Why does the night-blooming cereus bloom at night? An interpretation of the latest reasons
The night-blooming cereus (Epiphyllum) is a perennial evergreen succulent herb of the Cactaceae family. It prefers a mild, humid, semi-shaded environment. In the hot summer, when the cool breeze of nightfall arrives, the night-blooming cereus, known as the fairy flower, will bloom. When it blooms, its fragrance fills the air and refreshes the heart, with white flowers and green stems setting each other off, extremely beautiful for a time. But why does the night-blooming cereus bloom at night? Let us take a look together below!
Why does the night-blooming cereus bloom at night?
The night-blooming cereus originated in the tropical deserts from Mexico to Brazil in the Americas. The climate there is dry and hot, but it becomes much cooler at night. Blooming at night can avoid intense sunlight exposure, shorten the flowering time, and greatly reduce water loss, which is beneficial to its survival. It allows its life to continue. Thus, over a long period, the characteristic of the night-blooming cereus blooming for a short time at night gradually formed and has been passed down from generation to generation to this day.
When does the night-blooming cereus bloom?
The flowering season of the night-blooming cereus is generally from June to October, and the flowering time is generally after 8 to 9 o'clock at night. The full bloom lasts only 5 to 10 minutes, very brief. When the night-blooming cereus opens, the floral tube slowly tilts up, gradually opening the purple outer covering, and then the large, snow-white flower composed of more than 20 petals opens. But after only 3 to 4 hours, the corolla closes, and the flower quickly withers, truly amounting to “a fleeting show of the night-blooming cereus”.
How is the night-blooming cereus best cultivated?
1. Soil: For pot culture, well-drained, fertile leaf mold is commonly used. The potting soil should not be too wet, and in summer relatively high air humidity should be maintained. Avoid being washed by showers, so as to prevent root rot from waterlogging. During the growing period, fertilize once every half month, and in the early summer bud-setting and flowering period, apply phosphate fertilizer once additionally. Reasonable application of fertilizer and water can prolong the flowering period. Too much fertilizer and water, or excessive shading, can easily cause excessive stem growth and conversely affect flowering.
2. Light: It likes a semi-shaded, warm environment. In summer, it should be placed under a shade screen for care, or cultivated in a place without direct sunlight. The suitable growth temperature in spring and summer is 21-24℃ during the day and 16-18℃ at night. In winter, it should be moved into a greenhouse and placed in a sunny spot, requiring sufficient light, and the overwintering temperature should preferably be kept at 10-13℃.
3. Watering: In summer, the potting soil should be kept moist, but not waterlogged, so as to avoid root rot. Provide shade to avoid direct sunlight. Water more in summer, spraying water 1-2 times in the morning and evening to increase air humidity, and avoid being washed by showers, so as to prevent root rot from waterlogging. Watering should be reduced in spring and autumn, and in winter watering must be strictly controlled, keeping the potting soil from becoming too dry.
4. Fertilization
① In autumn, decomposed liquid fertilizer may be applied as a top dressing. Without sufficient nutrients, it is not easy to bloom or it blooms less. In autumn, remove the shading equipment and increase light. In spring and autumn, apply nitrogen fertilizer once a month, with appropriate concentration. In winter, move it indoors, water frequently, stop fertilizing, and place it in a lighted spot to control its growth. When the indoor temperature is too high in winter, dense new shoots often sprout from the base and should be removed in time, so as not to consume nutrients and affect flowering after spring. In spring, as the temperature rises, excessive watering and fertilizing should be avoided, so as not to cause bud drop.
② During the growing period, apply decomposed cake fertilizer water once every half month, and ferrous sulfate may also be added and applied at the same time. During the bud-setting and flowering period, apply bone meal or superphosphate once additionally. Appropriate application of fertilizer and water can prolong the flowering time. Too much fertilizer and water, or too much shading, will cause excessive stem growth and affect flowering. Exposure to the sun or too strong sunlight, on the other hand, makes the modified stems shrink and turn yellow.
5. Support and protection: Because the modified stems of potted night-blooming cereus are weak, they should be tied or staked in time. The night-blooming cereus is a shade-loving plant. In summer, potted night-blooming cereus can be placed under tree shade or under the eaves, but should avoid being hit by rainwater, so as to prevent the plant from exposing its roots and toppling over, which would affect growth. In winter, it needs to be moved indoors to overwinter.
6. Flowering period: In order to change the habit of the night-blooming cereus blooming at night, the method of “reversing day and night” can be used to make it bloom during the day. When the flower buds of the night-blooming cereus swell, move it during the day to a dark room or cover it with a black shade cover made of black plastic film, without letting any light through, and at night from 8 o'clock to 6 o'clock the next morning, illuminate it with light. After treating it this way for 7 to 8 days, the night-blooming cereus can bloom during the day according to people's wishes.