How to grow & care for Epiphyllum - Night Blooming Cactus cuttings

[@wendychad7975]

Hi from Queensland Australia. I have a wonderful plant that flowers on full moon, OFTEN. We are often in my garden with our torches & phones sharing a wonderful moment.❤😊

[@nanettejernigan7338]

We have one started from a single leaf that currently has 27 buds ready to open in 2-3 more days. Will start trying to propagate soon thanks to this video!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Wow amazing! That is so exciting. Good luck with your propagation.

[@enough1494]

ALAS!!! I was gifted a small piece it grew quickly! And, now the third year it is huge and has 7 blooms…..my first blooms yall!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Amazing! I love stories like this

[@mycatsnameiskaren8253]

That's so cool! I've got one from my mom's and it's growing but not as much as it can. Good luck! 🪴 ❤

[@roseecker5109]

This is going to be our first bloom. I have six buds still closed Can't wait!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yay! That's excellent.

[@eronhonez]

Love the “arrow” tip to keep track of the top!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! I always need to use that method with lots of propagations, including snake plant. Super helpful.

[@lelandsmith2320]

You can also mark on them with permanent markers, a good way to label species, cultivaers, date of planting , etc.

[@elaineflynn5589]

They can root upside down I’ve done it look for Ariel roots . And I’ve seen some vids they got them to root in water. It’s just the matter of watching . I found drying on newspaper left to cure two weeks in a bathroom helps . Each to there own devises lots of different ways work .

[@FreePlantsForever]

Great advice! Thanks, and yes, there is no wrong way to do it!

[@nancyskinner5207]

I have a night blooming cereus that a dear friend gave me in 1999. It is enormous. It has never bloomed. Family members do not appreciate it’s unusual beauty and keep asking why I don’t pitch it. (I know, but you can’t choose your family. LOL) I love this plant. I’m excited to know about wintering it to set the blooming. Thank you for your video!

[@lisascenic]

Thanks for another great video! I have several of these that I’ve gotten from friends or estate sales. It’s thrilling when they flower!

[@FreePlantsForever]

They are so beautiful! Glad you enjoyed the video 💚

[@RendaJane]

How do you get it to flower?

[@lisascenic]

@@RendaJane Honestly? I stuck them in bright shade in the back yard and didn’t fuss over them. I’d like to credit advanced technique, but I suspect the secret is my climate. I live in the SF Bay Area, where I’m able to leave them outside all year. My two challenges are the fact that us doesn’t rain AT ALL in the spring or summer, and the ravenous slugs that populate my potted plants.

[@RendaJane]

@@lisascenic I REALLY dislike slugs. They’ve done and do such massive damage for a little slimey blob of snot. I have a friend who has whatever phobia it’s called when you’re deadly afraid of slugs. I’m going to leave them out until it’s getting down in the 40s.

[@truthray2885]

Just bought my first two plants / stalks. Looking forward to watching them thrive, thanks to your channel 😉

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yay, best of luck with it!

[@karenamalfi8551]

Thank you for another great video. I also love propagating plants and rescuing them from the stores. They just seem to love getting a second chance.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Absolutely agree! I always appreciate my free plants the most. 💚

[@mycatsnameiskaren8253]

Yes!!!! I've been doing this for a few years and have gotten amazing plants for dollars. I got a fiddle leaf fig in a discount cactus garden 2 years ago at Walmart for $15 and I've gotten at least 6 beautiful plants from that ONE! The one I gave my mom last year is now 6 feet tall and growing (same size at Lowe's is $250). I really feel like sometimes the plants I buy are just weaker varieties and regardless of what you do, they just don't do well, but I would say a good 80% of the discount plants I buy are great and do really well. P.s. it broke my heart when I saw an entire lot of moldy irises at Walmart last month. At that point they are just selling the pots for $5 but what a waste!!!! Ugh 😔 RIP

[@emmavofamily-uk6331]

Thank you for sharing and very useful.. have a good day my friend

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! You too!

[@kathryntanner9796]

Helpful video. Might try propagating in Perlite to begin with. These plants are fascinating but good grief they can get so big so fast! Good for sharing at plant swaps! Love those little succulent garden tools.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad this was helpful! And yes, I love using perlite.💚

[@lelandsmith2320]

You can use pretty much anything as long as it is well draining. I have use regualr planter mix, coarse sand, and pumice sand which is like perlite. The key is do not over water.

[@deborahbarry8250]

You have helped me a lot... I subscribed 😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

Welcome! Happy to have you here

[@marieb3630]

Not all Epiphyllum are the night blooming variety. The true night blooming variety will open after sundown and die sometime around sunrise.

[@lelandsmith2320]

They close in the morning. If pollinated they will go on to produce fruit.

[@niribhudram949]

How do I water this plant

[@rogerdearborn4537]

It's also a climber whereas the other is not. Cereus has no spines also

[@tylerball7069]

I have a queen of the night! Her name is Denise! She has white flowers!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Amazing! I love the name too.

[@tylerball7069]

@@FreePlantsForever Denise says thank you!

[@michelesalazar3397]

Thank you!!! I finally know what my salvage cactus is. I did searches and couldn’t find a match!

