- Only older plants bloom
- The bud
- structure of the flowers
- Why does the Queen of the Night only bloom when it's dark?
When this cactus opens its delicate flowers, it is a very special event, because it only does so once a year and always at night. Many botanical gardens open their doors at unusual times to allow visitors to observe this fascinating natural spectacle. But even at home, the plant blooms reliably, provided the right care is taken, and always amazes plant lovers.
The Queen of the Night blooms at night
Only older plants bloom
It takes a while for a Queen of the Night to flower. The plant must be at least five years old before it flowers for the first time.
The bud
In early summer, the flower buds appear on the older shoots. Surrounded by a dense coat of fur, they look like tiny cotton balls.
If the cactus is cultivated outdoors, the development depends on the weather conditions. In cool temperatures, nothing happens at first. The first hot days then trigger a development spurt and the buds grow to a size of about ten centimeters.
Recognize the flowering day
From midday it can be seen whether the bud will open that night. Then, when it falls, it swells a lot, the petals begin to separate as night falls and within a few hours they unfold into a magnificent flower.
structure of the flowers
With a diameter of up to 30 centimetres, the funnel-shaped and radiating flowers of the Queen of the Night are unusually large. Usually they smell very pleasant for our nose. The bracts are red to brownish in colour, the inner ones stand out very attractively in white to light yellow. The stamens are grouped around a long, thick style.
Why does the Queen of the Night only bloom when it's dark?
Many bat species in the tropics are not carnivores like our native bats, but feed on nectar and pollen. Flowers like the Queen of the Night, which are pollinated by these animals, therefore only bloom at night.
tips
So that this cactus develops well and the long tendrils do not break off due to the weight of buds and blossoms, it needs a climbing aid in addition to good care. This does not have to be a plastic or bamboo frame, you can also simply place the queen on another houseplant, which gives the long tendrils the necessary support.