Selenicereus

Selenicereus is a genus of cacti native to several countries in South America. It has long and thin climbing or creeping stems, which are not very spiny - these are the main characteristics of this cactus. Spines and areoles can be present or absent; areoles are white and lined on the angles of the stem, spines are short and thin, whitish. Its particular name derives from Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, referring to the unusual characteristic of its nocturnal inflorescences: this cactus, in fact, blooms with wonderful flowers, very fragrant and large (up to 30 centimeters!) that open up, when the sun goes down and close up again when the sun rises. If you choose to use it to decorate your rooms, when the night comes, this plant will give you unforgettable visual and olfactory pleasure! Here are some easy tips for its cultivation: It requires a lot of light during all seasons, while avoiding direct sunlight. Keep it at mild temperatures and never below 10 °C, for this reason it is recommended to shelter it during the winter period. During the warm seasons water it regularly but moderately, to keep the soil always moist but free of stagnant water. In winter it is advisable to reduce watering up to once a month. A substrate rich in minerals but also well draining, in order to avoid water stagnation, is an optimal solution. They do not need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.