Learn to grow stapelia , unique and collectable succulent houseplants with otherworldly peak .
Stapeliasaresucculent houseplantswidely known for their outlandish , uniquely colored hairy blossom and pungent odor . They thrive in wry , incrediblywell - drained soiland vary in size from diminutive ( 3 inches tall and 12 column inch wide ) to comparatively large ( 1 foot marvelous by 3 metrical unit all-inclusive ) . TheStapeliagenus include more than 40 South African succulent species , only a handful of which are commonly grow as houseplant in the U.S.
The ease of growing and the plant ’s photogenic flowers are worth the inconvenient olfactory perception distinctive to most carrion flower flush , which accounts for thecarrion flowercommon name .
Credit: Thalia Romero
Where to Plant Stapelia
Stapelias are not hardy out of doors in most parts of the United States . Potted specimens can be come in outdoors or immediately in the garden , provided they are bring indoors before the temperature settles at 50 ° F . Protect the plant from excess moisture , include irrigation and rainfall , or your industrial plant will not survive its out-of-door holiday .
Stapelia Care Tips
Stapelias are progressively more mutual in the retail market place , and like many succulents , they make excellent houseplant for novices and collectors alike . Most stapelias uncommitted commercially arerelatively easy to care forwhen they are water meagrely , receive affectionate temperature withbright filtered sunlight(add agrow lightif needed ) , and develop in tight - draining ground . As with most succulent , overwatering lead to root rot and death .
Light
Stapelias grow in regions with intense sunshine . Many can outlast infull Lord’s Day condition . However , in nature , stapelias often grow under the protective covering of other plants that trickle the utmost midday Dominicus . When grown as houseplant , they ask vivid indoor light to thrive .
Stapelia houseplants strike out of doors enjoy morning or late afternoon sun but arise good with some tribute from the most intense sunlight of the solar day . plant grown in full sun may develop a red or purple hue on the stems . This red paint helps protect the industrial plant from erythema solare . Although this discolouration is not harmful to the works , it may be a signaling to move your plant into more shade or back indoors .
Soil and Water
Plant stapelia in gritty , well - run out , slightly alkaline stain . Growing stapelia in small , shallow terracotta potsreduces excess moisture around the radical . Water only when the soil is ironic . Add perlite , crushed rock , or grit to standard cactus planting mixture , and permit the root to fill the good deal before repotting .
Stapelia does n’t brook wet feet and must be watered meagrely during the produce time of year , with little to no pee in winter . As with most houseplant , overwatering leads to rotand a untimely demise . The industrial plant consume more water in summer than in springtime and fall . Stop irrigate entirely in wintertime when the plant commence to go dormant . During quiescency , the stem may shrink . This is normal . Only water the soil lightly during this time and neglect the impulse to soak the soil . It is coarse to go three to four ( or more ) weeks without watering during the dormant period . When the time of year change , the industrial plant rebounds , and you’re able to increase the watering schedule . If in dubiety , do n’t water .
Temperature and Humidity
Plants expand in 70 ° F–95 ° F and low humidity . exceedingly gamy temperatures may slow or even stop growth , which restart as the weather condition cools . Stapelias can not suffer temperatures on a regular basis at or below 50 ° degree Fahrenheit , although they can handle unforesightful drops in temperature ply the conditions warms during the daytime . When temperatures are consistently around 50 ° F , welcome any outdoor plant into the safety and warmth of the indoors , where they must remain until the temperature warms .
Fertilizer
Stapelias need little to no fertilizer , although they may answer well to half - strength diligence oflow - nitrogen fertilizer , often mark cactus fertilizer , during the fighting growing season . Do n’t fertilize stapelias in autumn or wintertime .
Pruning
Only prune stapelia to murder dead , diseased , and dying base or to make clipping for extension . Use a clean , shrill tongue or lopper to make the cuts , and wear glove to avoid touch the milky sap that oozes from the wounding , which irritates some people . If you are removing pathological or rotting stems , fix your tools between each cut , and make the pruning cuts well behind the morbid tissue to ensure that you remove all the unhealthy material . Even a tiny amount of decompose tissue can quickly spread and destroy the remainder of the plant . works that have been heavily pruned need less water .
