Planting and transplanting
Stapelia needs an annual transplant
The best time for planting and replanting stocks is early spring.
Planting begins with choosing a pot. The root system of the flower is superficial, it grows not in height, but in width. Therefore, choose a low but wide capacity. When determining the diameter, focus on the flower - it should be about 5 cm from it to the edge of the pot.
It is highly desirable to have a large-diameter drainage hole and a thick drainage layer (it should fill about a third of the entire volume of the pot). Expanded clay, pebbles, gravel, brick chips, small ceramic shards are used as drainage. This protects the plant from moisture stagnation. An additional preventive measure is the material from which the pot is made. Choose unglazed ceramics that are breathable.
The flower grows pretty quickly. Therefore, young plants need an annual transplant. When they are 3-5 years old, transplant every 2-3 years. Every year, 1–2 cm of soil is removed from the top in pots with adult stocks, replacing it with fresh soil.
Before placing the slipway in a new pot, you need to cut off the old dried shoots with a sharp knife, which will clearly not bloom anymore.
They do this carefully, since they are located mainly in the center. The sections should be immediately sprinkled with wood ash or powdered activated carbon.
When you remove the mature plant from the pot, gently shake off excess soil and leave it outdoors for several hours.
After replanting the slipway, forget about watering for 6-8 days, until the soil in the pot dries up, slightly moving along the edges to the very bottom
This will help the roots to avoid rotting.
Proper care of stocks at home
Stapelia needs a lot of sunlight. However, it must be protected from direct rays in the spring and summer, if your windows face south. In the summer, you can create shading using paper, tracing paper. Windows with west and east exposure will be optimal for growing.
If you just bought a plant or it stood in the shade for a while, do not expose it immediately to bright light, accustom it to the sun gradually. In the summer, it is good to take the plant out to the balcony or street for hardening. The temperature in winter should be at least 12 ° C, and moderate in summer - up to 26 ° C. Flowering usually occurs in mid-August and lasts until the end of October, but in the comfortable conditions of existence, succulents can bloom almost at any time.
Hairy stapelia (C. Hirsuta)
Watering depends on the room temperature. The higher it is, the more often the procedure is performed. In summer it is moderate, as the top layer of the soil dries up, and in the fall it is reduced, since from October to March the sea star begins a period of rest.
Watering at the base once a month or less to prevent the shoots from shrinking. It is desirable to provide the plant with cool temperatures. Requires bright light without shading and dry air. They are fed with a special fertilizer for cacti once a month from spring to September.
Potassium supplementation is very important, which makes the starfish resistant to pests and diseases. Enough 3-4 times a year.
Transfer
The succulent grows quite quickly, and flowering begins on young shoots, so it is recommended to replant once every 2 years, while at the same time rejuvenating the plant by removing old shoots. Transplanted in the spring after a rest period. The pots are chosen low and wide, laying out a drainage layer of expanded clay on the bottom.
The soil is used the same as for cacti.You can prepare your own mixture of leafy earth, turf, sand with the addition of lime and charcoal. The components are taken in equal proportions. After transplanting, the Stapelia is not watered for 7-10 days to avoid root rot. Sprinkle pebbles on the top of the soil.
Reproduction
Stapelia propagates by seed, cuttings or by dividing old specimens. Cuttings of young shoots root easily in dry soil for several days at a temperature of at least 20 ° C. Before placing in a sand-peat mixture, the sections are dried for 3-4 hours.
The seed method of propagation does not guarantee obtaining the varietal characteristics of the mother plant, therefore, the propagation of the stocks by cuttings is a more effective method.
Why the staples do not bloom
To stimulate the flowering of the stocks, the irrigation regime and winter temperature are very important. With excessive moisture during the dormant period and temperatures above 15 degrees, flowering is unlikely to occur. The earth ball should dry out almost completely.
During budding, it is undesirable to transfer or turn the plant, as this can cause the buds to fall off. An excess of fertilizer in the soil also results in a lack of flowering.
Diseases and pests
The culture infects aphids, scale insects, spider mites, but this happens in rare cases. The main problems arise when the irrigation regime is violated.
With excess moisture, rot infection is possible. This leads to yellowing of the leaves and rotting of the roots.
Rules for caring for stocks at home
Succulents are popular with flower growers because of their unusual appearance and uncomplicated care when growing them at home.
Soil and pot for planting
For the slipway, a stable, low flowerpot is needed so that the growing ground part does not fall out of the pot.
Since the root system is not very developed, large containers for the flower are not needed.
A special substrate for succulents and cacti is perfect for this plant. If desired, you can also prepare the soil at home using turf and sand in a 2: 1 ratio, and add some charcoal. For the slipway, a drainage layer is required, which can be up to a third of the total volume of soil in the pot.
