 17, 2007, LKL from Hamilton, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

My Queen of the Night hasn't bloomed yet, but it is growing like a weed...and so interesting to watch. (2 yrs old)

I've started new plants by stem cuttings, and cutting a leaf into several segments. I also found out by accident, that if a leaf gets broken other leaves will start forming on that leaf or stem.

I love this plant!

On Jul 10, 2007, kialex from Olympia, WA wrote:

Our NBC bloomed last night, for the first time! We've had it for 17 years. It was a cutting from my father's plant in Corvallis, OR, which came from a cutting originally from my grandmother's ( on my mother's side ) plant in Poughkeepsie, NY. That one was huge, growing up the side of the house. It was planted in a pot set in the ground, and brought in the winter. Who knows how long it has been in the family!

We keep it indoors, and recently moved it from an E. facing window to a S. facing window. Probably because of the extra sunlight, the leaves turned reddish, as you can see in the photo, and it put out one small bloom. We also have been using city water, rather than the well water from our old home. It's been shocked this year.

On Jun 16, 2007, ladystressout from Georgetown, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

I got one last year from another gardener and it has some brownish stuff on the stem I can scratch it off. It has not bothered the plant from growing but just do not know what it is and what could be causing it.

On Jun 1, 2007, patriotnutrients from Oroville, CA wrote:

I recieved my cereus cutting, about 3 years ago, from a friend.. all he knew about the plant was that it is mentioned in an elvis presley movie.. me thinks it may have been "blue hawaii"..

none the less, the cutting rooted right away, and took off very nicely in my western exposed window.. a couple of years ago i put it outside on a sunny april morning and it nearly killed it after only about 3 hours in the direct morning light.. the poor thing barely pulled thru, and really didnt grow much at all last year.. (my amazon parrot my have been a contributing factor in last years growth.. i have since moved much more appetizing flora in his way and he seems to not be too interested in the cereus any longer.. he did feel a need to trim the spike tip off this year)
... read morer /> so it goes pretty much without saying that it hasnt bloomed yet.. i am still a bit reluctant to take it back outside, but after reading some of the postings on this thread, i may find a nice shady spot to set it..

On May 24, 2007, flafrench from Largo, FL wrote:

Our Night-blooming Cereus loves being in our shaded backyard. It receives about 1 - 2 hours of sunlight each day. It has a late summer bloom. After 3 years we finally stayed up one night and watched it bloom. Fabulous.

On Apr 16, 2007, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote:

I have mine(starting to) climbing a large Brugsmansia.How's that for a smellathon?

And i cannot believe in all these posts nobody-unless i missed it- has mentioned this plant will be devoured overnight by snails and slugs-be carefull.

On Apr 13, 2007, rucereus from Carpentersville, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:

This is truly an easy plant to grow. The only thing that upsets me is that mine has yet to bloom.The plant is very old and has produced blooms before. Since I have inherited this plant roughly 10 years ago, I have divided it,shared it with friends,and moved it out of the cold in winter and taken it outside in spring. What am I doing wrong!
8-09-07 News flash! Had one bloom about a month ago, have 3 more ready.

On Jan 20, 2007, itasmom from Yuma, AZ wrote:

I live in the Sonoran Desert in AZ. I moved my cereus from Va with me-Igot it from a cutting from a friend of mine. It bloomed once in Va but has not bloomed since we got to AZ. The summers seem too hot for it. It grows like a maniac all winter but starts to turn brown in the summer. I've recently moved it to a pedestal over a new pond we've created. Hoping the humidity and slightly lower temp by the water will help for blooms.

On Dec 1, 2006, blossombloom from Griffin, GA wrote:

How beautiful! I think I just feel head over heels (lol). I live in south Georgia and I wonder if I could have this beauty in my garden. I'll give everyone an update on this little project later on for us Georgians. Or if you happen to live in GA please give me details.

On Oct 25, 2006, QueenieBee from Anthony, FL wrote:

I have several of these growing in my back yard. While it is a pain to stake them since they grow so long and don't stand up, it is well worth it when you see that first bloom.

