Flowering this evening

[MalcolmP2]

This is a new acquisition for me only a couple of months ago but when I saw it in bud in the garden shop I couldnt resist because it will be my third night-flowering cactus ( I showed my old faithful giant one somewhere else, was it in my intro topic, and its flower is one of those in my avatar )
EDIT : Wrong! was in " Big cactus, nice flowers and please ID." viewtopic.php?f=1&t=168137

I meant to say in my previous post that there will be a second chance, you can see its other bud in the middle in my last pic., and nearly doubled in length in this one so everyone keep your fingers xxed

The good news is that Terry causing us to think carefully, sent me to close inspect my possible swelling seed pod and I find that it is aborting itself anyway (I think) (red1)

But better still, the wicked eye of the close-up lens reveals a possible third bud ! (red2) yea!

I have read a web page somewhere that they are supposed to flower profusely during the summer, is that your experience in our climate ?

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[ralphrmartin]

Make sure you save some seed - this plant, in my experience, tends to flower itself to death.

[Eric Williams]

Hi Terry, so that's why all my five plants died off so soon after flowering. Thanks for the tip, looks like Ralph has confirmed it too.. Cheers

[Terry S.]

Yes, just allow a seed pod every couple of years to ensure that you maintain it in your collection and remove the rest. The red arrow in the above photo is to an aborted bud; the lower part of the large dead flowers develops into seed pods. Also, I have never seen this species branch, the multiple heads in the pot will all be separate plants; the Dutch grower has just put a pinch of seed into each cell.

[ragamala]

Also, I have never seen this species branch, the multiple heads in the pot will all be separate plants; the Dutch grower has just put a pinch of seed into each cell.

Thanks Terry, I was thinking just the same myself.

I tend to think just leave them to do their own thing. A one-year seedling is still vigorous enough maybe if it flowers and sets seed to continue for another year or two still looking handsome.

[el48tel]

Yes, just allow a seed pod every couple of years to ensure that you maintain it in your collection and remove the rest. The red arrow in the above photo is to an aborted bud; the lower part of the large dead flowers develops into seed pods. Also, I have never seen this species branch, the multiple heads in the pot will all be separate plants; the Dutch grower has just put a pinch of seed into each cell.

Thanks for the information. I will keep this in mind.