Q.How can I help my night blooming cereus to flower
Hello,
Bought my night blooming cereus as a small plant more than fifteen years ago. It bloomed after about three years, but not since. It was in my unheated basement this past winter with plant lights in the day, now it’s in the backyard, morning sun with partial shade from the noon and afternoon sun. In the years prior it was kept in my dining room in the winter. I just read one of your articles to force bloom by keeping in the dark from dusk to dawn during the bloom season. Can I wrap it in dark fabric in the night to accomplish this? It’s too big and ungainly to bring inside each night, or can you provide any other suggestions? I am in the Northeast. Thanks in advance for any advice. Will attach blooms pic from years ago and current picture.
Liz
Yes, these need absolute darkness to flower properly. This method of putting in a completely dark room from dusk til dawn will provide this condition. Any amount of light during these times will trick the plant into thinking that it is daytime. This will keep it from flowering. A cloth can help, possibly, but it needs to let NO light in at all.