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Location and lighting
Large windows of the south and west sides are well suited for a flower, since the sun's rays are needed for it in large quantities for full development. With a lack of light, the stem begins to lose its fleshiness and flowering does not occur. Despite the fact that the succulent is very fond of light, it is undesirable to get direct sunlight during hot summer days, as the plant can get burned.
Watering and humidity
A succulent plant does not need frequent watering, in the summer it is enough to add water once a week, in the autumn period you should focus on the drying of the earthy coma and prevent moisture from stagnating in the soil. In winter, watering is reduced to 1 time per month. You need to use settled water at room temperature.
Stapelia are not picky about air humidity, but excess moisture can still lead to a deterioration in the condition of the stems.
Remember: do not spray the plant all the time, just do it every few weeks and avoid getting water on the flower.
Temperature control and ventilation
Despite the fact that the natural habitat of the succulent is hot Africa, the temperature regime should correspond to the season and the period of plant development. In the summer, a temperature of + 22-27 degrees is permissible, and as winter approaches, it must be gradually reduced, since the flower must rest until spring.For winter, the temperature of the plant should be within +15 degrees.
The plant does not like sudden changes in temperature, therefore it should not be taken out into drafts.
Fertilizers and feeding
During the period of active growth - spring-summer - the stocks need organic and mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to apply special fertilizers for succulents and cacti no more than twice a month, and in the autumn-winter period, the flower does not need feeding
It is important to pay attention to the presence of potassium in the fertilizer, this component is especially important for the plant.
Bloom
Since the specific aroma of this succulent is pronounced during its flowering period, it is recommended to take it to the balcony or loggia so that there is no unpleasant smell in the house.
The flowering period of different species falls on different summer months and lasts about 20 days.
Transfer
Annual transplanting is necessary only for young plants, since their root system is still being formed. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the spring. For adult stocks, it is permissible to transplant every few years in order to update the composition of the substrate or increase the size of the pot. You should be extremely careful during the procedure so as not to disturb the roots. For a succulent that has been grown for a long time, you can simply change the topsoil every three years.
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Graceful and wayward, beautiful stocks
Stapelia (Stapelia) - a separate genus, organized from hundreds of low-maintenance succulent perennials, occupies not the last place in the Apocynaceae family.
The native habitat of these succulents is the African continent, its southern and southwestern parts. In the natural environment, the miracle plant was chosen by forest mountain slopes and areas next to water bodies or next to trees.
The stapel is grateful for its name to the outstanding Dutch doctor of the seventeenth century, Van Stapel.
A hoya can claim the place of a famous relative.
The unpleasant and disgusting scent of star-shaped flowers, which bears a resemblance to the smell of rot, is a characteristic distinguishing feature of this plant and helps it survive in natural conditions. Many flies flock to these aromatic vibes and pollinate the stocks. The seemingly showy beauty and eerie scent of this nourishing plant has long made it very popular in the beautiful world of flower lovers. Even Goethe, in his statements about an extraordinary flower, called this miracle "the most beautiful - the most monstrous flowers."
The unsurpassed stapelia cactus, depending on the conditions of detention, can grow in height from ten centimeters to half a meter.
It flaunts with a large number of original stems in the form of juicy tetrahedrons, which branch out from the base. The shades of the color range depend on the presence of dazzling sunlight. The beautiful greenish color can change to bluish or purple-violet. The edges of the stapelia are edged with soft impressive teeth, through their presence the plant acquired the name "cactus stapelia". The beautiful staple has no leaves.
The base of the stems is the place of dislocation of pubescent exotic group or single flowers perched on the bent stem part of the flower. The impression is that the plant is strewn with starfish. Each type of stapelia has its own variegated or monochromatic color of flowers and its own not very pleasant aroma that causes nausea. The size of these exotic species ranges from five to thirty centimeters.
Photo stapelia can be seen and admired the beautiful exotic by getting acquainted with its extraordinary and charming varieties.
How to propagate a slipway
Seed and vegetative propagation is practiced. Vegetative - easier and faster, seed - indispensable for growing a new hybrid variety.
- By cuttings. Cuttings are cut with a very sharp, sterile knife. The sections are immediately treated with charcoal powder. It is recommended to dry the cuttings for at least a few hours before planting. The substrate is coarse sand with the addition of fine peat. Keep warm, slightly moisturize, do without shelter. Rooted cuttings are transplanted into individual pots.
- Seeds. Sowing with seeds is rarely used as a way to propagate one's own plant. You have to wait at least a year for the seeds to ripen. The specific characteristics of the variety are lost. Store seeds are often planted to grow a plant of a new variety. It is sown without preliminary treatment into light sandy soil, covered with foil. Seedlings emerge in 3-4 weeks. The grown seedlings are transplanted into separate small containers. The next transplant is in a year.
