Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

QUEEN Of The Night is one of the common names of a gorgeous flowering plant that Malaysian Hokkiens call Kenghwa. They are also often referred to as Lady Of The Night and Princess Of The Night.

Although the plant has been around locally for decades, nevertheless it is not widely cultivated nor is it much treasured.  For those who grow it, it is claimed that it brings good fortune in many aspects.  

Many Asians especially the Orientals, also believe the kenghwa flower is a symbol of good luck.  As such, for those who are banking on collecting the winning cheque of a local jackpot draw, there is nothing to lose in cultivating a pot or two of the ornamental.  

And, for the health conscious, the dry flowers of kenghwa may be made a culinary addition in the preparation of delectable dishes.  Also, dry flowers of the kenghwa may be made into a herbal drink to boost general physical and mental health.  

Alternatively, a large handful of them may be cleaned and then cut up in to lengths of 5-8 cm where they may be stir fried with an assortment of add-ons such as sliced meat or prawn, crispy mango or crunchy guavas.  

Slices of onion and ginger may also be liberally thrown in to add ‘yang’  or masculine energy to the dish. Such dishes are sure to improve bodily health and energy of anyone who consumes it. Kenghwa is a member of the cactus family or Cactaceae, and is also within the genus of Epiphyllum.  

It is a herbaceous perennial cactus species that is native to Central and South America.  

The plant is a characteristically night bloomer which means its flowers only open during the night.  This is typically at about 8-9 pm with its peak opening at around midnight.  

Flowers are very fragrant but unfortunately, they tend to fade away before dawn.  However, an appropriate cold treatment such as keeping it temporarily in cold rooms may hopefully delay its wilting by a couple of hours.

There are many variants and varieties that are very closely related.  Some of these, such as Epiphyllum hookeri, have smaller sized flowers with narrow, elongated petals that carry pointed apices.

The petals are also fewer in number compared to varieties such as E. crenatum that have larger flowers that range from 14-18 cm in diameter.  

Also, there are several central whorls of petals that are broader and bushier in appearance. These varieties also appear quite similar, with the differentiation mainly in the size of the plant, flower size and formation, distribution and size and width of petals. 

The kenghwa plant, although belonging to the cactus family, is a thornless, flat-stemmed member with a thick central rib that is bordered on both sides with flat, succulent wings.  

The edges of the wings are crenated with the node-like points issuing the flower buds or new stems. The pseudo stems are initially in a nearly erect position but as they lengthen, they begin to droop with the more mature ones sagging up to a metre or more from the point of issue.  

The visual effect is more pronounced as more and more flower buds are produced, with the load becoming heavier as the buds open into large blooms.  Most of the faded blooms will drop but sometimes a few may stay on and develop into little pink coloured fruits.

At full bloom, the fragrance released from the flowers is at its most intense, and this, too, is also the best time to enjoy the blooms.  

At this time, it is normal for plant lovers and family members to gather around the plants, sipping tea and having some snacks, and exchanging some brilliant discourses concerning the plant in particular, and landscaping in general.

Cultivation of Kenghwa

Kenghwa plants are not difficult to cultivate.  It is best to avoid soggy wet clayey soils as this is the shortest route to basal decay and root rot.  A friable sandy loam is best to grow beautiful specimens.  In this respect, some very good soils may be obtained from kampung areas.  

Just a couple of plastic bags of such soils may easily fill up a pot of 45 cm diameter, and within such a pot, the plant may grow nicely for many years without problem.  

Although there is no problem with growing them on the ground, most plant lovers prefer to grow them in pots as they are easily moved from place to place to serve certain happy occasions such as birthday parties.  

Moreover, when carrying a full load of mature flower buds, potted kenghwa plants may be set on strategic spots to brighten up the place, such along driveways or at the entrance gates.

To start new plants, the normal way is to use stem cutttings of 15-20 cm length but sometimes, the little fruits may yield enough seeds to start a new batch of plants.  

With cuttings, it is best to let the freshly-cut surfaces to dry before inserting them into the rooting medium.  A well decomposed compost or a properly mixed soil with suitable amounts of sand, loam and compost is most suitable for the purpose.

However, sometimes, the longer stems that sag down to the ground level may issue roots at the nodes when they are in contact with the soil.  

This may be cut and removed for direct planting into small pots to start new plants.