Great Winter Bloomers

[catjac1975]

Once if finally blooms you should get several good years of bloom. Mine likes the North window that it is in. I missed it the first time it bloomed-it took several years and I had stopped paying much attention to it. I had an evening where perfume took over my great room and I could not find it's source. The next day I found the spent bloom so I new what to watch for. The best year I had 12-14 blooms over a couple of days. When it blooms I sit on the couch next to it with a glass of wine and my husband. I stay on the couch staying awake as long as I can and finally let sleep prevail. A couple of times I have invited flower loving friends for the experience. It has dwindled to a few blooms a season and I am thinking of starting over with some cuttings.
In the summer I take it outdoors, hose it down and give it a good haircut. It is grown into the bakers shelving that it is on so I have to take the whole thing outdoors. I give it orchid fertilizer.
Worth the trouble for the experience

 

[catjac1975]

Welcome, Masoud! What a lovely shade of purple!

Cat, is that aka. an Epiphyllum? I couldn't really tell about the greens, but the bloom looks similar.

Yes. Here is what Logees says about it. There is where I purchased it.
Night Blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
Pure white flowers, the size of a dinner plate, open as soon as the sun goes down and stay open all night, then close in the morning. This wondrous sight is also a heady experience because of the intoxicating fragrance. It blooms in waves during the summer months, with sometimes as many as 15 flowers open at once. Nature's ability to manifest such a magnificent creation leaves us in awe of this wonderful epiphyllum. As for all members of the Orchid Cactus family, a period of dryness and cool nighttime temperatures in the winter ensures summer bloom.
- See more at: http://www.logees.com/Night-Blooming-Cereus/productinfo/S7507-2/#sthash.3Ybcar34.dpuf

 

[lesa]

I have started a smaller plant, since mine got so leggy it was stabbing people in the eye! And we are certainly having "cool" nighttime temps. Maybe I will get lucky and have a few blooms this summer. I agree with you, the fragrance is so incredible. I feel bad that the beautiful flower only lasts one night...

 

[Masoud]

Cat, the picture of your night blooming cereus is gorgeous! I have not had the fortune of seeing an actual bloom, and life is short!

Everybody,
Many thanks for warm "welcomes"!
Masoud

 

[journey11]

Yes. Here is what Logees says about it. There is where I purchased it.
Night Blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
Pure white flowers, the size of a dinner plate, open as soon as the sun goes down and stay open all night, then close in the morning. This wondrous sight is also a heady experience because of the intoxicating fragrance. It blooms in waves during the summer months, with sometimes as many as 15 flowers open at once. Nature's ability to manifest such a magnificent creation leaves us in awe of this wonderful epiphyllum. As for all members of the Orchid Cactus family, a period of dryness and cool nighttime temperatures in the winter ensures summer bloom.
- See more at: http://www.logees.com/Night-Blooming-Cereus/productinfo/S7507-2/#sthash.3Ybcar34.dpuf

Thanks for the link... I have a couple epi's and have babied them for 4 years. Can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, but I am still waiting to get a bloom! I think this year I'm going to plant them outside in partial shade during the warm summer months and see if I can't get some good growth on them. Maybe I have not fertilized enough...

ETA: Logee's has some really cool stuff. My MIL gave me a red passionvine from them and it has become one of my favorites. Something else that requires babying!

 

[Smart Red]

Here is an epi that flowered for me two summers ago.

My suggestion to get them to flower is ignore them. This was hanging on the deck.

 

[thistlebloom]

Wow

Here is an epi that flowered for me two summers ago.

View attachment 467
My suggestion to get them to flower is ignore them. This was hanging on the deck.

Wow! I love that color!

 

[catjac1975]

I

Thanks for the link... I have a couple epi's and have babied them for 4 years. Can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, but I am still waiting to get a bloom! I think this year I'm going to plant them outside in partial shade during the warm summer months and see if I can't get some good growth on them. Maybe I have not fertilized enough...

ETA: Logee's has some really cool stuff. My MIL gave me a red passionvine from them and it has become one of my favorites. Something else that requires babying!

I would not disturb them from their pot and be patient.

 

[Masoud]

Cyclamens do well in winter in a cool greenhouse or by a sunny window in a cool room.
I have an old plant that sets seeds every year and allows me to have a good supply of young cyclamens.


Mom


Babies


A young cyclamen

It was a surprise to see pure white flowers from the seeds of a pink cyclamen!