I was lucky enough to witness (and video) mine a few weeks ago. It bloomed from about 2 am until about 6 am.

It has a very sweet fragrance.

On Sep 27, 2006, Ms_Apropri8 from Saint Clair Shores, MI wrote:

Tonight is the night! I received a clipping, after admiring this crazy plant, from an elderly historian. She was only too thrilled to clue me in on this amazing plant. I watched it explode the first year and now in its second year with me it has a bud. The plant is now over 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I live in Michigan and it is now the beginning of fall. So I have it indoors now at night. I would like to take pictures of it , ( I think that tonight is it) but I am unsure if it is alright to turn on any lights around it.

On Sep 10, 2006, jaspersdale from Jasper, IN wrote:

My neighbor gave me a start from his Epiphyllum oxypetalum two years ago. Last spring (2005) I moved it to my yard after danger of frost had past. It rewarded me with three spectacular blooms. In the fall, I moved it to an unheated bedroom with a northern exposure where the temperature stayed around 50 degrees through the winter.

This spring I moved the pot to my yard to a place where it had full exposure to the sun. I was disappointed that it only produced one bloom in early July while I was out of town. I thought that was going to be it for the season. Imagine my surprise when, two weeks later, I noticed at least 50 new flower buds forming! Many dropped off before fully maturing, but eighteen did survive to maturity, ten of which opened in one night.

... read more A third blooming yielded eleven blooms, the last three of which opened last night. And now, I see some more flower buds forming for a fourth blooming.

Because of having full sun exposure, the leaves have yellowed considerably. I’m thinking of putting it on my screened porch with a northern exposure next summer to protect the leaves, but I’m afraid to mess with success where the blooming is concerned.

My watering and fertilizing was pretty erratic. I probably gave it about half as much water as I gave other potted outdoor plants. I did give it some Miracle Gro two or three times. The plant has grown to over six feet tall and is a bit unwieldy to move in and out of the house. I’m thinking of cutting it back before bringing it in for the winter and starting new plants from the cuttings.

On Aug 16, 2006, JFullerRenfro from Clarksville, IN wrote:

A Chinese storekeeper gave me a small piece of leaf from her NBC which had broken off the plant. After five years of growth, last year (2005), the plant put out two blooms which both opened on the same night (www.chumchurch.org/cereus/cereus.htm has my pics from last year's blooms. This year, the plant has put out three blossoms (one opened 7/31 (no pics); one opened 8/14 (www.chumchurch.org/cereus/cereus2.htm for those pics); one will open 8/15). It has other "budlets" coming along; some have dropped off, others seem as if they may develop into blossoms.

One of the most interesting parts of this plant is HOW the blossoms develop--coming straight off the leaf, with the leaf developing thick veins to support the blossom. The unusual blossom placement can lead to "hidden" bud... read mores...I didn't even notice last year's bloom until the day it started to open.

The plant is hardy; needs little care (I put it on my back porch all spring through fall and on top of the fridge in the winter). This year, mine blew off the porch 5 times in strong storms before I managed to anchor the pot firmly; the plant forgave me enough to set at least three successful blooms.

On Jul 27, 2006, greenbud from Houston, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

I finally got this plant to bloom this year! I've had it for probably 4 or 5 years with no blooms, but this year it's in a new big pot, and it's blooming like crazy! I finally saw two open blooms tonight! I am SO excited! I love this unusual plant.

