Home»Cactus - Succulents»Stapelia
The Stapelia flower , aka starfish cactus plant , belongs to the familyAsclepiadaceae , the same family as the milkweed plant .
Other common names for this plant let in Carrion prime , Toad Cactus , and Carrion cactus .
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These interesting , exotic succulentplants are a member of the genus Stapelia , which get naturally in South Africa and in tropic region .
There are about ninety members of this lush plant group . The most prominent feature of this plant is the big , star - determine bloom that appear in late summertime to shine .
These flowers attend very strange , with their strange , donut - like centers and bright , showy markings .
Starfish Cactus Quick Care Tips
Stapelia Varieties – Four Popular Choices:
1 – Stapelia variegatausually maturate about 6″ inch high . It produce very pretty lily-livered efflorescence with interesting purplish - dark-brown rule . The blossoms are usually two or three inches across .
2 – Stapelia hirsutais another pop member of this group . Its more or less furry stem are long and a snatch slimmer than those of S. variegata , extend to a height of about 8″ column inch .
The deep purplish - dark-brown flower are also haired ( hairy ) and quite meretricious . The petals have yellow stripes , and the fine pilus that coat the peak is rusty Red River .
These bloom are normally 4″ or 5″ in across .
3 – Stapelia grandiflora , also sleep with as Starfish cacti , has very long , slim staunch . They can grow about a foot long and are covered with fine , velvety pelt .
The flower are imposingly large at 6″ column inch across . They are a very deep bolshy . In fact , they sometimes appear to be disgraceful . The bound of the blossoms are trimmed in white .
4 – Stapelia giganteahas truly mammoth prime . In fact , they are some of thelargest flowersto be chance among all unfolding plants .
Even though the thick-skulled , velvety stems of the works only uprise to be about 6″ or 8″ inches long , the peak can be as large as 6″ inches across .
The prime are a very pale shade of yellowed with very tenuous , crimson stripes .
NOTE : There are many other different mintage to accumulate . Check cactus and succulent glasshouse for other varieties .
Stapelia Flower – What’s That Smell?
Even with all these expert looks , the most unusual feature of this plant is its funny scent .
Starfish cactus is sometimes referred to as Carrion cactus because it exudes the odour of rotting meat . [ source ]
unknown as this may seem , as with all affair in nature , there is a near reason for this feature of speech .
The smell of rotting gist draw in flies , which lay their eggs on the flower and by the bye spread pollen from one flower to another .
Other ‘ smelly ” plant is thecorpse flowerand Huernias .
How Strong Do These Stapelia Flowers Smell?
Perception of this stinking spirit varies from person to someone . Some mass say the foul smell is consuming , like rotting chassis .
Others say you may barely reek it unless you put your nozzle very closely to a bloom . Naturally , the mount do a boastful difference .
If you keep your Carrion plant life in a small , affectionate sunlight porch or greenhouse , you will reek them more powerfully than in a large , receptive room or outside .
The Starfish Plant Succulent Cactus Looks Make Up For The Smell!
Regardless of their unmatched odor , Stapeliads are in effect - look plants . The plant only blossom from mid - summertime until other fall .
When they are not in salad days , the knobby , wrinkle , succulent staunch make an attractive and interesting summation to your flora accumulation .
When they do bloom , these flowering “ cacti ” are always sporty and imposingly orotund compare to the industrial plant ’s size of it .
The blossoms appear downcast on the plant , leaving the interesting , sarcoid stems towering above the blooms .
How Do You Take Care Of A Starfish Plant?
As succulents , starfish flower plant life are very easy to care for .
They grow quite a bit and demand some aid during the fountain and summer , but they are carefree through the winter and spring .
During the strong summertime month , your plants can live outside in full sun .
In winter , keep them as houseplants in a bright way above 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
The Basics Of Stapelia Gigantea Care Requirements:
Bright Indirect Light : Indoors or outside , starfish plant like lots of smart , indirect sunlight with few hour of direct sunshine . It also thrives in partial shade in the break of the day sun . Protect them against the direct sun as it can be prejudicious .
annotation : Years ago , I successfully uprise the Starfish cactus outdoors in full sun in South Florida .
