I have a problem with my night-blooming Cereus. Both last year and this year I waited breathlessly for two flower buds to develop. Everything was going along well, and then the fist-sized flower buds (right before they were due to open) drooped down and twisted so that they "choked". Last year I even tried supporting the flower, but it twisted anyway and died. This is heart-breaking ! How does one stop this happening.? Should I support the plant on a trellis instead of letting it dangle ? Then how would I move it to the greenhouse come winter ? HELP !!
You are sure that these are not opening while you are asleep, then shriveling afterward in the normal fashion?
I'm almost positive that is not the case, although I must admit it had not occurred to me.... They certainly had not opened before 10.30 - 11pm
It's one of the Epiphyllum-type cacti, not a Cereus. Some of these do flower only at night, with short-lived flowers.
Epiphyllum oxypetalum. I had one once, and the flowers opened in the evening, around 8pm, and shriveled the following morning. Sometimes it aborted a bud or two, but that happened when the buds were not fully developed, about half the size of a full-grown bud.
