She recently became a licensed insurance agent but has decided to pursue a writing career instead. In Zones 8 and below, they must be kept indoors from early autumn to late spring. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets SOIL . NOTE: Years ago I grew the Starfish cactus outdoors in full sun successfully in south Florida. In fact, they are some of the largest flowers to be found among all flowering plants. The stems of the small stapelia are 1/4 inch with small reddish brown blooms which are maybe 2 inches in size. Use well-draining soil for your new succulent plant. The soil should have good drainage and a pH of 6.5-7.5. Zulu Giant, Starfish Plant, Starfish Flower, Carrion Plant, Carrion Flower, Giant Toad Plant, Toad PlantSeveral species are fairly easy to grow. Soil: Since roots are quite shallow, use a cactus mix or add extra perlite or pumice to regular soil potting soil. Keeping Stapelia s and their roots free of pests such as mealybugs is the real key to success as fungal attack often occurs as a result of damage to stems by insects. Unfertilized they will tend to grow very slowly. Stapelia Grandiflora enjoy well drained, sandy cactus mix. Stapelia gigantea is a spineless succulent, up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with 4-angled, multi-branched stems and large star-shaped flowers. Cultivation and Propagation: Together with Stapelia gigantea and Orbea variegata, probably the most widely cultivated of stapeliads. WARNING – The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers may damage the roots thus killing the plant. The plant itself adds excellent ground cover to outdoor gardens, and also does well in pots. S. gigantea, S. grandiflora and S. hirsuta are three of the very easiest species to grow. To help establish your new Stapelia Grandiflora, fertilize sparingly, biannually with a slow time release 15-5-10. Stapelia gigantean produces starfish-shaped flowers 10 to 16 inches in diameter. 5 out of 5 stars (1,947) 1,947 reviews $ 9.99.
Place them where they receive morning or evening direct sunlight with shade during the heat of the afternoon.Water the plants each morning throughout the first growing season.
Maintain soil temperatures between 77 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit by setting the flat or containers on a seedling heat mat. Don’t forget to water when the soil dries out. Watering. ... Stapelia gigantea is a very variable species with the largest flowers in the genus ranging from 100-400 mm in diameter. You can leave the carrion flower outdoors through the winter in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, and it has a potential planting range along much of the California coast and in inland deserts. (The stems in this photo are mixed the gigantea and the small one.) From shop AllAboutSucculentsFL. This succulent is known for having one of the largest flowers in the plant kingdom. These concerns aside, I find Stapelia gigantea to be one of the most interesting members of the milkweed family, It is a comparatively fast growing plant, producing a numerous succulent stems which are spineless and covered with a felt-like fibers, its flowers are huge, and are striking for their curious markings, their hair-like fibers, and their strange trait of attracting flies for pollination. Most species do best in a well-drained sandy medium consisting of equal parts of washed river sand, potting soil and topsoil. It’s best to use the “Zulu Giant” is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20° F (-6.7° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. The blooms of this succulent, also known as the carrion flower, produce an odor similar to that of rotten meat. Protect them against direct sun as it can be damaging. However, many species live under shrubs in habitat and prefer light shade rather than full sun.Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates.Copyright © 2013-2020 World of Succulents.
Search by plant name, key attributes or both to find plant details and a list of Or combine 1 part clean course sand or perlite and 1 part peat moss. Plant the seeds at a temperature of 64 to 70°F (18-21°C). Plant and water mature starfish flower plants or seedlings purchased from a retailer in the same way.Allow the starfish flower cuttings to dry in a shady area for two weeks. It does well in full to partial sun.Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. Genus Stapelia are succulent perennials with erect, angled, toothed fleshy stems and showy, star-shaped flowers usually unpleasantly scented, in summer Details S. gigantea is a succulent evergreen perennial to 20cm in height, with erect, 4-angled stems and foul-scented but spectacular, starry, buff-yellow flowers lined with dark red, to 35cm across
Stapelia gigantea “Zulu Giant” has large beautiful flowers, but smell like rotting meat. Others, often those with slightly hairy stems and the more unusual flowers, are more challenging and require careful watering (with some fertilizer) during the growing season and complete withdrawal of water during the winter months.