The Plant That Keeps On Giving

   "They" said that it only happens every one hundred years, every ten years or even every year but only once.  I am talking about all of the myths and untruths surrounding the Night-blooming Cereus.  Depending upon who is doing the talking, this poor plant may as well give up ever setting a bloom.  Granted, that "once a year" thing is more accurate than the others and, granted, the blooms only last one night but it is ridiculous to think that it only blooms once a decade or once a century.  Nope...it just does not happen that way.

  I admit that I am a bit surprised at the frequency that my plants are setting buds.  This is their seventh budding this summer and we still have several months of warm enough weather to see that number rise.  Crazy thing is I do nothing for these poor plants other than take them out of the greenhouse with the first warm spell and plunk them on the bench under the oak tree.  It must be the perfect spot as, ever since I have been putting them in this spot, they have flourished.  Maybe placement is all it takes.  The plants just completed a blooming cycle last week and today I noticed tiny nodules on the leaves.  Those mean more blooms are coming!

  My plants are all "starts" from my granddad.  He kept two large hanging plants but rooted many.  I received mine and have rooted hundreds.  To start, I was careful of how I attempted taking the cuttings and how I placed them for rooting.  Now, I simply break off a leaf and drop it in Pebble Creek.  The water does the rest.  It takes about a week for the leaf to have enough roots to be on its own.  Usually, I take the time to pot them but, lately, laziness has gotten in the way of that.  I merely leave them in the running water until someone wishes to have their own Night-bloomer.  "Here!  Take one...or two...or maybe ten!"  It is all good!

The "Rain Forest"

  For the past three days, it has rained...a LOT!  In fact, we have gotten nigh on a foot of rain according to the rain gauge attached to the garden fence post.  Throw in the fact that it is in the forecast for us to have rain for the next three days and you can imagine how wet things are here.  You can also probably imagine just how shabby the yard looks.  All of this fine rain has made the plants slap happy so everything has grown a foot or so.  This would be alright if I was able to push that lawnmower or run the weed trimmer.  Poor Son will have to tackle the chore himself come the first dry day.  My work efforts are still limited so I am no use whatsoever.  

  While strolling through my queendom of the Small Gardens, I was able to venture out the gate for a few moments.  This took me to the back of the greenhouse where just last night, the Night-blooming Cereus plants were in full bloom.  The huge, saucer-sized flowers were a thrill to see and I was ever so thankful for Son.  His steady, strong arms guided me to the perfect spot to photograph the blooms.  He, also, took photographs in case mine were shaky.  The blooms were truly breathtaking and the outing was invigorating.  

   During the few moments we were there, he and I both noticed that the plants on that back deck were enormous!  The rain obviously agreed with them.  Just a week ago, it was easy to maneuver on the little porch but now there was  little room to even get to the doorway.  It was a jungle back there!!!  My secluded oasis had turned into a "rain" forest!  I need to hurry and heal so I can get back to caring for my plants as they could all use a good trimming.  The Small Gardens shall have to wait a bit longer but the Queen shall soon return! .Perhaps I should add Queen of the Back "Rain" Forest to my title!  I am gradually increasing my realm!

Second Chances

  Sometimes, timing is everything.  When you miss an opportunity, it is gone...never to be seen again.  True, there may be other instances that you can "redo" an event but the one is over and cannot be repeated.  Take for example a bloom in the garden.  Two days ago, I noticed that the Night-blooming Cereus had a large bud.  I was excited, although I have seen the plant bloom many, many times.  There is just something about those fleeting blooms that only occur at night and for only one night that stirs the kettle of fantasy.  Well, things got a bit crazy with the poor, old dog being ill and the bud was forgotten.  It opened in all its glory with no one to view it.  It went unseen.  I missed it.  This morning, the bud was spent...wilted...gone.

  The Night-blooming Cereus is sort of a family tradition with me.  Back when my grandparents were still alive, the buds literally meant a party was to be planned.  The whole family would gather to watch the buds open into their dinner-plate size blooms.  It was great even though, as a toddler, I thought the goofy bud was rather poky at doing its thing.  It was not until later that I fully appreciated the beauty of the plant.  Granted I do not throw parties when mine blooms and granted I often forget (like last night) but the plants are still cherished.  In fact, there are nigh on a dozen of the plants being cared for in my collection....all from a start from my grandparents' huge cereus.  The cuttings are passed down generation to generation with explicit instructions on how to care for the plants.

