Jungle cactus in bloom

[Caroluna]

I've had this plant since about 1984. Here's a picture of it labeled 1988.




It's an "epiphytic jungle cactus" -- a kind of cactus that grows waaay up in rainforest trees.
Cactuses are plants that evolved to conserve water, and as part of that, their leaves transformed into spines. These epiphytic cacti took it a step further and lost almost all of the spines, so what looks like leaves is really all stem.

This plant grew very slowly until we got a little greenhouse 2 yrs ago. I transplanted it into a large pot and within one summer it shot up more than 6 feet. And this year it bloomed!!!

The flowers open at night



They are large and fragrant







......and they shrivel up by morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbzi8Xyd ... re=related

Here's more info about 'em
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum

There appear to be lots more buds coming

Wish we could bottle the scent and post that too
[img scratch'n'sniff] photo [/img scratch'n'sniff]

[MTGuru]

Looks more like a cattus than a cactus to me.

And if you were coming after me to transplant me into a large pot, I'd look at you like that, too.

[brewerpaul]

Nice pics.
I saw Night Blooming Cereus about 30 years ago in Bermuda while on a Marine Biology course. I'd be driving my little moped along and suddenly smell this rich sweet smell and sure enough it would be a big Cereus plant in bloom. Thanks for the memory.

[cowtime]

That plant is amazing!

[mutepointe]

How pretty. Lucky you.

[Innocent Bystander]

Yep, purty!

[Joseph E. Smith]

Impressive!!!

[fyffer]

Cool!! I have one of these, but it's deep red.
It's almost in full bloom. I'll try to remember to put up a pic of mine when it finally does bloom.

[Caroluna]

How pretty. Lucky you.

After 25 yrs of no blooms I just about fainted when I saw a bud on the thing!!!

Cool!! I have one of these, but it's deep red.
It's almost in full bloom. I'll try to remember to put up a pic of mine when it finally does bloom.

Does the flower on yours stay open longer than 12 hrs? This was beautiful but gone by the next morning. There wasn't even any scent left in the wilted flower.

[dwest]

Does the flower on yours stay open longer than 12 hrs? This was beautiful but gone by the next morning. There wasn't even any scent left in the wilted flower.

They only last the nite. My grandfather is Sligo had a substantial Epiphyllum in his solarium. I would sleep on the floor in hopes I would wake up to see it opening in bloom. He would always have to wake me up anyway, but unfortunately, after it had opened completely.

[fyffer]

Cool!! I have one of these, but it's deep red.
It's almost in full bloom. I'll try to remember to put up a pic of mine when it finally does bloom.

Does the flower on yours stay open longer than 12 hrs? This was beautiful but gone by the next morning. There wasn't even any scent left in the wilted flower.

They smell sweet, but not overpowering.
I think they last more than a day. IIRC, it's only a few days long. Then they drop their wilted sticky blooms to the floor for the dog to get stuck on her fur.

[pipersgrip]

How beautiful.

How long do those live?

[Caroluna]

I think the white, night-blooming ones are pollinated by moths and bats and things, and they wilt after one night.

The red and orange ones are day-blooming. I'm guessing they're pollinated by hummingbirds?

The whole group is related to Christmas cactus, and those go the several days then sticky things on the floor route.

There's all sorts of domesticated ones now
http://www.epies.net/

Free Cuttings!
If you're interested in a rooted cutting, let me know -- should have a dozen or so ready in 2 months.

[fyffer]

Cool!! I have one of these, but it's deep red.
It's almost in full bloom. I'll try to remember to put up a pic of mine when it finally does bloom.

Does the flower on yours stay open longer than 12 hrs? This was beautiful but gone by the next morning. There wasn't even any scent left in the wilted flower.

They smell sweet, but not overpowering.
I think they last more than a day. IIRC, it's only a few days long. Then they drop their wilted sticky blooms to the floor for the dog to get stuck on her fur.

We're in luck. Full bloom of the first blossom was yesterday. Here it is:

[Sliabh Luachra]

I belonged to yoga studio several years for a few years that was full of these. The night they bloomed was an ecstatic experience.

The studio has since closed down, but we have a clipping that is doing well at home.