I came across this charming article on www.demosnews.com. It highlights night blooming cereus beloved by all of us, but also a fabulous windowsill orchid that shoots up tall columns of tiny white orchids every Christmas. Once at the site, hover over 'Genres' at upper left-->click on 'Home'-->select 'Flowering Favorites for the Windowsill.'
link didnt work for me
Not for me either
I have now had this Night-blooming Cereus for many years and it has never bloomed. It spends the summers outdoors under my high patio roof and gets bright light ans just a bit of the very late evening sun before it goes behind the tall trees.
It has grown these long, healthy "leaves"--and as you can see, there are smaller 'leaves coming off the big "leaves".
This Spring, I cut it back a bit--but did not really know where I should cut.
Frankly, I am getting tired of this plant! It takes up a lot of space when I have to bring everything in for the Winter. Could I just cut everything back to nubs and let it re-grow and then try to cut and pinch to keep it bushier?
Any advice would be welcome....
Here is the plant. Healthy--but too sprawled for me....
Thanks, Gita
Gita:
That is a beautiful plant. I would not cut it back. If you do, I don't think you will ever get blooms.
I have heard they are heavy feeders and should be fertilized in summer every other watering. I don't know if a bloom booster fertilizer with a high middle number would encourage your plant to bloom but it's worth a try.
Listen to me giving advice on fertilizing ... I am so lax about feeding my plants! I keep saying I am going to get better about it but I am a bad plant mom!
Plantladylin: I think you are right on target! Fertilize the plant and maybe shock it into bloom. I fertilize mine regularly during the summer. bob
