I wouldn't give it away. The bloom is worth waiting for!! If I remember correctly, it should open soon. Watch it carefully because it blooms in the evening and closes the next morning. I haven't seen any buds this year but I think I will give it some super bloom next spring and maybe encourage it to bloom more. Good luck!!

someone gave me two leaves this summer. They are rooted and have new growths, which are reddish. What sort of light do you recommend? Joe

Mine are in a pot with some Xmas cactus I also grew from leaves. It gets full sun during the middle of the day; otherwise, bright indirect light. I've had it for several years and this is its first bud.

Hope you let us know when it does bloom! Right after you mentioned yours, I noticed mine has a bud, too, and it only gets a little direct morning sun and indirect the rest of the day. The buds remind me of alien pods, and eventually they reach up and out like something that wants to grab you if you turn your back on it. I don't remember how long it takes them to bloom from 2", but seems to me it's pretty fast like Thelma662 said. Mine took several years before it was blooming sized. It's one of the few things I've found that seem to do just fine inside all year, too. Let us know or better yet, post a picture!

You're right! It does look like an alien pod! The bloom stalk has turned sideways and is now about 6" long. I'll post a picture when it blooms.

By the way, Mare2, your page is an absolute hoot! Many thanks for the laughs!
Ginny

It bloomed last night! The night before, it was over 8" long. Then last night, around 9:20, one petal seemed to curl away. Twenty minutes later, when I looked again, it had opened completely! I'm sorry that I missed the action, but it was very rainy & not a good night for sitting outside. If I can figure out how to upload a picture, I will.

Presently, at 10 am, it's beginning to close up. So cool!

Ginny

Thanks, Ginny, and congratulations! Mine's a couple days behind yours and bloomed last night. What do you think of the scent?

Can't figure out how to upload a picture, sorry. But the scent wasn't much. Since it was cold and rainy, maybe that prevented the scent from wafting. But it wasn't particularly pleasant--my husband thought it smelled like the leaves of the clerodendrum (kind of like fish oil!)