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- Q.A Night-blooming Cereus Leaf Got Partially Damaged Including The Center Stem- That Section Has Developed Some - brown bumps on it- I've now cut it off. However the uneven-shaped bumps have gone further down to the undamaged ...
- Q.Trimimg/pruning Night Blooming Cereus - Need instructions of pruning/trimming a night blooming cereus to keep it somewhat in check. Does it need to be ...
- Q.Should I Cut The Spent Flowers Off My Night Blooming Cereus? - My “alien” night blooming cereus had 7 blooms this month. Usually only has one at a time.
- 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, ...
- Q.Night Blooming Cereus Has Parts Of Leaf That Are Dark Brown & Dry On One Leaf At The Top End Of The Plant. What Could Cause This? - This is an old plant. Thinking it might need new soil.
- Q.Epiphyllum Oxypetalum Has Strange Spots On Leaves - Epiphyllum oxypetalum, queen of the night, night blooming cactus/cereus, developed these tan, white, beige rough spots. Spreading to different leaves. ...
- Q.Ceres Cactus Leaves Turning Brown On Ends… - Please help....some of the older leaves & now a newer leaf is turning brown at the ends...? I know it got ...
Asked by
Columbia on
May 4, 2019
10025Q.A Night-blooming cereus leaf got partially damaged including the center stem- that section has developed some
brown bumps on it- I've now cut it off. However the uneven-shaped bumps have gone further down to the undamaged part of the leaf-- and I just found 2 very tiny black insects on it. I cleaned entire plant with alcohol and q-tip swab. What further to do?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
May 5, 2019
Certified ExpertA.That is a fungal issue, not likely related to the insects, but not impossible either.
Usually this is caused by overwatering, or leaving the soil wet for too long. It appears from the photo, that the soil is a little heavier than these plants like, and fully saturated. Two things that will not fare well for this plant.
Although these are not true cacti, and they do like moist soils, the soil must be light with organic amendments such as compost. This thicker soil will not allow the roots to breathe properly. I would try a cactus soil amended with compost.
Once you repot, you can begin treatment. This particular issue is a little more aggressive, so if the first treatment does not work, you will have to turn to copper fungicides.
After repotting, make a solution of 1/4 peroxide, and 3/4 water. Water this in, and do this two more times each after the soil dries out almost completely down to 3 or 4 inches or slightly more. So, roughly, once per week for 3 weeks after repotting.
This article will give you more information on caring for these plants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/night-blooming-cereus/night-blooming-cereus.htm
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
July 6, 2019Q.trimimg/pruning night blooming cereus
Need instructions of pruning/trimming a night blooming cereus to keep it somewhat in check. Does it need to be tied to a trellis?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 6, 2019A.This article will help you.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Tink912 on
July 6, 2019
19967Q.Should I cut the spent flowers off my night blooming cereus?
My “alien” night blooming cereus had 7 blooms this month. Usually only has one at a time.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 6, 2019
Certified ExpertA.That is completely up to you! It may bloom again faster with a deadheading, but it certainly won't hurt to take them off. Leaving them might grant you fruit, if you allow moths to pollinate it!
This article will offer more information on the care of these plants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/night-blooming-cereus/night-blooming-cereus.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 18, 2019Q.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
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 18, 2019A.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.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
kcberry71 on
July 28, 2019
Statham, GaQ.Night blooming Cereus has parts of leaf that are dark brown & dry on one leaf at the top end of the plant. What could cause this?
This is an old plant. Thinking it might need new soil.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 29, 2019
Certified ExpertA.This appears to be a fungal infection. It can happen from the soil remaining wet for too long, without a dryout between.
This can be treated with a fungicide. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
This article will help you with the care of the plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/night-blooming-cereus/night-blooming-cereus.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
HELPqueenofthenightcactus on
October 17, 2019
philadelphiaQ.Epiphyllum oxypetalum has strange spots on leaves
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, queen of the night, night blooming cactus/cereus, developed these tan, white, beige rough spots. Spreading to different leaves. Still producing new leaves. Is this something I should be worrying about?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
October 17, 2019
Certified ExpertA.It is hard to say without seeing the damage. My best guesses would be fungal/bacterial infections, or possibly scale insect. They both fit your description in different ways. They also have very different treatment from each other.
You will treat the first with a fungicide. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
These articles will help with scale: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/what-is-soft-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/what-is-armored-scale.htm
This article will help with the care of Night Blooming Cereus: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/night-blooming-cereus/night-blooming-cereus.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
badblonde on
November 29, 2019
33435 - tropicalQ.Ceres Cactus Leaves Turning Brown On Ends…
Please help....some of the older leaves & now a newer leaf is turning brown at the ends...? I know it got over watered this summer (plant sitter) but now its back to only every 4-5 days (its potted)....
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
December 2, 2019
Certified ExpertA.Once it gets overwatered, it must also be treated for infection. It will happen, almost, always once overwatered.
Only correcting the watering habits still leaves an infection that will continue to worsen, and grow inside the plant and soil.
Correcting with a fungicide will be your first line of defense. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
Once you take care of the infection, it will start to recover, but probably quite slowly. New growth will come out clean once the infection is gone. Old growth will not recover, but will not spread.
This article will help you with proper care of the plant:
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