On Jul 12, 2006, RICKinNC from Indian Trail, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I was fortunate to have a friend from Moshiem, Tn. give me 2 clippings from one of their plants 2 years ago. I gave one to my mother and I kept one. Hers has grown triple in size but has never bloomed. Mine bloomed 3 times last year with 2 blooms the first time, 1 the second, and 2 more the third time. I had done everything wrong as I watered it too frequently, kept in full sunlight during the hot summer days here in North Carolina and had transplanted it early on to a much larger pot to give the roots plenty of room. I have since read that all of the above was incorrect. I guess I just got lucky from what others have posted here. This year it has already bloomed once (on July 5th) but unfortunately I missed it, thinking it would happen the following evening. I have given away several cli... read moreppings to friends, and one I had given away to a good neighbor just last year, bloomed just the other night during the full moon. When I think back to the first time I've ever experienced seeing its awesome blooms and smelling it's sweet fragrance in Tennessee, it was after returning from the fall Nascar Bristol Cup race around 2:00am and it happened to be a full moon that night in late August.
Has anyone else even noticed the timeing of blooms opening during a full moon? Thanks much to the owner of this very informative website I've found here from doing a google search a while back.
Rick

During the first two weeks of Sept. '06, I had my 4th blooming of the year. This time I had 22 buds of which only 5 didn't mature and dropped off. Even though they all started at the same time, and early on all were the same size, I had one single bloom on Saturday eve then another single bloom the following night. It was Thursday until the next single bloom opened but on Friday, 11 opened and on Saturday, the last 3 bloomed. My mothers plant from the same 2 year old clipping finally produced it's first 2 blooms last night.

On Jul 4, 2006, Edit from Toronto,
Canada wrote:

Hello dear gardening experts.We have one of the Queen of the Night plant for over 20 years. It bloomed several times and gave us many beautiful flowers. We admired this interesting plant and showed off with pictures of the beautiful flowers. We are very sad now, due to a disease of the plant. The leaves quickly getting black and paper thin, almost every day we have to remove several infected leaves. We would like to know what is the problem and how can we cure the plant. We are worried, that it is dying. However last week we discovered 3 buds on it.
Hope somebody can help us solving this problem.
Thank you
Edit

On May 1, 2006, Xenomorf from Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote:

More synonyms of this plant are Phyllocactus acuminatus, Phyllocactus latifrons, Cereus latifrons & Cereus oxypetalus.

On Jan 13, 2006, jarrett622 from Clayton, GA wrote:

I first learned about this plant from our neighbor. Actually, we share some common rooms in an apt building. He has one of these plants and gave me a cutting from it. His plant has sent out two flower stalks so far. My plant, which is only about 3 months in the pot, is also sending out a flower stalk. Yes, this plant can be a pain to deal with at times but it's very interesting and I can't wait for it to actually flower! He has his in an aquarium with a Aloe plant. They seem to do well together and the aquarium helps to contain this plant somewhat, the walls giving it something to 'lean' on.

On Nov 20, 2005, araras from Petropolis-ARARAS,
Brazil wrote:

Our plant is blooming once a year about midnight (end December - zone 11) : tropical altitude forest (1.050 meters). The plant produces 20 to 30 flowers.

On Oct 27, 2005, Allison_FL from Dunedin, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

I was given my Night Blooming Cerus plant small in a 4 " pot two years ago by my Aunt in her 80's. It has been in my family 125 years. It was my Great Grand Mothers ! Mine grows like a weed and bloomed the first year. This is it's second year and it has bloomed at least a dozens times from Spring to fall. Mine grows outsdie year round i Florida with little care. I grow it in the same soil as my African violets and feed it the same food. I am going to plant some under a tree in my morning sun /shade garden. I have shared dozesn of cuttings and potted plants with other it just keeps growing. It fascinates me and is a true treasure.
This is the greatest plant to grow :))

On Oct 4, 2005, kulsetsiyi from Franklin, NC wrote:

I grow this plant in zone 6a by overwintering in a warm greenhouse. I move it outside as soon as the area is frost-free. The greenhouse seems to supercharge the bloom potential and waves of blossoms begin in January and continue through October. It will branch prolifically in a fresh pot but definitely blossoms better when pot-bound. Mine come from cuttings from the Bronx Botanical Gardens obtained in 1968.