  Night-blooming cereus plants are also called "Queen of the Night" which refers to their habit of only blooming after nightfall.  They are a type of cactus that grow long, pencil-thin shoots that flatten into "leaves".  It is on the second year growth that the buds will form from these flattened shoots.  Because they are night-bloomers, they are highly scented and are pollinated by moths and occasionally even bats.  It does not take much care to grow the plants other than an occasional watering and feeding.  They do, however, need to be protected from cold weather.  Anything below 35 degrees is not agreeable to them!  A greenhouse or large, bright window spot is a necessity!

  Then, this evening, another bud began to open! By 9pm, a happy bloom unfurled its petals and allowed me to partake of its beauty!  Thank you, Grandmother and Granddaddy for teaching me patience.  Sometimes, timing is everything.

To bleach or not to bleach...that is the question.

My Night Blooming Cereus has a definite problem!  I was out wandering around the hillside and stopped to check my houseplants.  These had been moved into the yard once the threat of frost passed and I more or less forgot about them.  I feel so guilty now!  My once lush green Night Blooming Cereus has developed a serious...sunburn? The leaves are red...bright red!  I have no clue if this is due to receiving too much sun or is the result of pure neglect.  Perhaps it is a combination of the two.  I have two of these unique plants.  Both are from one that was originally owned by my grandparents and "babies" have been passed down through the family.  They are sort of like some family heirloom!  Now..I am killing one!  This make me feel a bit like I am letting the family down in some weird way.

A healthy Night Blooming Cereus with multiple dinner-plate size blooms.

These two plants are not the original start that I got from Granddaddy long ago.  That plant grew huge and each year was covered with hundreds of blooms.  It was the showpiece of the neighborhood and something that was a source of pride.  Then along came Hurricane Katrina.  Since the plant was far to large to tote inside, I tied it to an oak tree next to the house.  The thirty-five gallon pot was far too heavy and I figured that the plant would be safe tethered to a sturdy tree.  I was wrong. Once the storm had passed, my plant was nowhere in sight!  All that remained was the rope wrapped around the oak tree.  Later, we found the large pot a good thousand feet from the house.  It had washed down into the creek but was sans the plant.  As we cleared debris, I found one small leaf and poked it in a flower pot trying to salvage what I could.  Remarkably, it rooted but grew somewhat slowly.  Later in the year, my sister shared a small plant rooted from her stock.  I was elated!  Now I had two Night Bloomers!

This is what an "unhealthy" leaf looks like..not good.

A healthy branch showing glossy, new growth!  

Neither of these plants have grown like my original monster!  They are still small although each year they put on a few blooms.  Now..the red leaves.  I am not sure what I should do to combat the severe case of "embarrassment" that my leaves have developed.  Tomorrow, I will rip the plant from the pot and check the roots.  Perhaps some fungus has taken hold of the roots and is making the plant ill.   I read where I should "bleach" the roots, rinse, air-dry and replant.  This seems a bit harsh but if that is what it takes to heal my favorite plant..hey, I am game!  Bring on the bleach!

Queen of the Night!

Back many years ago, Granddad gave me a small piece of one of his plants. It was a part the lovely Night-blooming Cereus that he and Grandmother kept on their porch for many, many years. I loved this plant and with careful tending, it grew to massive proportions. It was well over eight feet tall and had many branches. Come late summer, the Night-blooming Cereus would bloom profusely. There was one summer that it had over eighty flowers! What a sight that was! (The picture above shows the blooms a few years ago.) I loved this plant..if for no other reason than it was one of the few things that I had that was given to me by my grandparents. Then Hurricane Katrina came blowing in on the Bayou and that changed things tremendously. Before the storm, I had tied my plant to an oak tree right next to the house. I knew that the winds would damage the plant fiercely but also knew that because of its massive size, I would never be able to move it inside. After the storm..no plant. It had vanished along with most everything else that was in the yard. But I could not worry about a mere plant..most of our place was devastated and my energy was better spent repairing the home.

