Is Epiphyllum the same as night-blooming cereus, and does it bloom at night?

1. Is it the same as night-blooming cereus?

Epiphyllum is a plant of the genus Epiphyllum in the cactus family, while night-blooming cereus belongs to the genus Hylocereus in the cactus family, so they are not the same plant, but they are plants of the same family. Epiphyllum and night-blooming cereus look very similar; Epiphyllum has relatively flat, leaf-like stems and is a succulent shrub, while night-blooming cereus has three-angled stems and is a herbaceous climbing plant.

2. Does it bloom at night?

Epiphyllum blooms at night, and it does not bloom during the day. It blooms at night because its place of origin is the tropical desert, where the environment is relatively dry and hot. During the day the temperature is relatively high, and water evaporates quickly, so the plant needs to absorb enough water. At night, water evaporation slows down; only after the plant has absorbed sufficient water can it bloom, so it has this habit of blooming at night.

Its blooming time is around 8 or 9 at night, and the flowers stay open for a relatively short time, usually only a few hours; by about early morning the flowers will wither and close.

3. How to grow it so it blooms

When growing Epiphyllum, give it a warm, moist environment, and try to keep the care temperature at around 15-25°C. It is also very necessary to water it in time; the soil must not be too dry and should be kept in a moist state.