Potting and Repotting Stapelia
Stapelias can spend many years in thesame containerand rarely need to be repot . For flora that areentirely root - bound , gently take away the plant from the pot early in the growing season , cut away drained or shrivel origin with sterile tools , and repot it into a slightlylarger containerwith a well - drain cactus soil commixture . Only lightly dampen the dirt after repotting , and hold off at least a week before soundly watering the plant . admit the dirt to dry between waterings . Plants switch up to a large plantation owner require less frequent watering due to the increase amount of land in the pot .
Pests and Problems
The well-off way to end the life of most succulents is overwatering , and stapelias are no exclusion . Excessive piddle quickly lead toroot rotand fungal attacks , overtaking a plant and turning a prized specimen into a rotted nap of goop .
If you discover your plant turn down , evidenced by subdued and rotting stems , immediately unpot the plant , wash away all the grow metier , and snub out and dispose of all strike roots and stems . If the remaining sizable plant fabric includes roots , repot it in fresh potting culture medium . If there are no healthy root , take stem cuttingsas you would when spread the flora , and — in time — your plant will be back in stage business .
on occasion , mealybugssettle onto stapelias . They are wanton to place and can be wiped aside with a cotton plant swab souse in rubbing alcohol .
Credit:Guenter Fischer / Getty Images
How to Propagate Stapelia
Stapelias are commonly propagated through division or cutting . Plants in cultivation rarely set germ .
Separaterooted sectionsearly in the grow time of year and repot them immediately into appropriately modest pots . Grow them on as usual .
Cuttingsare best ingest during the warm growing season in spring through summer . Use a sharp , fresh knife or pruning shearsto make light stem cuts . Allow the cut off end to dry and callous in a shady space , preferably indoors with good flow of air . The length of time varies from days to calendar week , depending on the size of the stem . Once the cutting subdivision has hard calloused , grade the stem piece lengthwise onto fast - draining raise mass medium . scarcely moisten the filth commixture , and then await . Rooting can take position in as few as several days but may take week or months . Re - dampen the soil lightly and infrequently . It is good exercise not to forget the cut stanch of your cuttings , as they are prostrate to moulder . Most stapelias root readily from the side of the stem turn .
Credit:Ed Golich
If you are rosy and your plants setseed , sow in them on a mix of lightly dampened sand and potting grease , scarcely covering them with the growing metier . append a clear plastic cover and put them in a warm blank space with bright , indirect light . Vent the charge card every few day , and lightly moisten the soil as take . cum should germinate within one to two week . keep these grow precondition until the flora are approximately 1 inch improbable .
Types of Stapelia
Zulu Giant
The root word of Zulu giant(Stapelia gigantea)are velvety , delicate , and girthy , up to 1.25 inches thick . The monolithic flowers can attain more than 10 column inch across and are ointment - colored with thin red-faced stripe . This coinage is commonly available and particularly pungent when in flower . It is also one of the more absolvitory species of carrion flower , capable to tolerate less - than - ideal raise status , including too much sunlight , extra spook , and too much water system . The prime are large enough that you’re able to hear them open , resembling the sound made by slow displume a sheet of paper .
Giant Toad Plant
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Giant toad plant(Stapelia grandiflora)is alarge species of stapelia similar in size toStapelia gigantea . It bloom with profusely hairy red flowers . The flowers are varying , ranging from light bolshie to a fertile , dark maroon color . The stems originate up to 12 inches long . The starfish - shaped flowers reach 8 in .
Starfish Plant
Ed Golich
This dainty relative of starfish flower boasts 2 - 3 - inch wide yellow - and - speckled chocolate flowers and 4 - inch tall bow , making it a stark candidate for growing in small containers . It is often sell asStapelia variegata , although the right name is nowOrbea variegata .
Stapelia flavopurpurea
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The 2 - column inch , greenish - chicken flowers ofStapelia flavopurpureahave delightful pink centers and , most importantly , a pleasant fragrance . This tiny , star - shaped stapelia grows only 4–6 column inch tall and wide .
Frequently Asked Questions
Most stapelia flowers smell like rotting nitty-gritty , although many are only noticeable if sniff from penny-pinching up . defy the impulse to bury your nose in these strange bloom , or you will quickly realise why they are called carrion flowers . Be aware that the pungent odor attracts pollinators , including fly . Some stapelias have little to no odor , and a few , such asStapelia flavopurpurea , have sweet and pleasant - smell flush .
Stapelias and cacti are not the same . Stapelias lack spines , one of the telltale mark of cactus . However , they are succulent and are a member of theApocyanaceaefamily , which includesAsclepias(milkweed ) .
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