Queen of the Night Plant Care
Cereus hildmannianus K.Schum.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Cereus hildmannianus is a species of cactus from southern South America. Its distribution is uncertain but probably includes Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
Every 14–21 days
Full sun
50–90°F
10–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Queen of the Night?
Water Queen of the Night every 14–21 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–90°F (10–32°C) and 10–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
What Is the Queen of the Night?
Queen of the Night (Cereus hildmannianus) belongs to the Cactaceae family within the Cereus genus. Queen of the Night is also known as Night Blooming Cereus.
Queen of the Night displays a tall columnar cactus growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Queen of the Night produces night-blooming white flowers.
How Often Should You Water a Queen of the Night?
Cereus hildmannianus requires watering every 14–21 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 14–21 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Queen of the Night Need?
Queen of the Night thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Queen of the Night Prefer?
Cereus hildmannianus grows best at temperatures of 50–90°F. Queen of the Night prefers humidity levels of 10–60%.
Temperature
50–90°F
Humidity
10–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Queen of the Night?
Sandy, well-draining cactus mix with perlite and coarse sand. Good drainage is essential for Queen of the Night to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Queen of the Night?
Feed Queen of the Night every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Queen of the Night?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Queen of the Night?
Queen of the Night can be propagated through stem cuttings, grafting. Similar propagation techniques also apply to cereus aurora plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Queen of the Night Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Queen of the Night, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Queen of the Night?
Queen of the Night is susceptible to spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Queen of the Night Need?
Queen of the Night grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Queen of the Night as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Queen of the Night is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Cereus genus — compare its care with other Cereus species on PlantoScan.
Cereus is part of the Cactaceae plant family — browse all Cactaceae genera and species.
Queen of the Night thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Cereus Species
Other Cereus species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Cereus hildmannianus K.Schum., family Cactaceae (first published in Fl. Bras. 4(2): 202. 1890.) — World Flora Online record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Queen of the Night, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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