Indoor Moon Garden: 5 Blooming Plants that Flower Only at Night
In the quiet of the night, a magical scene unfolds within homes, as gardeners cultivate moon gardens filled with night-blooming houseplants. These plants, with their unique characteristics, offer a captivating spectacle under the soft glow of the moon.
Amy Grant, a professional chef and caterer with 30 years of gardening experience and 15 years of writing experience, specializing in culinary gardening, is a prominent figure in promoting moon gardens and night-blooming houseplants.
One such plant is the Lady of the Night (Brunfelsia americana), a tropical evergreen shrub that can be trained as a vine outdoors or grown indoors near a bright window. Originally mistaken for a jasmine, the Lady of the Night is actually a member of the nightshade family.
Another intriguing plant is the Night Phlox, native to South Africa. It boasts lush green foliage and daisy-like blooms that open at night to reveal a sweet honey aroma.
The Night Fragrant Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum) is a native of Florida, the West Indies, Mexico, Central and northern South America. It produces several blooms a year, featuring a tube-shaped flower with a heart-shaped lip, and emitting a scent reminiscent of eucalyptus to anise.
The Orchid Cactus, native to tropical South and Central America, is renowned for its large, showy, varied-colored blooms that resemble those of an orchid. As an epiphyte plant, it absorbs its nutrients and water from the host tree and the air around it.
The Queen of the Night Cactus, native to North America's Sonoran Desert, is a low-maintenance plant that prefers at least 6 hours of dappled or bright yet indirect light, normal levels of humidity, and temperatures between 68°F to 95°F (20°C to 35°C). It blooms once a year and requires fertilization for successful blooms in the spring and summer months, with the plant requiring a dilute food rich in phosphate and potassium before and after blooming.
Night-blooming plants tend to be white in colour and have an aromatic aroma, as night-flying creatures aren't searching for them by sight but rather by smell. They open at night to attract night-flying insects for pollination, a strategy that also aids in moisture conservation. These plants bloom during cooler nighttime hours, reducing water loss due to lower temperatures and decreased evaporation compared to daytime.
Gardeners are creating a magical evening scene inside their homes with these captivating night-blooming houseplants, attracting pollinators primarily by producing strong, often sweet or musky fragrances and displaying white or light-colored flowers that are easily visible in low light. They tend to have long, slender nectar tubes which accommodate nocturnal pollinators such as moths and bats that hover or fly near the flowers at night.
In conclusion, the allure of moon gardens lies in the enchanting night-blooming houseplants they host. These plants, with their unique adaptations to attract pollinators and conserve moisture, offer a captivating spectacle under the soft glow of the moon, making for a truly magical evening scene.
Amy Grant's moon garden, showcasing various night-blooming houseplants like the Lady of the Night, Night Phlox, Orchid Cactus, and Queen of the Night Cactus, is a testament to the beauty and allure of home-and-garden gardening, combining her passion for culinary gardening and a lifestyle centered around these captivating plants.
Gardeners can create a similar lifestyle by incorporating these plants into their home-and-garden settings, as these enchanting night-blooming houseplants, with their unique adaptations to conserve moisture and attract pollinators, offer a truly magical evening scene under the soft glow of the moon.
