Stapelia - home care, species, propagation and problems

Succulents can be found in almost every green corner of an apartment or office, and they are often grown to create unusual interiors. The main characteristic of these plants is their ease of care and undemanding nature. Stapelia, a native of South Africa, is popular among gardeners. This succulent produces unusual, brightly colored, star-shaped flowers.

Despite its exotic appearance, stapelia has a persistent, unpleasant odor during flowering, reminiscent of rot, which is common to all species of this cactus relative. Before purchasing a stapelia, it's important to familiarize yourself with the basic home care instructions for the specific plant species, which you can pre-select based on photos and descriptions.

Characteristics of an indoor flower

Stapelia is a perennial succulent plant in the Asclepiadaceae family. Its natural habitat is the mountain slopes and shores of South Africa. The plant produces flowers of unusual shape and beauty, reminiscent of starfish, hence its common name. Stapelia's main characteristics include:

• small size – 10-60 cm in height;
• poorly developed root system;
• branched shoots;
• smooth skin of the above-ground part;
• bright green color with splashes of yellow and pink;
• fleshy shoots of a curved shape;
• white waxy coating on the surface of greens;

  

  

  

  

• raised protrusions on the branches, reminiscent of thorns;
• dusting occurs with the help of flies;
• the presence of large buds in the lower part of the plant;
• long peduncle;
• flowers are flat or bell-shaped, five-petaled;
• flower diameter 5-30 cm;
• glandular villi on the surface of the petals;
• presence of seed pods;
• The color range of the petals: yellow-burgundy, lemon, bright orange and red.

Despite the truly unpleasant aroma of this plant, it is popular among gardeners due to its unusual flowers and ease of care.

Names and descriptions of stapelia species

There are about 100 species of stapelia in nature, some of which are cultivated for full growth at home.

Large-flowered

A succulent with well-branched, square-shaped green shoots. It produces a flower 15-25 cm in diameter, hence its name. The flower is borne on a long, flexible stem and is shaped like a starfish. The petals are purple, characterized by long, silvery hairs. The plant's foul odor disappears during flowering. The largest representative of this species is Stapelia grandiflora.

Star-shaped

This small plant, reaching 20 cm in height, features rich green, square-shaped shoots with pinkish streaks. Small teeth line the shoots. Star-shaped flowers are borne at the base of the succulent on short stalks, approximately 8 cm in diameter. The triangular petals curl back and have a bumpy surface with hairy edges. The petals are brown or red in color. Several flowers are typically clustered at the base.

Giant

The species gets its name from its flowers, which reach 30-35 cm in diameter and are the largest among the stapelia varieties. The five-petaled flower has a hairy outline and is cream-colored with fine burgundy strokes. The petal tips are elongated and can take on a spiral shape. This succulent can develop into a bush under suitable conditions. During flowering, it smells like rotting meat.

Changeable

This plant grows up to 15 cm in height and is a hybrid form of stapelia. The flowers are small, up to 8 cm, and are located on an elongated stalk. The petal edges are slightly hairy. The petals are ovoid in shape and come in a wide variety of colors. This species is characterized by spots, dots, and stripes on the petals.

Golden purple

A low-growing plant with dark green shoots. Flowers bloom at the top of the shoots and form clusters of several buds. They have dissected and elongated petals in light green or yellow, which are quite narrow and have a surface indented with tubercles. The center of the flower is covered with purple or white hairs, creating a contrast with the petals. This variety has a pleasant fragrance, although faint, it is still a distinctive feature of the Golden-Purple Stapelia.

Glandularia

This succulent grows up to 15 cm tall and features typical light green, ribbed stems, with several buds blooming at the base during flowering. The buds are characteristically arranged on drooping peduncles. The flowers reach 5 cm in diameter and are yellow or lemon-colored. The petals are covered with long, light-colored hairs, the tips of which are slightly thickened.

Rules for caring for stapelia at home

Succulents are popular among gardeners due to their unusual appearance and ease of care when growing them at home.

Soil and pot for planting

Stapelia requires a stable, low pot to prevent the growing above-ground part from falling out of the pot.

A special substrate for succulents and cacti is ideal for this plant. If desired, you can also prepare the soil at home using a 2:1 mixture of turf and sand, adding a little charcoal. A drainage layer is essential for stapelia, which can make up to a third of the total soil volume in the pot.

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Location and lighting

Large south- and west-facing windows are ideal for this plant, as it requires ample sunlight for full development. If it lacks light, the stem begins to lose its fleshiness and flowering fails. Although this succulent thrives on light, direct sunlight during hot summer days is undesirable, as it can cause sunburn.

