What variety of night-blooming cereus cactus is this?

5 years ago

A friend gave us a chunk of her night-blooming cereus cactus, which we stuck in the ground last fall. Buds formed this spring, and last night one of them bloomed. We watched it open (in the dark) over about 30-40 min to fully open. It is closing up today. It may be a one-time bloom (will check tonight). We're pretty sure it is a night blooming cereus, but looking them up, there are many varieties. I didn't see anything quite like this one in color and petal/stamen shape. Fully open it was about 6-in diameter. Any ideas what variety this might be? Thanks!

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Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

The world of Echinopsis hybrids is a HUGE and freaking BEAUTIFUL rabbit hole to fall down;). Google Echinopsis/Trichcereus hybrids and you will be amazed by the gorgeousness. Even just the regular everyday Trichocereus grandiflores that can be found at every Lowes or Home Depot make stunning flowers. I always see them in stores and think if people only knew the flowers these guys can produce.

One that’s on my list is Trichocereus ‘Super Apricot’. Pic from Google.

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Comments (9)

Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It’s an Echinopsis;). I want to say Echinopsis oxygona, but not completely sold on that id. The spines are super long on your cactus, but oxygona can have tons of variation.
emmyt thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
emmyt
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks! the pictures from the link to that variety look close. I have more pix of the cactus body and the flower parts details, if there is anything else that might help narrow it down? These show the pistil and stamen while opening, as well as the cactus body and spines, and after fully opened.
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Wantonamara, Very nice! My poor plant has not had a very good plant mom. It has been a hot dry summer and the watering wasn't very regular. It had such long arms, that I had it up on a plant support and it kept getting blown over in the wind. I do have several more cuttings now, LOL. It has bloomed several times, but always at night. I hope that the heavy clay pot stops it from falling. I will have to try the fertilizer once a week. I feed my violet with weak strength every time I water, but never thought of doing that for the cereus. (Yes, I know it is E.... O..... I can spell cereus!) I just got it moved into the greenhouse a couple of days ago. I think I will just leave it there next year and try to shade the greenhouse. It is under trees, so that helps.
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Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
5 years ago
I will keep looking. I automatically go to Echinopsis oxygona because it’s readily available, but it could also be an Echinopsis hybrid of some sort. If you could post a closer pic of the actual cactus. A side pic and top pic looking down could help.
emmyt thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
emmyt
Original Author
5 years ago
Here are pix from side and top down. thanks!
emmyt
Original Author
5 years ago
Update: the person who gave me the cactus piece had to do some digging around to find out what she gave me-- she says it's "Trichocereus pink dimmitt hybrid". That could possibly mean an Echinopsis x Trichocereus hybrid by Mark Dimmit. I'm learning there are a lot of hybrids out there. She did say this one was special.
emmyt
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow. Thank you. I'm new to southern AZ and cactus and succulents. (Uh oh, hooked now, resistance is futile. :-) ) And it's so easy to get a cutting or an arm (if you know someone willing to give one) and just stick it in the ground. Some good watering the first week or two in native soil, then very little care after that. After getting my in-ground pool filled with dirt (that was another project--must have good drainage etc), it's now a garden of mostly cactus cuttings that friends gave me.
Embothrium
5 years ago
Actually with cactus cuttings it would be more that you let the cut end stay dry at first and then start watering - as needed - after the cut surface has "healed" enough to tolerate water exposure, without rotting.

hooked now

Some kinds will hook you if you get too close.
emmyt thanked Embothrium
emmyt
Original Author
5 years ago
I've done both cactus and succulents both ways -- waited until ends dry or put right in the dirt from the fresh cutting-- and both have taken and grown. In both cases I watered when planted and then was judicious with watering after that to avoid saturation. It's probably "safest" to wait until ends dry, but in my experience (so far anyway) it wasn't critical. The cactus I posted here was put right in ground same day as cut (last November).

And indeed, been hooked in more ways than one! :-)