What do I do with thsss things?

I know they are Night Blooming Cereus. I was told by the person I bought them from that those common names were for the same plant. (and the pots have a barcoded label that says "Star of Bethlehem") . Correct me if I'm wrong but those common names are two different plants. There were 4 of these at the nursery. I got 2 for the price of one. What on earth I'm going to do with two is beyond me but right now they are both in my greenhouse.

Question: Will pruning make them bushier? Someone on another forum said theirs took over their house! LOL! Also.....I also broke two new growths/leaves in transport. I cut them off so there is still about 10 inches of stem and put them in water. So far so good?

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Sharon

tervherd,
Actually, if this plant is any type of Epiphyllum you need to take those cuttings out of water and just put them in a growing medium. These plants are very easy to reroot without the need of soaking them in water. Unless you are not available at the moment to plant these cuttings. You need to keep the cutting out of water so they dry were you cut them off on the mother plant.

If you need any more instruction, go to www.EpisbyPat.com and there you will find more detailed instructions on what to do....

Barrysewall

Sharon, I have several of these plants. They are amazing when they are in bloom so you might be happy that you have more than one. Yes, you can prune the tall shoots if you want to lower the stems, but they tend to have that growth pattern.

This picture is a bit blurry but shows the tall growth that this plant has. It is called Epiphyllum oxypetalum, and it's old name which is no longer in use is called "Night-blooming Cereus." It is often commonly called "Queen of the Night."

Clare yours is so compact! mine is sprawling all over my window sill ! did you prune it to grow like that or is it just a zonal thing?
laura

Hi Laura, I do prune off ugly leaves, and I think I had pruned that one pretty severely one year. I have other ones that do the floppy thing too. I do stake the tall shoots and use plastic ties. Here's a one with floppy growth, but it has tall shoot growth too.

Hi YA Clare!!!!! Trying to read up some more on these pretties!! Mine are on the 3rd year...no blooms....really hoping (fingers/toes crossed) THIS will be THE year!!!

Is it true that they bloom from the oldest leaves? I can't remember where I heard that, but it has been keeping me from trimming off any tattered leaves . chantell, I am with you! mine are about three years old this year too I am crossing my fingers and toes keep us updated .

I have another orchid cactus (may may) that is about the right age but I am concerned that it is in to small a pot but if I repot I will loose my chance for blooms this year
Laura

Hi Chantell! Fingers and toes crossed for you too. Just make sure they have plenty of filtered light, water, and some fertilizer, and you should see blooms:-)

Laura, I can't remember if they bloom on new leaves or old ones or both, but I wouldn't trim until you have to -- i.e., the leaves get rust or look diseased or something. I only trim when the leaves start to look bad. I would definitely repot those and stake the tall shoots that are flopping over. You won't lose blooms by repotting. Most of mine are in huge containers by now. I think the first bloom for Epi oxy is usually around the end of June or the beginning of July.

Here is a rare shot of blooms that haven't faded by the morning light. I think this shot was at about 9:00 a.m. on a gray and foggy morning. The sun just started to come out when this picture was taken.

Clare,
would you repot now ? or wait till after it blooms?
laura

Nice shot Clare!!! Yes...started fert/watering them last week. 3 get hung in my tree in front...the huge pot of night bloomers get put on back deck (faces north) as soon as our nights are warmer. BTW...started with the same with the Plumies - God bless em' - they've ALL got leaves coming up all over - saying time to wake up!!!

That's great, Chantell! I hope you get lots of flowers this season!

Laura, after the weather warms and your last frost has passed when you can put them outside for the day and night, then you can repot them;-) Nighttime temps should be at or above 50.

Clare, That won't be until june around here ! I bought a pot and a trellis to attach the long stems to and now I wait.
Chantell are the plumies you speak of plumeria? I just love them I have grown them from seed and cuttings but of course in my zone they are very needy and I finally gave up my most successful one when it got to big for my house it was a lovely "petite pink" that had grown so nicely ,about 4 feet tall ,well branched . I gave it to my local High School Biology teacher who had it for a few years then his little green house was to small so he gave it to Wellesley College I have to go there some day and see if It is still there. . . .
laura
I must look for a picture ( pre-dates digital)