On Sep 10, 2005, siris02170 from Quincy, MA wrote:

I have a Cereus that is at least 4 generations old. There are cuttings of this plant all over PA and New England. This year we had 23 blossoms, 9 in one night! I have had it in the Boston area for about 5 years and each year it goes outside in May and back inside around the end of September. We always have a party when we think it's going to blossom although this year we missed a 2 blossom night and had one false alarm. I have found that the easiest way to share this treasure is to simply trim the plant, stick the cuttings in soil and give it away, everyone who attends our parties leaves with a cutting done that night. BTW, at least here in the Northeast, the Cereus has to be outside for the summer in order to bloom.

On Aug 6, 2005, springdawn from richard bay,
South Africa wrote:

This is my fav. plant. She will bloom again in December. We are now in August, and she is popping out new leaves all over. I keep her tied to a tree with ribbon in a rather shady area. I feed her nitrosol fertilizer every week. If I don't have nitrosol, I give her kelp fertilizer.

She lives in Richards Bay, South Africa. She is the original plant brought in many years ago from Mexico and still growing strong. Made babies from old leaves just popped them in a pot, no special treatment.

On Jun 23, 2005, Vincent4eyes from Olive Branch, MS wrote:

This is the most amazing flower I've ever seen, even it grows freely in Southeast Asia. I don't know exactly where and when it originally came from but it grows in Asia for centuries! It grows like "grass" in the wild!!!! This is the easiest flower one can plant without spending a lot of time and money to take care [care free].

Since it grows in the wild, my experience is not to treat it as the other luxury flowers such as rose, etc. I mean don't fertilize it too much, especially the man-made chemical one. The best one is the natural one. Besides, the chemical will be too good for the plant to grow leaves than flower! ;-) Without flower, this one is just a weird shape! ;-) Since it bloom at night, it must like the night, then it's better to live it ouside to obtain... read more the mist of the night, unless it's too cold during the winter.

It usually blooms at around 7 pm - 8pm for a few hours. The Chinese and Vietnamese call it "Quynh" flower and there are several poem makers write poems and even songs of it, but to use it as symbol of a young beautiful country girl who is weak [she is not strong to survive long for love] but has an excellent personality [as the sweet fragrant] to leave for the surviors! [Sorry that my English is not enough to translate those beautiful meanings].

In conclusion, this flower [in Asia] stands for the simple and beautiful young virgin girl who has no dirty thoughts but great heart [personality] and die young versus rose as luxury, high maintenance, hot, sexy, and healthy woman! ;-)

On Jun 7, 2005, ladyblueheart from California, KY wrote:

I love the free form and constant green of this plant. I can't get it to bloom, but still cannot imagine my home without it. I've had it for over 15 yrs and would love to experience the blooms. Sandy, ps...I uploaded a photo of mine.

On Jan 4, 2005, RLina from Le Morne,
Mauritius wrote:

5th January 2005

My mom used to have this plant and it was passed down to her for 4 generations. I remember once 36 flowers bloomed one night & it was a big celebration.......it has always bring us luck. Unfortunately when she moved house it was left to the care of a gardener. I suppose this "ugly" and unruly looking plant was not given the proper care and died.

5 years ago, a friend gave a tiny little leaf to my mom and now they grew to 5 large pots. Every month there will be at least 2 flowers blooming. Its not seasonal at all! Must be the fertilizer she uses. Somehow the flowers from this plant are much smaller than the one we had before although the leaf looks the same.

I'm now in Mauritius and 6 months ago I found this plant in a nur... read moresery left unattended and half dead. I bought it immediately and nurtured it back to life! Last month, my mom came to visit & brought her fertilizer along. 3 weeks later we found 2 buds coming out. It bloomed spectacularly 2 nights ago. A sight to behold ! None of my friends and the Mauritians we know, knows of this plant. Its the 1st time for them. Now we are waiting for 16 more to bloom in 2 weeks! Guess what, its the same Huge flowers we used to have. I'm giving some cuttings to mum. I now know that there are 2 sizes of flowers....are there more??

Since it has always bring my family luck, we went to the casino that night & won BIG TIME! We bet on number 2 and 16. No. 2 came out twice but 16 never did....perhaps we should wait for them to bloom.

