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05-03-2015, 03:16 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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This Plant Stinks
I'm not sure if this is the proper section, feel free to move it if needed.
Huernia oculata
This is a small growing Stapeliad relative I recently picked up, despite having a moratorium set on new plants. It's a very attractive species. This one has bell shaped flowers.
When I saw this, and particularly after I smelled the flower, I knew I had to have it. I've had no luck with Bulbophyllums but Stapeliads seem to do alright for me, and no collection is truly complete until you grow something stinky. This flower has the stereotypical Stapeliad and/or Bulbophyllum putrid rot smell.
Fortunate for me, I suppose, it's not a terribly strong odor. So, it doesn't assault my nose from across the room or anything. It's definitely not something I'd want my house smelling like, but it's certainly not quite as revolting as the smell of actual rotting garbage. I guess what I'm admitting to is that in its own sort of way, I find the smell compelling.

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05-03-2015, 03:46 PM
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Your orchid is really different looking I am not sure if I could stand the smell as you described it as being one of the stinky orchids like something rotting.
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05-03-2015, 03:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter
I'm not sure if this is the proper section, feel free to move it if needed.
Huernia oculata
This is a small growing Stapeliad relative I recently picked up, despite having a moratorium set on new plants. It's a very attractive species. This one has bell shaped flowers.
When I saw this, and particularly after I smelled the flower, I knew I had to have it. I've had no luck with Bulbophyllums but Stapeliads seem to do alright for me, and no collection is truly complete until you grow something stinky. This flower has the stereotypical Stapeliad and/or Bulbophyllum putrid rot smell.
Fortunate for me, I suppose, it's not a terribly strong odor. So, it doesn't assault my nose from across the room or anything. It's definitely not something I'd want my house smelling like, but it's certainly not quite as revolting as the smell of actual rotting garbage. I guess what I'm admitting to is that in its own sort of way, I find the smell compelling.

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I really love it when people post pics of these beautiful but smelly plants. Other people that is! Thanks for putting up with the stink for me and those like me!
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05-03-2015, 04:43 PM
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Lovely flower! how big/tall is the plant?
One of these days I'll have to obtain one. I currently have H. schneideriana whose flowers have a faint fecal odor and H. zebrina whose flowers are scentless.
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05-03-2015, 05:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul
Lovely flower! how big/tall is the plant?
One of these days I'll have to obtain one. I currently have H. schneideriana whose flowers have a faint fecal odor and H. zebrina whose flowers are scentless.
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I've had some Heurnia hybrids before, but as of right now, I've only got zebrina and oculata, both in bloom right now, maybe it's time to hybridize.
This species has shorter, fatter stems than zebrina. So, maybe 2 - 3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm) height? This plant has several stems, all of which are less than 2" high.
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05-03-2015, 05:39 PM
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What a weird one, very cool.
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05-03-2015, 11:40 PM
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Cool flowers, fascinating plant.
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05-04-2015, 12:49 AM
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What a strange succulent
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05-04-2015, 08:49 AM
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How are you growing this?
I've been trying my hand at huernia and stapelia for a few years now and I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I can't get blooms. Worse still, I've killed a couple and I don't know why. I'm not new to cacti/succulents...I've grown many for years and before orchids I had tons. Of course, the orchids have pushed most out, but, anyway...don't know what I'm doing wrong w/these things. ?? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
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08-04-2015, 02:09 AM
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Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
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Quote:
Originally Posted by katrina
...I can't get blooms....
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The take a lot more light than most people give them. In habitat most have reddish stems from all the sun. Too shady and they won't bloom.
They bloom on new growth. More water = more new growth. They survive months without water but don't grow.
More fertilizer means more new growth and more blooms.
They're highly susceptible to mealy bugs, which hide on the undersides of the stems where roots attach. Wet stapeliads in cool weather with mealybugs don't survive long. There are two ways to deal with mealybugs: Put grub granules containing imidacloprid into your soil. Or put a 1/2" layer of gravel over your potting mix. Set stapeliad cuttings on top of the gravel. They will root through the gravel into the soil. Mealies seem not to like being up in the air above the gravel.
If your plants aren't growing rapidly during warm weather and blooming in season they aren't getting enough water or they have mealy bugs.
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smell, flower, stapeliad, putrid, assault, and/or, bulbophyllum, nose, odor, stinky, suppose, terribly, stereotypical, rot, strong, fortunate, admitting, guess, sort, compelling, garbage, rotting, grow, house, smelling  |
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