Everyone has one. Everyone wants to know what it is. It is most likely, that the plant you have, that you call "Night Blooming Cereus", is actually Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Oxypetalum is easily identified by its unique bloom. While the bud is forming, it grows pointing downward. A few days before it blooms, the bud starts to point upward. When it finally blooms, the tube resembles a "Dutchman's Pipe". This is also one of the names used for this plant. The flower is about 5- 8 inches in diameter, very white, and very fragrant. The bud opens around 10 PM and dies around 8 AM the following morning.

The growth is also unique. The stems start out either from an aureole of an existing stem or at the end of a long tubular growth that is very sturdy and can be as long as 4'. The stems are very flat, not thick, and have a slight wavy appearance to them. The aureoles are not symmetrical from one side of the stem to the other. They have a 'step' look to them in that an aureole on one side lies between two aureoles on the opposite site. It's hard to describe, but easy to recognize if you see it.

Many people ask me how to make their Epiphyllum oxypetalum bloom more. I always ask them how the plant looks and the most common reply is that it looks great. It is a nice dark green and growing like crazy, they just can't understand why it isn't blooming. Oxypetalum blooms for survival, not pleasure. If the plant is very healthy it doesn't feel threatened and won't bloom. So, to get oxypetalum to bloom, you must give it 0-10-10 fertilizer during the months of May-June-July instead of 10-10-10. I also suggest giving the plant more light. Sure, this is going to make the plant look more yellow and more 'sickly' but it will make it bloom. Find that happy medium place where the plant still looks healthy but still blooms.

I have put together a few pictures of the growth and of the flower to help identify the plant.