[@lelandsmith2320]

If it is a natural species you should be able to ID it. If it is a hybrid it is virtually impossible becasue there are hundreds of varieties and more every year. Collectors call these "NOID" plants-- no identification, meaning no identification possible.

[@misselizabeth6631]

Nice video ☺️

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 💚

[@joycemcbride9359]

I JUST TOOK THE CUTTING SOMEONE GAVE TO ME FROM CHURCH AND PUT IT IN SOME FRESH SOIL AND IT GREW SO BIG AND FLOWERED NICELY ADDED A LIQUID FERTILIZERS AND KEPT IT OUTSIDE PARTUAL SHADE DOING WELL SO I CUT PIECE AND GROWNING IT FOR A FRIEND 😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

Amazing! I love hearing success stories like yours.💚

[@josiehi]

Very nice video! I just received three rooted starts & planted all three in separate pots! Now I’m wondering if I should unpot them & put them into one bigger pot?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Totally up to you! They don't need to be in separate pots, but will do fine that way too... I just wanted the look of a fuller plant.🌵

[@josiehi]

Thank you! I decided to leave them in separate pots since they were pretty big; however when I went to Lowe’s recently, they had a potbound night cactus which I got for half price and I brought it home & made at least 3 pots from the one pot plus had to trim leaves so they’re hardening off to make more plants! I watched your video again & have really enjoyed it! Where did you find your miniature tools?

[@lelandsmith2320]

If they are ultimatedly going into hanginf baskets it may be better to plant 3 in a pot to make it easier to get a ballanced basket. Also, crowding the roots a little makes them bloom sooner.

[@blairfjeld5116]

When you put the cuttings in do you lightly must them or fully water them ?

[@FreePlantsForever]

If I'm certain that the plant is fully callused over, I will water them. But in the case of these plants, they can survive without water for a while, so I might leave it a week before watering.

[@007spicytuna]

Great video thank you so much!! If I am using perlite to get the cuttings to root, should I water the cuttings? Also, how long should I expect to wait to see roots on the Queen of the Night.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thanks so much for watching! I try to keep my perlite moist at all times. I usually just make sure the bottom of the jar has a resevoir of water that is keeping the rest of the perlite wet. Depending on conditions it takes about a month or two for roots to form, and then might take a year before you get a bloom.

[@teresawingbermuehle4212]

What brand of soil did you use or can u give brand names of what u did use thanks so much great video... I've had mine 10 years no blooms ...lol

[@FreePlantsForever]

I try to find organic soil brands, some of my favorites are EB Stone or Espoma. My favorite fertilizers are the Joyful Dirt products as they can be sprinkled or turned into liquid. I've got some soils linked on my Amazon page here too: amzn.to/3lpv1RC 💚

[@melaniesingh7208]

My epi was affected by the freeze. Should I cut it back.

[@sallywarner9939]

Can u root in water

[@loyaltyndrespect24]

Please send me a free cut to vernon rockville ct.❤❤❤ thank you for the video either way. They are gorgeous. 😊

[@ElizabethMurphy-x2s]

How do you trim these plants? How to not cut leaves that might flower? I live in north so I have to bring in for winter.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Good question! I would make sure and only trim after blooming season has passed to ensure you're not clipping potential blooms... and only trim if it's getting leggy and out of control.

[@lelandsmith2320]

and clean your pruners with alcohol between each plant.

[@joshcoleman6068]

How long should I left them "callus over"?

[@FreePlantsForever]

For any cactus type plants I would say ideally at least a week, if not longer. These can really be kept out of soil for several months, and I've even had some start rooting while in the callus process. So really as long as you're willing to wait!

[@bhuvanamani6344]

Hi, i just got one leaf and i dunked it in water but do i cut it and put in or just put the whole leaf partially immersed?! And i have this cocopeet with probiotic rooting mix, can i just cut and put in it? Will it work?

[@Mark-u5k7j]

I have one I wanted to make it to bloom how much water should I water it? I'm in Florida south Florida should I water it every week??? Or once every 2 weeks????? I have super bloom fertilizer can I use???? At half rate or just 1/4 rate I don't know what to do it's a 10 50 10 I don't want it to burn out but I wanted to bloom how many times a year does it bloom??????

[@gla5656]

How much fertilizer should be put on it every two weeks? Also, making sure… you said that when they are cuttings and stuck in soil to root you don’t water at all for a month? Why is that just curious?

[@FreePlantsForever]

I don't water for a month to help prevent the cuttings from rot. They rot really easily in a moist substrate. I've actually found it best to keep them really dry as long as I can. As far as fertilizer, I would have to estimate, but I use liquid fertilizer that is diluted with water and would do just like a normal watering amount with that, so... maybe two cups of diluted fertilizer every couple of weeks.

[@lelandsmith2320]

You an try misting them daily and then slowly begin watering when there are new shoots present.

[@RVBadlands2015]

I have an appy cactus near new it was a night bloomer.