Origin and description of the flower
Stapelia (Stapelia) - a plant belonging to the category of succulents. She is able to store water in special fabrics. This is a separate genus of the Lastovnev family (Asclepiadaceae), quite numerous. Botanists distinguish from 80 to 100 types of stocks, not counting the hybrids bred by breeding.
The homeland of the stocks is southern, southwestern and eastern Africa. It is found in South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana. The name of the flower was given in 1737 by the Swedish systematizer and researcher Karl Linnaeus in honor of the Dutch physician and botanist Johann Bode van Stapel, who lived a hundred years earlier.
At home, the flower grows in truly Spartan conditions.
In English, the slipway is delicately called bad fish, that is, "bad fish". This is not entirely true. The "aroma" of most flowers is more reminiscent of rotten meat - in nature it attracts meat flies, pollinating plants and laying eggs in flowers. You are guaranteed not to miss the flowering of the staple, even if you suffer from a chronic rhinitis. But there is a pleasant exception - Stapelia flavopurpurea (golden purple), whose flowers smell like candle wax.
Now everything looks completely different, but it was here that Goethe first saw the stocks, the pots were signed by Linnaeus with his own hand
Stapelia is a short plant (about 15–20 cm) with a fleshy stem and shoots of all shades of grayish green with a dark purple, reddish or purple tint. It is there that the flower stores water. Shoots have a well-defined tetrahedral shape. The edges are uneven - when viewed from the side, they resemble a saw.
Leaves are absent, the flower is located directly on the stem, at the top or at the base of one of the shoots. The flower is characterized by a five-pointed star shape. The flowering period is quite long - in nature it lasts all summer, at home - about a month.
The diameter of the flowers varies from 2–3 to 45–50 cm. The petals are covered with fine bristles of various lengths and degrees of rigidity. But there are species with smooth petals. The flower crown is round, fleshy, two-tiered, solid or of several elements, tightly fitting to the anthers.
The fruits of the stapelia are quite large, in shape they look like two horns or pod connected to each other. There are a lot of lionfish seeds inside - more than a hundred.
The plant is quite unpretentious to care for and rarely suffers from pests. Shoots secrete a milky juice that repels and poison most insects. In humans, if it comes into contact with the skin, the juice can cause irritation. When starting a transplant, do not forget to wear rubber gloves, and after completing the procedure, wash your hands.
Features of this succulent
This is a guest from distant, hot Africa, and more specifically from the western and southern regions of the country.
"Freely" stocks grow under trees, near rivers and lakes, as well as on mountain slopes.
The plant blooms in summer, up to 15 days (or even longer), and it is very beautiful, several large single flowers bloom on one bush at once.
The only thing - they smell ... But what to embellish - they stink so that the pots had to be moved to an uninhabited room. As the mother-in-law said: "I searched for three days where my mouse died until I realized that it was a flowerpot." But from the windows of the veranda, they look great, all the neighbors are a feast for the eyes.
Although, of course, I will not say that the flower is not at all suitable for a living room: my husband, who does not distinguish smells well, did not notice anything strange at all. So here - who has what kind of nose.
The rest of the year, the bush looks like a minimalist:
- from 10 to 50 (rarely 60) cm in height,
- juicy "plump" tetrahedral stems, decorated with whitish dots, vaguely resembling denticles (but not sharp),
- the color of the shoots of the plant can be green, less often grayish or with a lilac-red tint;
- the shade of flowers (as well as the smell, which in any case sensitive people will call far from perfume) is also different for each species, they are united only by the star-shaped shape and the presence of pubescence on the petals (in most species).
If you are interested in this amazing flower, I offer an equally interesting video. A man in high-speed shooting filmed the process of blooming and wilting of the stocks' flowers. Do not miss:
By the way! Fetid is not only a beautiful stapelia, a real orchid among cacti. What other stinkers grow in nature and in which countries they bloom, you will see in this video:
Names and descriptions of types of stocks
In nature, there are about 100 types of stocks, some of them are cultivated for full growth at home.
Large-flowered
Succulent plant with tetrahedral green shoots that branch well. It forms a flower with a diameter of 15-25 cm, for which it got its name. The flower is located on a flexible and long peduncle, has the shape of a starfish. The shade of the petals is purple, characterized by the presence of long silvery villi. During the flowering period, the fetid smell of the plant disappears. The largest representative of this species is the Grandiflora stocks.
Large-flowered
Star-shaped
A small plant, reaching a height of 20 cm, has tetrahedral shoots of a rich green hue, on which pinkish streaks are present. There are small denticles along the perimeter of the shoots. Star-shaped flowers are located at the base of the succulent on short pedicels, about 8 cm in diameter. The triangular petals are twisted back and have a bumpy surface with villi along the edges. The color of the petals is brown or red. Grouping of several flowers at the base is typical.