My Sweet Sister brought me a small plant that she grew from a cutting from hers. It has grown but is not nearly as large as the pre-Katrina plant. A few months after Katrina, I had found a small piece of my old plant and I tried to revive it. It grew! Yes, even yet it is still small compared to what it once was but at least I have a tiny remembrance. Tonight, it bloomed again as it has for the past few years. Before Katrina, this plant would be covered..now it has two blooms. It is still struggling six years later. I have been a tad bit negligent with fertilizing. I know that it needs some tender-loving care to get it healthy. Perhaps it is like so much of the Coast..still not up to par. The blooms give hope..something that I have never lost.

For most of the year, the Night-blooming Cereus is a rather ugly plant. It is tall, leggy and definitely needs to be supported either by a trellis or some sort of prop. If there is a way to grow it high on a balcony, it will drape fine over a porch railing. Some people might be tempted to just toss this plant until..until that one night that it blooms! The buds take about a week to mature to the point of blooming and they only last one night but oh, my goodness! They are incredible! Each flower can be up to eight inches across! I can remember my grandparents having a party to watch for the opening of their Cereus blooms! Friends and family would all gather around on their screened porch to take in the spectacle as the bud would open in a series of jumpy motions. Once open, the blossom emits an almost sickening sweet scent to attract moths needed for pollination. By morning, the bloom is hanging low..wilted beyond recognition. The Cereus can, however, produce a series of buds about every two weeks during the late summer given optimal conditions. This plant is one that is well worth the effort to grow. Queen of the Night..Night-blooming Cereus..Moon Princess..Grandiflorus Cactus...one beautiful, beautiful flower!

Night Gardens

Have you ever considered just what happens in your garden at night? Sure you might fret about animals that eat the fruit and vegetables but I am referring to the flower gardens. The gardens that are solely there for the benefit of our senses. One of the most tantalizing gardens is a night garden, one where the true beauty can only be experienced after sunset and well into the evening. Years ago, I had such a happy little place as this and I am collecting plants to create another. I still have a few tubers of Four-O-Clocks that are a wonderful addition to any garden but especially in the night garden. They fill the evening air with wonderful aromas and bloom all summer long with very little care. These beauties come in a wide range of colors and once established will reappear for years to come. Make sure to plant the seeds in a place that does not need to be disturbed as they will make a tuber after the first year.

White flowers of any kind are a must in the night garden. They literally shine in the moonlight when all colored flowers seem to disappear into the darkness. Lilies, Jasmine and Gardenias will all add a splash of brilliance plus wonderful scents to this space. If there is some sort of support, a fence or trellis, the Moon-flower vine is definitely a "must have" plant. This vine produces very large blooms that resemble the Morning Glory in shape. The buds themselves have a beautiful spiral to them and they open into seven inch blooms in the late afternoon. Moon-flower vines are annuals so be sure to save a handful of seeds for the next year. (Use care when handling the seeds though, they are toxic.)

For those with a more exotic taste, there is always the Night-blooming Cereus. This is a tall succulent plant that produces buds along the edge of the leaves. These buds take a week to mature to blooming stage but are well worth the wait. The blooms are huge with a multitude of petals that open to fill the entire garden with incredible fragrance. With proper care the Night-blooming Cereus can get quite large and be covered with many, many blooms. Last year, my plant had eighty-seven of these massive blooms at one time. The blooms only last one night but I do recommend this plant just for the sheer "wow" effect. It is that amazing. This plant is not cold hardy and should be moved indoors during the winter months.

A couple of last notes about night gardens. I do advise that the garden plot is placed near the house so that it can be enjoyed on many evenings. Next to the entry, by a deck, near a porch would be perfect. Another tip is to mark pathways with stepping stones or gravel that will shine in the moonlight so as to keep artificial lighting to a minimum. Small path lights that are unobtrusive might suffice when the moon is not cooperating. Water features add another nice bit of ambiance as will a seating area. Happy night gardening!