WISH US LUCK!

RLina
Mauritius

On Nov 14, 2004, hansbean from Colonial Heights, VA wrote:

Mine was given to me in 1977 by an elderly lady that I rented from. At that time it reached 9 ft. in height. Over the years, I have cut it back and it now stands at 3 ft. I give it no special treatment, other than to repot it very 3 years and remove part of the root ball (like one would a bonsai). I, personally, use Miracle Gro potting mix, keeping the potting mix moist, and I never fertilize.

Here in Virginia, I set my plant outdoors when night temperatures in spring go above 45. In mid-fall it comes back into the house where I keep it in a spare room that is not heated, watering it once a month. As of today it has never failed to bloom.

On Sep 25, 2004, cheetah728 from White Pigeon, MI wrote:

This is amazing plant. I've had it for years. Blooms every year now. Have 2 growing. Have given several cuttings away.

On Aug 31, 2004, irene22 from Boston, MA wrote:

I just "inherited" the night blooming cereus from a friend who was moving into a smaller house in Vermont. I am surprise to find that it has a small bloom already. I was told by my friend that it had one bloom earlier this spring. I have no knowledge about growing or caring for this plant until I came across this website with so many recent contributors from all over. The small bud on my plant is about 2.5 inches long now and I'm wondering how long do I wait until it blooms. I live in a small apartment in the city and I'm wondering if anyone out there has had success growing these indoors.

On Aug 14, 2004, RxBenson from Pikesville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:

I must admit that I looked down on this 'epiphyte' for years, since I also own a huge 'true' Notocereus grandiflora -- the REAL 'night-blooming cereus.' I bought a rooted cutting of Epiphyllum about three years ago -- maybe 3.5. It was only about 5" tall.... then. I have repeatedly hacked off 8-foot stems the width of a pencil and in spring of 2003 I moved it up to a much bigger pot because it just needed the weight of a huge chunk of soil and a heavier pot to keep it from toppling over -- even with all the strings attaching it to the curtain rod! It is 4 x 3 feet now.

I have the intuitive knowledge that so many perennials -- like grapes and this plant -- have an internal calendar that tells them not to bloom until they are three years old. So I figured I'd pot it up whethe... read morer it needed it or not and wouldn't expect any flowers yet. It bloomed that August for the first time despite the root shock. Just one flower -- and I was away on vacation at the time! And it was only 2 and a half!

But this year it is blooming its little infant heart out! Three a month ago. One three nights ago, four two nights ago and probably three more in a month -- the new buds are teeny.
Here in NJ it stays in a south window for winter and under a yellow pine with low late afternoon sun from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We have had strange hot spells and torrential rains alternating with droughts this summer, and many plants are 'acting different.'

Sorry to say, but the Epiphyllum was blooming only eight feet from the Brugmansia x insigna's 16 blooms and it got out-fragranced by that display. Next year I'll separate them more!

It gets weak all-purpose fertilizer when I remember... less than monthly, but it is potted in one of those brand name time-release-fertilizer-included soils and still has lots of root room in its 14-in ceramic pot.

The deer that tried to wipe out everything from roses to sunflowers, hibiscus, tomatoes, lilies, phlox and daylilies decided "p-tooey" after a nibble of the Queen. (I now use coyote urine to keep them away from everything!)

When I photographed the 'real' cereus bloom, it actually flinched each time the flash went off. This Epiphyllum, however, put up with my repeated shots with nary a complaint. I only wish I could have set up with time-exposure on a tripod to try to capture all those wonderful white anthers (?) and the lovely 'star.' The pot is on the ground and I couldn't get low enough for a really good shot. The heavy flowers hung only inches from the ground. I played night-flying pollinating creature and rubbed two of the flowers together, hoping to fertilize them. They never bore fruit so far, so I helped.

If I got a spectacular photo this time, I'll post it here.

