Flowers are generally short lived, lasting from a few hours to a week at most, but they can make up for this by producing a succession of blooms which can last for several weeks.

The day flowering cacti use their brilliant colours to attract pollinators and have no real need for perfume.

Meanwhile, night flowering cacti open their plain, usually white or cream, flowers after sunset and close before dawn.

They use strong scents to lure night flying insects, with moths being the most common, to pollinate them.

Probably the largest and most beautiful of these night-flowering cacti are the Selenicercus which are trailing, sprawling plants with thin stems rarely over 3cm in diameter with very weak spines.

Selenicereus grandiflorus is often referred to as the "queen of the night cacti" and is named after Selene the Greek moon goddess.

If given the same growing conditions as epiphyllums they will thrive and produce lovely flowers.

Epiphyllums and their numerous hybrids have the most beautiful flowers.

Epipyhllum oxypetalum flowers during the night but come sunrise the blooms have wilted and gone.

Known in Japan as the "beauty under the moon" this epiphyllum's subtle perfume is less overpowering than some other night flowering cacti.

Nyctocereus serpentines, the snake cactus, is a common species which is usually grown as a garden feature in a sheltered position where it can reach a height of 2-3m tall.

Mature plants will at times put out so many flowers that the weight can bend or break the stem.

The delicate, white funnel-shaped flowers have a scent much like that of gardenias.

This makes it rather useful to plant near a window, so that on a warm summer evening the perfume can drift right throughout the house.

Hylocereus triangiularis is a climbing plant with triangular stems which produce sucker like roots which attach themselves to anything they touch.

Given a little shade from the hot summer sun, hylocereus will grow very fast.

Established plants flower profusely throughout summer with large, beautiful cream to white heavily scented flowers about 20cm across.

These plants are often used as grafting rootstocks for other cacti.

The sensational evening flowering Trichocereus schickendantzii is renowned for its magnificent, large cup-shaped white flowers.

The best flowering plants are those grown where they experience a little frost as this is a cold lover.

Cereus peruvianus, the apple cactus, is tree-like with cylindrical stems that can grow to 10m tall.

The many highly perfumed flowers, which are usually pollinated by bats, are rarely seen due to its nocturnal flowering season.

The most exotic of the perfumed cacti are the discocatus which are tropical plants many of which originate in Brazil with some species having only been discovered quite recently.

If their cultural requirements are met they will flower all summer with the white, showy flowers produced in bunches 4-5 at a time from a small woolly cephalium at the top of the plants. Described as the most fragrant of the cacti their penetrating perfume fills the garden from evening till dawn.

Poinsettias are decorative plants very popular for the festive season due to their vibrant foliage of red and green although they do come in pink, orange, cream and white as well. They look great when several pots are grouped together.

Water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Wear rubber gloves when repotting these members of the spurge family as they exude a sticky, white sap that may cause irritation to the skin.

Crassula Buddha's Temple is the most amazing looking succulent with flat, thin silvery-grey leaves that fold up at the edge to form a square column. Flowers can be red, white or orange. This eye-catching plant was developed in 1959 by Myron Kimnack by crossing C. perfoliata var. minor with C. pyamidalis. A must have for serious succulent collectors.

Tomatoes that have set flower trusses can be given a side dressings of a complete tomato fertiliser once a fortnight. A regular watering regime is important as blossom end rot can be the result of moisture stress.

Prudent watering early in the morning, a good layer of organic mulch and sensible plant selection will help the garden survive the next few hot months. Outdoor potted plants will need more water so check daily and move to shadier areas if necessary. Keep the water up to thirsty vegetables such as corn for juicy cobs.

As rose flowers finish dead head to encourage the next flush of blooms and continue with your watering, fertilising and spraying programme. After rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas have finished flowering give a light trim.

Don't do any unnecessary pruning at this time of year, just remove dead leaves and spent flowers as the previously protected parts of a plant can be scorched if suddenly exposed to the strong summer sun.

Divide and replant bearded iris when the clumps have become congested and the size and number of flowers have declined. The ideal time for this is six to eight weeks after flowering that is, sometime from November to December.

Prepare the soil well by adding a dressing of lime then later a dressing of a complete fertiliser. Select healthy rhizomes and plant almost on the surface of the ground. Barely cover with 1-2cms of soil to prevent sun burn. Although iris do reasonably well in semi-shade they perform much better in the open and should not be forced into growth too soon after transplanting.

January 4, 5: The North-West Tasmanian Lilium Society 2020 Burnie Lilium Show, Burnie Arts & Function Centre. Saturday 1-4pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.

January 4, 5: Northern Tasmanian Lilium Society's Lilium Show at St Ailbes Hall, Margaret street, Launceston. Saturday 1-5pm, Sunday 9.30am-4pm.

January 15: : Launceston Horticultural Society, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston, 8pm. Les Hodge talks annuals.

Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, Burnie. Open from 9am-5pm. Tea room 10am-4pm. Closed Christmas Day.