Most flowers bloom during the day, but the Peniocereus greggii is different. The flower buds set on in July through September and they appear along the edge of the leaf. The sweetly scented flowers of this plant begin to open at 9 or 10 pm. By midnight, the flowers are fully open. There are at least 34 species of Cereus. This plant is a columnar type of cacti and it takes 4 to 5 years for it to bloom. People living in zones 9 and 10 can grow cereus outdoors. But if you life in zones lower than 10, cereus needs to be sheltered indoors as a houseplant. When planting your cereus outdoors, try to follow the steps to improve your chances for success.

Choosing the Right Location

Choose the right site to plant the cereus. The area outdoors should have dappled sunlight.

To grow the cereus, it is important to have a trellis for the cereus to grow on. The stems can grow to heights of 8 to 10 feet in length. A trellis helps prevent the wind from moving it around and breaking the stems off the cereus.

Dig a hole that is one and a half times the diameter of the pot. Do not dig the hole any deeper, but keep the planting depth the same as the root ball.

Planting the Cereus

Remove the cereus from the pot, being careful to not break the soil around the root ball. You'll want to cause as little stress as possible when transplanting the cereus.

Insert the root ball in the center of the planting hole. Before you fill the hole in with soil, make sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding ground.

Give the cereus a drink of water only to moisten the soil. Do not saturate the soil with water or the root ball can rot.

Feed the cereus with a special fertilizer made for cactus plants. Mix and apply the fertilizer according to label directions.

Indoor Growing

For indoor growing, allow the cereus to become root bound. They have a tendency to be better bloomers. During periods of dormancy, or he fall and winter months, reduce watering and do not fertilize the plant. Grow the plant in a bright window. In the spring, when the plant starts growing, water the cereus slightly more, but keep in mind it is a cactus and does not need much water or it will rot. Take the cereus plant outdoors in the summer months.