On Jul 13, 2004, trilian15 from Helsinki,
Finland wrote:

I have known this plant with the name "Princess of the Night", although it's very obvious it's some sort of Epiphyllum. I have just learned the official name (direct translation from my language is called something like "fragrant leaf cactus"). When or where my grandmother received the first cuttings I don't know, but blossoming plants were photographed after WWII and the photos were in family album.

Geographically this is boreal zone (Scandinavia). Our winter is long and cold (under 0 degree of Celsius from October until April), and during winter period there is very little daylight. My E. Oxypetalum is kept indoors all year. It grows very big and it gets easily broken when moved. My granny's plant had 2-7 big flowers every year. My 15 year-old plant has also blossomed 2-... read more3 flowers almost every summer, but stops flowering after I put shading curtains on the windows. So up in the North it needs direct sunlight to be able to blossom.

This is not a typical home plant (needs lots of space and grows easily ugly if you are taking care of it wrong), and you can't buy it any plant nursery or shop. It would be wonderful to see 600 flowers at the same time, but 7 flowers simultaneously is a spectacular up here. In our family I'm the only one, who still has this plant, and I have just presented several 'leaves' to other plant enthusiasts to ensure the plant wouldn't disappear if something goes wrong. (I cut off weak winter growth every summer.)

On Jul 1, 2004, padmajoy from Belvedere Tiburon, CA wrote:

I obtained a cutting of this plant from a friend. It rooted easily in garden soil, in a pot. I have kept it indoors (I live in the SF Bay area) and it has bloomed once in the last 4 years. Right now it has two small spikey bud-like protuberances (each about 1 1/2 inches long) on it. I do not remember seeing these the last time it bloomed but may have missed this early stage of bloom. I noticed them about 5 hours ago. Does anyone know how long it wil take to bloom from this point?

On Jun 17, 2004, carol_okc from Choctaw, OK wrote:

I adore this thing! my largest is a piece from the plant which originally belonged to my great-grandfather! It's been a family tradition to have an open-house when we have a particularly heavy bloom - my grandmother back in Easton Pa once had 37 blooms in one night on the parent plant. I've had 27 in one night on my big piece, which I've now been growing for 35 years.
Incidently - this is very intolerant of frost (the big plant was taken by an unseasonal frost 4 years ago).. but will come back from the roots. The big one (in a 10 gallon tub) was 8' tall, about that wide, and now 4 years after that terrible frost is back to being 6' tall, though it has a way to go to fully recover. It has resumed its lovely blooming, though.
Growing hint? Minimal water, lower light dur... read moreing the winter, then bring out to dappled shade and feed (half strength) balanced fertilizer monthly. Just bring it back in well ahead of any frost!

On May 6, 2004, jclin from Cerritos, CA wrote:

I have grown this plant since my childhood. It was nick- named " Beauty Under the Moon " in Chinese literature, or as it's common in Taiwan, "Night Beauty", as it blossom at night. I still grow them in the back yard in Los Angeles. They are usually care free, but foilage looks ugly if left unattented under direct sun light. I figure it must grow better when under shade because it originated in South America, rather than as a desert succulent plant.

For reference, some people picked the withered flower in the morning and boiled it with sugar or honey as a tonic drink that was said to be good for respiratory function. It was stir-fried with chicken or a pork dish, and it was used as an herbal remedy for various ailements, but not commonly used in traditional Chinese herbal med... read moreicine.

On Apr 10, 2004, lemonboy7 from New Orleans, LA wrote:

We have one of these wonderful plants on our back screened porch here in New Orleans. We have had it for so many years I can't remember how many. It has been in the same pot all these years.The pot is about 12 inches wide and 14 inches high. The plant is about 5-6 feet high.We leave it on the porch throughout winter since we do not get hard freezes often,and it is close to the wall where it gets radiant heat from the house.

We love to see the buds coming,with a show soon to follow. My mother and I love to go out to the porch and watch as it opens,and then smell the fragrance that just cannot be described.It is a wonderful,intoxicating scent that is very strong. You just have to smell it to know it. The beauty of the flowers is amazing! Pure dazzling white! Huge blooms! It i... read mores a sight to behold,and as others describe,it becomes a very special event in itself! We have started several cuttings for friends and family over the years.It is easy to do. I am looking forward to the warmer weather when it starts to make buds and put on it's show.

