Mark has been growing cactus for many years. When he lived in Austin, Texas, there were many varieties of cacti in his garden that grew year round. Since moving back to Oklahoma City, Mark has kept his cactus in containers. That is, until we get our greenhouse finished. The winter is too harsh to plant the cactus in the ground year round without the benefit of shelter.

If a cactus is going to bloom in containers, it may take several years to reach that stage. When it does happen, it starts like other flowering plants with a small bud. The buds slowly grow to about two inches long. Then, over about a twelve hour period, the buds can grow several more inches into mature flowers that may measure three to seven inches long and wide. The process starts in the early evening and by the time the sun comes up the flower begins to fade.

The following pictures are of various night blooming Cereus cacti from South America. The blooms are gorgeous and out of this world!

Mark takes time to smell the flowers... (but these blooms don't really have much of a scent.)