Ceroid Cactus

Ceroid Cactus Care

Night-blooming Cereus

What is the plant

Also called night-blooming cactus, cereus cactus (Hylocerus undatus) is a type of climbing cactus grown for its huge, pure white flowers. At maturity, the heavily scented, dinner plate-sized blooms appear every two weeks from midsummer to fall. Each flower puts on a show for one night only. Despite its exotic beauty, cereus cactus is a fast-growing, low-maintenance plant. Cereus cactus is a sun-loving plant that grows outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and above.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

min 10°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water the plant to a depth of at least 6 inches, and then allow the soil to dry before watering again. Continue watering this way until late August. Water a container-grown cactus until water trickles through the drainage hole, and then let the soil dry before watering again.
Pruning
Trim the plant if it becomes untidy or outgrows its boundaries. Remove thin stems that grow at the base of the plant. Snip the flat leaves to the desired length. Make each snip at a node -- the small protrusion where a leaf grows from the stem.
Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant once every month from March through August, using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Mix the fertilizer according to label directions. Always apply fertilizer to damp soil, as fertilizing dry soil may damage the plant.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Plant in full sun
Soil
A sandy, well-draining soil mix will be fine for your Cereus.
Temperature
Bring the plant indoors before the first frost in fall in USDA zones below 10. Although the cereus cactus tolerates chilly temperatures and brief periods of frost, prolonged cold weather will kill the plant.