I call it "pre-historic plant" and I think any who have seen it will agree that the entire habit/shape of the plant looks like something from pre-historic times. The buds especially have an other-worldly look to them. I would strongly recommend this plant to anyone who is looking for a really unusual addition to their collection,and to marvel at the plant in bloom. We will be enjoying the blooms again as we have for so many summer nights in the past. I love those nights.

On Jan 21, 2004, Tianice wrote:

This lovely plant also grows in Brazil, which is a tropical country. We´ve had it in the family for over 15 years. It used to be kept in the garden, but since we moved to an apartment, I´ve been keeping it in the living room, by the window.

Here it blossoms around midnight in January, which is a very hot summer month in Brazil. It's a wonderful flower. What I like about it is that on the night it blossoms, I don´t need to watch it. The fragrance it gives off while it is blossoming "warns" me. Then I sit down to observe it. The fragrance lingers on for a long time.

On Jan 6, 2004, rachaelpratt wrote:

I live in Bunbury, Western Australia and recently moved into a house with a less than 8 year old Epiphyllum oxypetalum. It flowered in early December (summer) with one bloom the first time then just before Christmas many, many blooms. It is now (January 6th) and more buds are developing.

The climate is mediterranean, with average temperatures (Celsius) as listed and occasional frosts:
Min Max
January 13.94 28.58
February 14.17 28.78
March 13.5 26.9
April 11.04 23.41
May 9.54 19.65
June 8.18 16.87
July 6.9 15.83
August 6.81 16.41
September 7.91 17.18
October 8.14 19.25
November 10.33 23.42
December 12.34 26.38
The plant is planted in... read more the ground in a protected, shady location. Our soils are alkaline and low in clay, organic matter and nutrients since we are located within 200 m of the ocean.
The plant was extremely popular at a dinner party we held, with one guest pollinating it with his nose after a few beers. No seeds developed as expected!

On Jan 3, 2004, Berdie2 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

I inherited my plant from mother. I had it for several years without blooms. Last fall I repotted the plant with catcus soil that had a little fertilizer in it. In the late spring of 2003, I set it outside where it got morning through early afternoon indirect sunlight (protected by a pine tree). I watered it with miracle grow twice during the summer. This fall I was rewarded with 4 beautiful blooms that started blooming around 8:30 and closed about 7:30 the next morning. The effort was well worth it. I bring my plant in when the fall temperatures begin to go below 60 degrees and winter it in a window that gets southern exposure.

On Nov 9, 2003, leeleelee from Columbus, OH wrote:

I have had this plant for years, however, it hasn't bloomed for the last 6 or 7 years. BUT, one year it had 18 to 30 blooms on it while it was outside under the maple tree. I recommend it as a once in a lifetime privilege to have it bloom. I learned that if you pluck it off and put it in a baggie and put in the refrigerator it will stay for days and days and you can take it wherever and share it with others. I'm glad it is a potbound grower and I would like to learn more of its needs. I'm glad to learn that if you pinch it off, it doesn't hurt it. I've often wondered about the long, long tendrils. Can they be pinched? I live in Columbus, Ohio.

On Oct 22, 2003, ford3728 from Homer, LA wrote:

I received 1 long stem or leaf from a friend and cut it in 4-inch long segments, dipped the ends in root hormone and had roots in just a few days. I planted it in a hanging basket and wintered it in the greenhouse. It bloomed the following summer late and made fruit (an oblong reddish type ball). I read in my plant encyclopedia that the fruit was edible but it had no taste, but maybe it didn't mature enough before it fell off. The wasps like it and probably injured it somehow. My plant did not bloom until after midnight and it usually started closing around 9:30 or 10:00 a m. In early fall on a cloudy cool day it stayed open all day. I've read that they must have at least 6 hours of sun a day to produce blooms. I have to put it in the greenhouse during winter as it will not survive a ... read morefreeze. I have seen pictures of different colored ones but haven't seen any around in my area to purchase.