Temperature : They prefer a warm temperature and should be kept above 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit in the winter . However , it can stomach low light status .
feed : These plant do not need fertiliser .
Water Needs : expect for the stain to dry completely between lachrymation . body of water sparingly at all times and very little during the wintertime . Wait for the stems to shrink a spot in winter before watering light . Moreover , surplus moisture should be avoided to foreclose problem .
Soil : As with most succulent , Stapelia plant like brightness , aerial , well - drain succulent soil . Because you will not allow fertilizer , yourcactus soil potting mixshould have drain holes and moderate quite a bit of lifelike organic matter . It should not be too acidic . you could also amend the potting soil with common sand , cocoanut coir , peat moss , pumice stone , and perlite .
Repotting : Repot , transplant , or propagate your Stapelia bloom in the springtime , just before the growing season . Select a low , wide pot that allows the works to diffuse .
Be sure to put a level of pebbles , spate shard , or Styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of the can to allow good drain .
Grooming : There is no regular pruning for this succulent plant . Just remove any stagnant or unsightly stem . Remove the flowers when they stop blooming .
USDA Hardiness geographical zone : 10 to 11
Starfish Flower Cactus On Succulent (Stapelia gigantea)
How To Propagate Star Cactus Flowers?
you may start these succulents easily from cuttings . Unlike many succulents , they are also quite well-off to grow from seed .
Cuttings should be bring in the springtime . Use a astute knife to cut off a healthy babe plant stem near the fundament of the flora .
reserve the succulent stem turn cuttings to air overnight , and then place it ( cut finish down ) in a potful of cactus mix or your own soil commixture . Care for it as you would an adult plant .
Seeds are gravid and flat and gentle to work with . Just sow in them on the open of a shallow tray ( or individual cum potful ) of cactus commixture or your own soil motley .
Cover them very lightly with land . Mist the surface of the soil with weewee and keep the exposed container in a warm ( 60 ° – 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit ) shining surface area .
Your seedling should sprout in a few Day .
4 Pests & Problems
1 – Overwateringcan cause blackened stem rot and root rot , which can not be cured .
If the home of your starfish succulent becomes black and mushy , you may be able-bodied to save a few good cuttings to start new plants , but the parent plant is done for .
If just a few diminished areas of the plant exhibit bunkum , you may be able to save the parent plant by cautiously cutting out the moulder areas .
2 – Underwateringcan cause stem to become shrivel up and soft . fortunately , this is an easy fix .
Just go under the whole pot into a tray of water and admit it to soak until the soil is completely saturated .
Let supererogatory water drain off , and then keep an optic on your plant . Remember to water it again when the dirt becomes all juiceless , but before the stems get down to suffer .
3 – If your plant life has been sufferingin any style , it may attract red spider jot .
When this go on , you will see sensationalistic stippling on the stems and tiny back breaker ( speck ) spread out throughout .
judge pass over them off with a cotton ball dampened with body of water or with isopropyl alcohol .
You may necessitate to repeat this treatment several times . If this does n’t work , utilize a horticultural miticide product .
4 – scale leaf insect and mealybugsalso care to plague succulent plants . you may utilize a tongue vane toscrape mealy bugsoff and/or peck them off with pincer .
Treat with horticultural oil , such asNeem pesticide oiland / or insecticidal soap , if the job persists .
Why Choose The Starfish Flower?
If you like strange , interesting plant that are long - live , easy to care for , and intensely beautiful , the Stapelia is the plant group for you !
The pop varieties are gentle to come by at standard nurseries , at succulent specialty shop class , online , and from gardening friends .
Even if you have not had a lot of luck with plants in the past , pull together Stapelia can provide you with an easy , exciting , exotic , and successful horticultural adventure . [ reference ]
With twelve of varieties available , you could accumulate an impressive solicitation of very unusual and deceivingly hardy starfish cactus plants if you enjoy collecting them .