Star-shaped
Giant
The species received its name for the flowers, which reach 30-35 cm in diameter and are the largest among the varieties of the staple. The five-petalled flower has villi along the contour, cream color with burgundy fine strokes. The tips of the petals are elongated and can take on a spiral shape. A succulent plant can develop into a bush under suitable conditions. During the flowering period, it smells of rotting meat.
Giant
Volatile
The plant grows up to 15 cm in height, it is a hybrid form of the staple. Flowers are small, up to 8 cm, located on an elongated peduncle. There are a few villi along the edges of the petals. The shape of the petals is ovoid, and their color can be very diverse. This species is characterized by the presence of spots, dots and stripes on the petals.
Volatile
Golden purple
A short plant with dark green shoots. Flowers bloom at the top of the shoots and gather in inflorescences of several buds. They have dissected and elongated petals of a light green or yellow hue, which are rather narrow, and their surface is indented with tubercles. The center of the flower is covered with purple or white pile, contrasting with the petals.This variety has a pleasant aroma, although it is weak, it is still a distinctive feature of Golden Purple Staple.
Golden purple
Glandular
This succulent grows up to 15 cm in height and has typical light green ribbed stems, and several buds open at the base at once during the flowering period. The location of the buds on the cascading pedicels is characteristic. The flowers reach 5 cm in diameter and have a yellow or lemon tint. The petals are covered with long light hairs with a small thickening at the tips.
Glandular
Varieties
Today, based on the international botanical classification, there are more than five dozen species in the succulent genus. The following stocks are especially popular among florists.
Large-flowered grandiflora
Shoots of this species have four faces, the main branching occurs at the base of the culture. Grandiflora forms buds at the bottom of the peduncle. In diameter, the opened bud will measure from 15 to 25 centimeters, depending on the age of the plant and the characteristics of the species.
The color of the petals is purple or burgundy with light villi. The flowering phase is rather short, usually from two to five days. The smell from the flower during this period is inexpressive.
Variegated
The variety is distinguished by the peculiarity of the structure of its shoots, which in cross section have the correct circle shape. Small denticles are located along the edges of the stems. As a rule, the height of the shoots is about 15 centimeters.
In summer, the succulent blooms with yellow or cream flowers with burgundy or brown blotches. The diameter of the flowers when unfolded is about 5-7 centimeters. This species exudes a rather strong odor during flowering.
Star-shaped
The stems of this type of perennial have four edges, their height is 15-20 centimeters. The green color of the plant is complemented by pink or red stains, while the cloves are very small. Flowers appear next to each other, creating small groups of 2-3 buds.
The expanded diameter does not exceed 10 centimeters. The petals stand out with a bumpy surface, the villi on them are concentrated from the sides. Stapelia of this species bloom with orange, red and yellow flowers.
Glandular grandiflora
The flower has a rather modest size, not exceeding 15 centimeters. The stems are colored light green. Usually, in the process of flowering, three buds are formed on a perennial at once. Flowers will have a lemon color, their diameter varies within 5 centimeters.
Giant
This variety is characterized by fleshy stems, as well as very large flowers, the diameter of which will be 30-35 centimeters. The color of the petals is yellow with dark red blotches, the shape is slightly narrowed and elongated. The plant has a very strong odor during the flowering phase.
Golden purple
The stems reach a length of 10-13 centimeters, the formation of peduncles and buds occurs at the top of the staple, forming a small group of several flowers. Their diameter is 4-5 centimeters. When flowering, this plant will have flat flowers that resemble a starfish. The color of the petals is yellow or light green with minimal tubercles. A large number of villi are concentrated in the center of the bud.
Hirsuta
The plant blooms with small brown-purple flowers, the size of which is no more than 10 centimeters. The petals are decorated with transverse stripes and lilac villi, which allow the flower to acquire a visual similarity to velvet. The stems of the culture do not have serrations, the teeth are placed only at the bottom. There are petals on the peduncles along the edges.
Desmetiana
Large perennial, whose height reaches 30 centimeters. The stems are formed with four edges. The flowers have villi around the edges, as well as a beautiful purple hue.The pink color of the pile has a positive effect on the decorative attractiveness of the indoor plant.
Standing-flowered
A variety that will be appreciated by true connoisseurs of unusual and very attractive succulents. The flower's corolla is covered with a large number of villi, in the center of which is a beautiful star with bent petals. The plant itself reaches a small size: as a rule, the staple of this species grows up to 15 centimeters in height. Flowering is short, it can last from a week to two.
Volatile
The culture has smooth stems, the length of which reaches 15 centimeters, it blooms with buds, which, when opened, are about 7 centimeters in diameter. The petals are yellow-green, decorated with burgundy stripes and blotches.