Watering and air humidity

This succulent doesn't require frequent watering. In summer, watering once a week is sufficient. In autumn, water until the soil is dry and avoid stagnant moisture. In winter, watering is reduced to once a month. Use settled water at room temperature.

Stapelia is not picky about air humidity, but excess moisture can still lead to deterioration of the stems.

Temperature conditions and ventilation

Although the succulent's natural habitat is hot Africa, the temperature regime should be appropriate for the season and the plant's growth stage. In summer, temperatures between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius (72-80 degrees Fahrenheit) are acceptable, but as winter approaches, the temperature should be gradually lowered, as the plant needs to rest until spring. During winter, the plant should be kept at a temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).

Fertilizers and feeding

During the active growth period—spring and summer—stapelia requires organic and mineral fertilizers. Special fertilizers for succulents and cacti are recommended to be applied no more than twice a month, and the plant does not require additional feeding during the fall and winter. It's important to pay attention to the potassium content of the fertilizer; this component is especially important for the plant.

Bloom

Since this succulent's distinctive aroma is particularly pronounced during its flowering period, it is recommended to place it on a balcony or loggia to prevent any unpleasant odors from lingering in the house.

Transfer

Annual repotting is only necessary for young plants, as their root system is still developing. This procedure is recommended in the spring. Mature stapelias can be repotted every few years to refresh the soil or increase the pot size. Extreme care should be taken during this process to avoid disturbing the roots. For a succulent that has been growing for a long time, simply changing the top layer of soil every three years is sufficient.

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Methods of reproduction

It's worth noting that propagating stapelias isn't the easiest task, and attempts to propagate this houseplant often end in failure. Experienced gardeners recommend trying several methods suitable for propagating the plant, including cuttings or seeds.

Cuttings

This method of planting is the most popular, it consists of typical steps used when propagating different types of succulents:

1. The cuttings are cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears; the tool must be disinfected before use.
2. You should select cuttings on old shoots, closer to the base of the flower.
3. The cuts should be sprinkled with charcoal to help the damaged succulent heal faster.
4. Place the prepared cutting in a warm and well-ventilated place for several hours, or you can leave it for a day.
5. The cuttings are planted in a shallow container filled with a mixture of peat and sand.
6. The pot should be placed on a well-lit windowsill and misted daily. The first watering should be two days after planting.
7. Wait until the cuttings take root and plant them in small pots using a substrate for succulents.

When spraying, you can use special fertilizers that help the plant take root better.

By dividing the bush

This propagation method is not popular due to the high risk of damaging the mature plant, but you can still try dividing the stapelia root system into smaller pieces when replanting in the spring. The soil should be disinfected in the oven or with chemical solutions (Aktara, Fundazol).

Seeds

After flowering, the succulent forms a capsule in which seeds ripen. These can be used to propagate the plant. The seed maturation process takes approximately a year. Seeds can also be purchased at flower shops.

The reproduction procedure consists of the following stages:

1. Prepare a substrate consisting of peat and fine sand.
2. Place the soil in a shallow container and spread the seeds on top.
3. Cover the container with plastic wrap or glass and place it on a bright windowsill. Maintain a temperature of 22-24 degrees Celsius for the seedlings to germinate. This typically takes about a month.
4. Be sure to constantly moisten the soil by spraying it with warm, well-settled water.
5. Remove the film/glass after seedlings appear.
6. The sprouted seedlings are planted in small pots.

A succulent grown this way will bloom within a few years. Because stapelia is easily pollinated and its species can be crossed, you can get an unexpected variety using seeds.

Potential problems when growing stapelia

Stapelia's resistance to various pests and diseases is directly affected by the presence of potassium in the substrate; a deficiency can cause problems when growing the flower:

1. Stems will turn reddish-purple if the plant is sunburned. It should be relocated.
2. The shoots are stretching and becoming noticeably thin. The succulent needs more light.
3. Stem wrinkling occurs due to root rot, caused by overwatering and stagnant water in the soil. Root rot should be treated by trimming away the damaged areas. If the rot has already affected the entire root system, you should try propagating the cuttings to obtain new plants.
4. Yellowing and falling stems indicate that the stapelia is receiving too much fertilizer. Reduce the dosage and frequency of feeding.

At the first suspicion of their presence, be sure to isolate the flower and treat it with special chemicals in accordance with the instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unique, variegated flowers of large sizes attract the attention of gardeners. This succulent is easy to care for and, when maintained within minimal conditions, produces unusual buds with a distinctive scent during the summer.