Stapeliads

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Very cool. I have Huernia zebrina, Huernia schneideriana, and Huernia oculata.

H. zebrina is scentless.

H. schneideriana smells like stinky dog breath.

Huernia oculata smells like the flavor packs that come with Ramen noodles.

I also have a Stapelia flavopurpurea which smells almost exactly like one of my favorite orchid scents, Paph. Shun Fa Golden. It's a pleasant citrus, honey, floral fragrance.

This is a fascinating family of plants.

Would you have a pic of your occulata in bloom? I've found the true species to be rare as hen's teeth in the US. My "occulata" turned out to be a hybrid with urceolata.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

The nice thing about Stapeliads is that most are fine sitting on or hanging above a sunny windowsill during the winter, provided they don't get too cold, and stay dry. I tried Plumeria, but those suckers get big, taking up as much space as a fig tree! And figs taste better, so until that giant, magically heated greenhouse appears in my yard, figs it is!

Yea, the stapeliads are fine w/bright light from a window but I have mine under the T5s and I get phenomenal blooming w/the extra light so I'm hesitant to make any changes in that area. As an example...below is Piaranthus decorus ssp cornutus from last Sept (for size reference, that is a 6" shallow pot) and it grew even more over the winter.

As for the plumeria...I'm up to 8 varieties now...all of which are still young and small. I'm sure I will eventually have to eliminate some. In the winter they go dormant so don't need as much light and hopefully I can keep several happy sitting w/our giant Yucca houseplant. If not...well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it but I like the plumeria flowers better than figs so the plumerias would win out over figs.

Of course if my Fairy Godmother would bring me that big g/h and free winter heating...I wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of anything. Where is that woman?!

BTW - I recently divided this Piaranthus...a friend wanted a piece and it was getting too large. I gave him a large chunk, kept a large chunk for myself and i potted up some of the pieces that separated themselves during the process. Those pieces are in a 4" pot and are looking really good and by next spring they will have established and rooted strong so...planting a seed here...perhaps we can do a trade of divisions. Maybe.

[Ray]

After 35 years, I'm now 2.5 years sans-greenhouse, and it's nothing short of AWFUL!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Ray

After 35 years, I'm now 2.5 years sans-greenhouse, and it's nothing short of AWFUL!

I bet!! It's one thing to never have had one but to have had it and then to not have it...that has got to be brutal.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by katrina

Yea, the stapeliads are fine w/bright light from a window but I have mine under the T5s and I get phenomenal blooming w/the extra light so I'm hesitant to make any changes in that area. As an example...below is Piaranthus decorus ssp cornutus from last Sept (for size reference, that is a 6" shallow pot) and it grew even more over the winter.

As for the plumeria...I'm up to 8 varieties now...all of which are still young and small. I'm sure I will eventually have to eliminate some. In the winter they go dormant so don't need as much light and hopefully I can keep several happy sitting w/our giant Yucca houseplant. If not...well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it but I like the plumeria flowers better than figs so the plumerias would win out over figs.

Of course if my Fairy Godmother would bring me that big g/h and free winter heating...I wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of anything. Where is that woman?!

BTW - I recently divided this Piaranthus...a friend wanted a piece and it was getting too large. I gave him a large chunk, kept a large chunk for myself and i potted up some of the pieces that separated themselves during the process. Those pieces are in a 4" pot and are looking really good and by next spring they will have established and rooted strong so...planting a seed here...perhaps we can do a trade of divisions. Maybe.

I would be very interested!

[Paul]

Really like the Larryleachia and the orange flowered one. Did you get the zebrina and schneid from me some years back?

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Paul

Really like the Larryleachia and the orange flowered one. Did you get the zebrina and schneid from me some years back?

Yup Paul, the schneideriana and one of my zebrina came from you.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I would be very interested!

Excellent!!

[Paul]

Very nice Piaranthus, btw, Katrina!

[katrina]

Thanks, Paul!