mrhappyrotter
Grand Chupacabra
I really love stapeliads. This group's best known examples are the stapelias. They're all closely related to hoyas and milkweeds. Stapeliads in general have a well deserved reputation for their awful floral scents. They are the bulbophyllums of the asclepiad world. Come to think of it, the stapeliads really are the orchids of the asclepiads. They're well regarded for their interesting variations, range of colors from bright and beautiful to the macabre, large flowers, interesting shapes, and rarity.
Anyway, as highly as I regard them, I haven't really ventured into growing them. For one thing, I grow under T8s, and it's hard to provide enough light. Secondly, I grow phrags for a reason, they love my heavy handed watering routine, but stapeliads are succulents, they tend to suffer under my care. Finally, the stench. My primary growing area is my bedroom. Cool as it may be, I can't imagine falling asleep in a room that smells like a rotting cadaver or a giant pile of dog crap.
This long story of course, does have a point. It's my introduction to some level of success. This is Huernia zebrina. It's a small grower, with attractive flowers that fortunately don't really have much an aroma. These are commonly referred to as Lifesaver plants, because the center of the bloom is convex, richly colored, and definitely resembles a cherry lifesaver in size, shape, and color.
These are bud watch photos from a few days ago. It popped open over night, and is in full bloom now. I'll try to remember to take pics of the open bloom and post them ASAP.
Anyway, as highly as I regard them, I haven't really ventured into growing them. For one thing, I grow under T8s, and it's hard to provide enough light. Secondly, I grow phrags for a reason, they love my heavy handed watering routine, but stapeliads are succulents, they tend to suffer under my care. Finally, the stench. My primary growing area is my bedroom. Cool as it may be, I can't imagine falling asleep in a room that smells like a rotting cadaver or a giant pile of dog crap.
This long story of course, does have a point. It's my introduction to some level of success. This is Huernia zebrina. It's a small grower, with attractive flowers that fortunately don't really have much an aroma. These are commonly referred to as Lifesaver plants, because the center of the bloom is convex, richly colored, and definitely resembles a cherry lifesaver in size, shape, and color.
These are bud watch photos from a few days ago. It popped open over night, and is in full bloom now. I'll try to remember to take pics of the open bloom and post them ASAP.
