Texas Gardening: September Blooms, 1 by morganc

morganc wrote:
Here it is almost the end of the month and my first time sharing this month....although I have been lurking to see what blooms in Texas.

Since moving to the Austin area almost 9 years ago, we have tried to get many things to grow for us, and I see some of you have them too.

Night Blooming Cereus.....We received two little leaves 3 years ago from my neighbor, who got them from Japan, and planted them. Took a few years but they bloomed.....and through just messing with it I have discovered some interesting facts about my plant. I don't think you can kill it....seriously. I wanted to start some cuttings for a friend so I whacked off a 3 ft long piece. then cut it down and shoved it in some soil. It lived. The pieces I had cut off I threw on the patio table. 2 weeks later, I notice there is a new leaf starting on the piece I had discarded. So I stuck it in some dirt....it grew. Some leaves will grow aerial roots on them....I remove those and stick in dirt. My plant likes to be pot bound. And if you feed it....it will bloom. We call ours "Floppy" because it is so unruly. Blooms are in spring and fall when cooler....but puts on leaves during the summer. Ours is on the back porch in full shade but bright area. Had it in part sun last year and some leaves burned, so now full shade.