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Cacti & Succulents

fall blooming, night flowering, epiphyllum ID?

14 years ago

I know the chances are small, but just in case this is some common epiphyllum, I thought I'd ask. It bloomed a month ago, and is forming a second flush of buds now. It opens at night, around 9. It's not all that fragrant. And the flowers were smaller than I hear they can be, though I got this plant from a neighbor after her death and it had been neglected for who knows how long. Any ideas? Thanks,

Lori

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Comments (7)

norma_2006
14 years ago
It is beautifui and probably a Ceres of some type, In a larger container and getting regular fertilizer the flowers may just be larger. All from this family of plants flowr at night, and don't stay open much past 10:00 in the morningl. I am so glad it flowered for you. Echinopis flower at night so do many Agave, Sansevieria, and several other genus of plants. She is flowering in yor neighbors honor. What a wonderful gift. Norma
gardenbear1
14 years ago
what a great looking Oxypetallum night blooming cereus, there such great plant easy to care for and the flowers are worth the wait, I have a few that bloomed this summer, and should bloom again this coming spring.It's not all that fragrant ? your home must be on the cool side, because the fragrant can be over powering on a warm summer night, I enjoy sitting up waiting for the blooms to open,I even have friends over for the opening of the flowers, I would never call this a common epie, these plants have a history in the south of being the center of great out door dinner parties just for the opening of the flowers. as you can guess this is one of my favorite plants, in the right zones they can be left out side year round and can grow up to 20ft tall

Bear
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I recently purchased the oxypetalum from Avant Gardens. A customer came in looking for one after a write-up in one of the Raleigh newspapers. I am WAY to open to suggestion. Well of course, after reading the article I knew I NEEDED one. They are pretty fast growing aren't they, and a true pass-along plant since just a segment makes a nice plant in no time. I like the fact that they seem to be in that easy care, loves neglect catagory of plant. I have a very nice plant similar to this that I begged from a restaurant in Southern Pines. Two of my sisters were visting at the same time and they both thought I was nuts when I went crazy for the plant in the window when we stopped there for lunch. They both knew that by hook or by crook I would leave with a cutting though. It blooms a bright pink in early spring. I don't know if it's an epi or not but it started with a small segment and is now a lovely looking cactus-like plant. Adele
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crueltyfre
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the help, but now I have more questions! After getting this plant from my neighbor and figuring out what it was, I became interested in the species. I then swapped some other stuff for an oxypetalum (which hasn't bloomed yet). The leaf tips of the oxypetalum I got are rounded. The leaf tips on this one, as you can see, come to a point.

I live in Tampa, and it's been excruciatingly hot this year. The plant hangs under a tree (I only brought it in to watch flowers open). The first night one opened, I had it inside my bedroom and there wasn't much fragrance at all. If I shoved my nose directly into the flower, I got a small wiff, that's all.

I know there are millions of epi hybrids, some white. Are there different types of oxypetalums too? If this is the oxy, what's the other one I have with the rounded tips?
Lori
User
14 years ago
Nice blooms. I've nothing to contribute, but must pls. ask a question out of curiosity.

What pls. is that clear box w/ the white ovals in the bottom right of your pic. They look like silk cocoons -- are you preparing to unwind that into silk?
crueltyfre
Original Author
14 years ago
lol, tic tac mints. I brought the plant inside to watch the flowers open and just set it on my dresser where the tic tac's were.
Lori
gardenbear1
14 years ago
Lori, as far as I know oxy is a species and not a hybrid, the only white night blooming epi that comes to mind is a Strictum/ Hookeri, leaf on some of my oxy are rounded as well as pointed, if the leaf of the other plant are thicker it would be a epi, pic would help if you have one of the other plant, to tell you what hybrid you have might be easier when its in bloom,
Bear
crueltyfre
Original Author
14 years ago
An ANSWER has been found! or at least seems to fit in all regards, lol. It's believed to be epiphyllum pumilum. That accounts for the small flowers, only a couple inches across, as well as it's blooming last night, rather than in spring.
I couldn't find too much on it, and only one place has it for sale.

I have a few rooted cuttings if anyone's interested.
Lori

Here is a link that might be useful: scroll down for info on it

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