How to Grow a Queen of the Night Cactus? A Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions

I. Growing Environment

1. Soil: The Queen of the Night cactus needs loose, well-draining soil. You can use a mix of peat soil, coarse sand and cinder.

2. Watering: In summer, watering should be increased appropriately, but there must be no standing water, otherwise the roots rot easily. In winter, control the amount of watering and keep the potting soil as dry as possible. If the rainy season comes, promptly drain away any water in the potting soil. When the weather is relatively hot, you can spray water around it to raise air humidity, which helps its growth.

3. Light: In spring and autumn, it is best placed in a semi-shaded spot to avoid direct sunlight. In summer, place it indoors in a bright, well-ventilated spot. It must never be exposed to scorching sun, otherwise the stems easily turn yellow.

4. Fertilizing: It is relatively fond of fertilizer, and well-rotted organic fertilizer is generally best. During the growing period, apply a dilute cake fertilizer solution once every half month, and after the flowers fade, apply a liquid fertilizer once more, which helps it bloom the following year.

II. Propagation Methods

1. Cutting propagation: Choose healthy, thick leaf-like stems as cuttings. Cut them into sections 20-30 cm long with 2-3 nodes each, trim the base flat, and after the cut surfaces dry, insert them into a sand bed. They will take root in about 3 weeks.

2. Seed propagation: It generally takes 4-5 years from sowing to flowering, and this method is generally used for hybrid breeding.

III. Common Pests and Diseases

1. Root rot: The roots rot and the leaves also become wrinkled. Control the amount of watering to prevent standing water in the potting soil. You can remove the rotten roots and re-plant the cuttings.

2. Red spider mites: When red spider mites are found, promptly use pesticides to spray and kill them. You can also use methods such as chili pepper water to repel the pests.