Bud on Night Blooming Cereus

Here is the bud on the plant. Should open in a few days.

This reminds me of the 50s when a bunch of us sat up night after night waiting for one of these babies to open. I don't remember anything but the fragrance!

Thanks for the pic. I know the anticipation is killing you.

penny4, I recieved a "cereus" in a trade, and don't know much except,to keep it root bound to help bloom. Mine has little leaves growing on the bigger ones,and the leaf is uneven,Is this a sign that it will bloom soon?is there a rule as to how many leaf joints it has to have. e-me if you have info that will help thanks!:)

Mine is 4 yrs. old, never bloomed, keeps getting 6 ft. tall stalk with leaves, in 6" pot. When, if ever, for a bloom? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Patience, Hibiscus. Mine is four years old , and like yours grew a tall spike. It now has a bud!!!!! I was beginning to wonder if it ever would bloom. Maybe our hot and humid summer has had a good effect on it. It is certainly a weird plant and mine is dubbed"Weird Momma" because a leaf blew off in a storm and I started two babies from it. Lou

I just got one from a nice person on Dave's. Mine is just a start, I would love to see a picture of the bloom.

There are several conditions that help promote flowers on the night blooming cereus. As indicated previously, they need to be quite potbound and that usually takes several years or more. They also need a lot of bright indirect light to flower; right in an east window is best. In addition, providing cool temps from October to January (low 50's at night and low 60's during the day) and reduced water during this semi-dormant period will also hlep trigger flowers. These are not the easiest of conditions to maintain in the house. That is why it is so special when you can get them to bloom.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Will Creed, Horticulturist
Horticultural Help, NYC
Email: wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com

P.S. You may be interested in my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com and my Indoor Plant Bulletins that I publish monthly.

The Bulletins contain lots of helpful facts and unusual tips for keeping house and office plants alive and well.

Will

I have followed all the conditions you stated, only thing is winter, can't keep it 50 nighttime, unless I put it in basement, then with no light, except from small window, it would go somewhat dormant?

It will be some time before mine is rootbound. But I will try to remember the best conditions for it. Thanks.

Hibiscus,

It does need light all year round and that is more important to the plant's survival than the cool temps. It may still bloom without the 50 degree temps, just not as frequently.

Will

I know a gentleman who has had one for years - he has a party for it every year. The guests are all on standby waiting for the special night. Everyone clears their calendars for days to make sure they don't miss it.
Very cool Penny4.

When I was a kid.....so many years ago! My friends' grandmother had a huge one and called me over to see about 10 blooms, hardly remember, but do know I was in awe, when she told me the story about each part of the bloom.

Hi, all -
Just discovered a bud (first one) on my nbc. Came to the web to look for pix to be sure I had not missed the bloom!
Don't know that I buy the rootbound notion. A friend's mom gave me a couple of divisions last summer. I stuck them in an 8" pot, left it on my (covered) porch for the summer, indoors over the winter, then back to the porch. I think the light is probably the key. I think I probably underwater my nbc, but when I water, it's usually with the high-phosphorus fertilizer that I use for the orchids (Schultz' Bloom Plus -- my favorite). I have some high-light orchids that also bloom on the same porch (gets some east light in the morning, then nothing direct).
Just my two bits' worth!

i have 3 buds on mine i got from Lisa long ago-im so so happpppppppy!!!
now how long does it take???

mine bloomed but i fell asleep when it was open this far!

That's really beautiful!!