[@rhodatse7861]

I’ve a sunroom, can I put them by the window where it gets lots of sunlight during summer and away from the cold in the winter? I might have done something wrong didn’t flower for 2 years in the row in my sunroom Thanks

[@panteradelsur5722]

Beautiful flowers! I have only red and fuchsia . Why some parts of the plant get dry ? Can someone help me ?

[@truthtellerfreethinker7311]

You’re lucky free plants.

[@PaolaTourGuide]

Nice. I have a big plant ,but 5his year it didnt bloom. I am in santa monica

[@FreePlantsForever]

Sorry to hear that, I've heard you could apply some bloom booster to encourage flowers. I don't know what your lighting situation is, but also growing outside in the shade to make sure the plant is getting a natural cycle of light. Best of luck with it!

[@HuyNguyen-tm3wz]

what do the cuttings look like when they get calloused over?

[@FreePlantsForever]

They will look dry... maybe a little bit shriveled and like a scab. You will want to make sure there is no moisture to the touch to prevent any rot getting to the plant.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! 🌱

[@niccolejewell9623]

Hi can you send me some cuttings of queen of the night plant I never see them in any stores

[@fredclarke801]

Hair like roots appear on the top end of the leaves, so should I plant upside down? One cutting I planted has branched like crazy! I used ordinary potting compost. Most of the leaves are around 2" long on my original plants.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Those are aerial roots! The plant uses them to climb/attach to trees or a trellis. If you want the plant to climb you can add a wood plank/pole or plant near a tree and it will use those roots to climb 😁

[@lelandsmith2320]

Mist the aerial roots with water and a very light fertilizer, like 1/4 dose recommended to garden plants.

[@meeradevan6602]

Great video! Gives hope to try this method out. How long should the leaves be left for them to become callous? Do you by any chance ship (if paid ahead) cuttings of the Epiphyllum :)

[@FreePlantsForever]

I left them out for about a week to make sure they were really fully calloused, but that's not a scientific method! Just make sure any cuts are fully dried over. To answer your other question, I don't ship plants, it's really just a hobby. I tried giving plants away as a giveaway and it was just so much time consuming work (away from my real job, my kids and my garden), I just had to draw the line and not do it. Sorry! There are lots of great sellers out there on Etsy who have amazing, beautiful specimens you could get.

[@Misslou2425]

Wait...is that why they go yellow? Being in their soil/ pit for too long? I kept wondering if l have been giving mine too much sun....

[@FreePlantsForever]

It's probably both, I think they were yellow from lack of nutrients and probably too much direct sunlight. Mine are much happier now that I've moved them to indirect sunlight.

[@Misslou2425]

@@FreePlantsForever l will do the same

[@gingerprice5241]

I have a queen of the night I brought to tx from cally diing grest in house but I can't figure out why there seems to be a bunch of roots growing from a new large shoot

[@FreePlantsForever]

It sounds like aerial roots looking to climb? Maybe add a moss pole and see what happens?💚

[@gingerprice5241]

I'll try that the original plant was out side in twined with a lemon tree It was big..

[@Hippy_Chk]

Took a cutting from a sad looking plant at my daughter’s house. Can someone confirm that it’s one of these plants 😊

[@chloewebb94]

I got some cuttings 1.5 years ago and they’ve filled the 5 gallon pot and are pouring over. Now I just want them to bloom..

[@FreePlantsForever]

Amazing! I need to fins some good fertilizer for blooming myself, I think that's the key. And the time of year as well of course - depending on the variety it's usually late spring and mid-summer.

[@lelandsmith2320]

Limit nitrogen fetilizer as it encourages green growth but not flowers and fruit..

[@resortgarden]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you 💚

[@janieloujohnson4015]

A friend gave me cuttings. I've had this pant for 5 years. Transplanted into 50 gallon pot with cactus soil. I can't get it to bloom and some of leaves are yellow 😮

[@runuchatterjee5616]

15:22 Madam,how much time will it take to bloom first time?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Totally depends on conditions and the time of year. Honestly it took about a year for me to get a bloom from this plant after I repotted it.

[@igigirising6150]

To make the plant root faster , dip the cutting into aloe vera gel then place into the loose soil and lightly water. Don't over water the cutting. This applies to any cuttings you want to grow. This method is guaranteed to work.

[@amauris3167]

I just wanted to add a small correction…. The cactus WILL GROW even if you plant it upside down, it will grow new stems out of its veins, or new babies will start to form and grow out of the dirt. So, technically what happens is, the plant and leaves will grow outward finding the sunlight. I plant almost all of my night blooming cactus cuttings upside down because here in Florida the weather is unpredictable, and it’ll rain all of the sudden, and end up soaking all of my plants. So if I plant them upside down, it avoids the cut area from soaking and turning into mush, and allowing that top cut to just further callous and dry, as the plant is rooting. It will root from any point of its body with or without medium. ***Sorry for the intrusion***

[@FreePlantsForever]

Interesting! I've never heard of this method, but glad I know it now! I know with my snakeplant propagations, they will only grow "right side up" so maybe that's where I got confused.

[@edithnye1756]

Where do you live? And plant?

[@richardalan3204]

To much back ground music.

[@sallywarner9939]

Can u root in water