When this cactus opens its delicate flowers, it is a very special event because it only does this once a year and always at night. Many botanical gardens open their doors at unusual times to allow visitors to observe this fascinating natural spectacle. But even at home, provided the right care is given, the plant blooms reliably and always amazes plant lovers.
When does the Queen of the Night bloom?
The Queen of the Night opens her impressive, fragrant flowers only once a year and only in the dark. The plant must be at least five years old to flower, with flower buds appearing on older sprouts in early summer.
Only older plants bloom
It takes some time for a Queen of the Night to bloom. The plant must be at least five years old before it bears flowers for the first time.
The Bud
In early summer, the flower buds appear on the older parts of the shoots. Surrounded by a thick fur coat, they look like tiny cotton balls.
If the cactus is cultivated outdoors, its development depends on the weather conditions. When the temperatures are cool, nothing happens at first. The first hot days trigger a development spurt and the buds grow to a size of around ten centimeters.
Identifying the blooming day
From midday onwards you can tell whether the bud will break open that night. Then it swells strongly, the petals begin to separate from each other as darkness falls and within a few hours they develop into a magnificent flower.
Structure of the flowers
With a diameter of up to 30 centimeters, the funnel-shaped and radial flowers of the Queen of the Night are unusually large. They usually also smell very pleasant to our nose. The outer leaves are colored red to brownish, the inner ones stand out from them in a very attractive white to light yellow color. The stamens are grouped around a long, thick style.
Why does the Queen of the Night only bloom in the dark
Numerous bat species in the tropics are not carnivores like our native bats, but feed on nectar and pollen. Flowers like the Queen of the Night, which are pollinated by these animals, therefore only bloom at night.
Tip
So that this cactus develops well and the long tendrils do not break off due to the weight of buds and flowers, in addition to good care, it needs a climbing aid (€27.00 on Amazon). This doesn't have to be a frame made of plastic or bamboo, you can simply place the queen on another houseplant that provides the long tendrils with the necessary support.