On Oct 10, 2003, NEVADASKIDS from Cincinnati, OH wrote:

My mother had several Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the whitest white color we have ever seen, started from one plant that was given to her by my grandmother sixty years ago. These plants bloomed every year while we were growing up.

When all of us married, we were each given one leaf to start our own plants. I have had mine for thirty years now and it has NEVER bloomed. I do not know why and neither does anyone else. My brother, however, has two plants now and one of them has bloomed five times this year alone. They normally bloom once or twice a year. Night before last, his oldest plant had nine blooms open at the same time and the younger plant had six open. Last night, the oldest plant had four more blooms to open and the youngest plant had three. What a sight an... read mored fragrance that filled his entire house!!! We have never seen this many blooms on one plant before. My mother had seven one time but that was the most we had seen. This was such a beautiful sight. I spent a couple hours taking pictures to share with others.

We have been trying to find out what the plant is called. Even though we have had these plants for years and years, Mother had always called them "Babe In The Manger" plants because of their blooms looking like Baby Jesus in the Manger with the star at his feet. We did not know the scientific name or even what family the plant was in until just recently. Thank goodness for the internet and all the information out there. We love this plant. Now if only I could figure out what to do to make mine bloom.

On Oct 1, 2003, flowergirlkimba from Saxonburg, PA wrote:

I had the experience of seeing what all the fuss was about when I saw this plant in action last night at the home of my grandmother. She had told me stories before of her grandmother having an article written about her magical "Night Blooming Cereus" and how they set up extra chairs and had guests over to sit all night to see it. Many, many years ago, this was quite an event in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. My family, too, described it to others as the "Dennis the Menace" plant, but Gram knew the name, making it easy for me to find here. I hope the pictures I took last night will be as good as the ones you show here!

On Aug 26, 2003, darius from So.App.Mtns.,
United States (Zone 5b) wrote:

I love this scrawly, unruly plant, but love it more when it blooms. The fragrance is unreal, and this year I had to beat off a horde of slugs heading for the bloom!

Easy to start from a leaf, prefers to be pot-bound.

On Aug 10, 2003, Phaltyme from Garden City, MI (Zone 6b) wrote:

How nice to see pictures and comments about this plant. Many years ago, I had one (can't remember where I got it), it put on buds and we watched carefully. At the right time, we brought it in the house, set it up special and set up the camera facing it and ready to photograph. I spent 4 or 5 hours taking pictures of the blooming progress until it finally opened in all its glory. The next morning I followed its demise. What an experience.

On Jul 16, 2003, City_Sylvia from Dallas, TX wrote:

I grew this plant for years, after someone brought a long leaf into my office, placed it in a jar of water and told me to watch it grow. Eventually it started sprouting roots and developing more leaves and long skinny tendrils.

Not knowing what it was, I continued letting it grow in the water. I eventually took it home and decided to put some of it in some soil. I ended up with a big pot of it out on my patio.

One morning I discovered dead blossoms and I was very confused because I never saw a bloom on it. I havent seen it bloom yet, but one of my friends happened to catch it blooming and took a picture of it. I left my plant out in freezing weather and lost it. [I've since learned] there are people who sit up all night waiting for this plant to bloom -... read more it's some sort of celebration!

On Jul 11, 2003, kinderteacher from Miami, FL wrote:

My grandmother had a big plant when I was a child, and she always made it an event of blooming time and the aroma of the flowers. The fact that the flowers only lasted one night was not important when compared with the wonderful experience of admiring this beauty.

On Jun 1, 2003, olive2 from Kewaskum, WI wrote:

I have just purchased a small plant at a rummage sale. I don't kow what kind of soil should it have or how old it will be before it blooms.

On Jan 25, 2002, Dinu from Mysore,
India (Zone 10a) wrote:

The flower opens up after dusk, is at its maximum bloom by midnight and fades off by sunrise. It has a sweet fragrance.