Stapelia flower is an unusual, perennial succulent from the Gusset family. Its homeland and natural habitat is South Africa. You can grow a plant at home in the middle lane. In order for a flower to show its beauty, it is required to provide it with proper care.
Varieties of Stapelia Flower
Botanists and simply passionate gardeners know that a stapelia flower is divided into several beautiful plant variations. The most popular varieties are:
- Stapelia variegated;
- Large-flowered stapelia;
- Grandiflora;
- Gigantic stapelia.
Unusual type of flowering plant
For each of these subspecies, it is recommended to provide a suitable microclimate, to conduct proper and timely care.
Stapelia motley
Succulent stapelia motley - a plant of a separate genus. Specialists attributed it to the representatives of Orbey. This variety has:
- erect shoots;
- short stature (up to 10 cm);
- the presence of reddish stains on the shoots (the main color is saturated green);
- flowers located directly at the base.
One plant can have up to 5 flowers. Diameter - 5-8 cm. Petals are oval at the base and pointed closer to the edge. Their surface is smooth. Flowers have an unusual color. They are yellow with stripes and specks of brown color (hence the name - mottled). Feature - towards the center, the saturation of the yellow hue increases. The smell during flowering is saturated, but unpleasant.
The beauty of South Africa
Large-flowered stapelia
Large-flowered stapelia plant is a popular among lovers to grow exotic flowers. In vivo forms abundant thickets. Features of the appearance:
- shoots are downy;
- refer to tetrahedral;
- bent cloves form at the edges;
- large flowers - in the diameter of 15-16 cm;
- elongated and curved petals;
- there is pubescence along the edges of gray;
- the main color of the petals is greenish with a blue tint (lower part);
- upper side - rich purple with pubescence.
The smell is strong and unpleasant. The period of active flowering is up to 5 days.
Important! All types of plants have a pronounced and very specific aroma.
Stapelia Grandiflora
The perennial stapelia plant of the Grandiflora variety is also among the fashionable and sought-after indoor plants for those who strive for a non-standard solution in floriculture. The stem of it is tetrahedral with bent denticles (they are rarely located).
Feature - the shape of the lanceolate petals. They are bent along the edge. The outside has a greenish blue tint. The underside is painted in burgundy. There is also pubescence of a gray tint. The flowering period is summer. The smell is strong and unpleasant.
Giant stapelia
Another representative of the species is giant stapelia. This succulent is also a perennial. The stems are erect. They look powerful visually: height - up to 20 cm, width - up to 3 cm. The shoots along the edges have large faces and a few small denticles. The flowers are large. Their diameter reaches 35 cm. Gigantey stapelia cactus differs from other varieties in that its flowers are located on long pedicels.
Petals have a triangular shape (elongated-pointed). On their surface are thick red hairs. On the edge of the villi is a white hue.
Interesting! The peculiarity of the giant Stapelia is that the smell is not so pronounced and less unpleasant.
Home Flower Care
Succulents of the genus stapelia need special care. The house should provide as close to natural conditions as possible. The main requirement is the presence of a large amount of sunlight. It is recommended to install containers with the plant on the windows that overlook the east or west side in summer. In winter, you need to move to the south side. In the warm season, it is required to create a slight dimming, so that direct sunlight does not affect the flower for a long time. In winter, additional light sources are an integral part of care.
Stapelia home care and maintenance suggest that the rules on temperature, watering will be followed. Attention should be paid to the transplant process and the quality of the soil.
Proper care provides the plant with health and strength.
Soil and transplant
If a stapelia flower is chosen for cultivation, special care at home is necessary. Particular attention is paid to the soil in the container with the plant. The optimal composition will be (in parts):
- turf land - 2;
- coarse sand (river) - 1.
Additionally, a handful of charcoal is introduced. It also needs to be added to the finished mixture intended for succulents. Pots should be wide, but not deep.
Young plants are transplanted every year. After the stapelia reaches the age of 3 years, the timing of transplants is shifted. The process is carried out 1 time in 2-3 years. Feature - you need to move the plant by transshipment. This is required so as not to damage the fragile roots and young shoots.
Interesting. The plant is suitable for maintenance in an apartment or office according to the microclimate in the premises.
Lighting
The hirsuta cultivar stapelia plant and other succulent varieties need a lot of light. Direct sunlight is forbidden, it is recommended to close the containers with a light curtain. In open areas (in gardens or on balconies), shelter must be provided.
Room temperature and humidity
Stapelia, all its types, need to comply with a certain temperature regime. Optimum performance is 22-26 degrees. In winter, to ensure peace, indicators should be reduced to 14-16 degrees. Indicators of air humidity are in the range of 50-70%.
Watering
Water is added to the soil as the top layer dries. In summer, watering is carried out more often than in the winter months. If the soil remains dry for a long time, succulents may die. The reason is the drying of the roots.
Flowering stapelia
Florists grow plants to produce beautiful flowers. An interesting fact is that diseases and pests practically do not affect the flowering process. Difficulties in the fact that flowers do not form arise due to sunburn and waterlogging of the soil.
Flowering stapelia
Also to answer the question, why the slipway does not bloom or wither, experts who are associated with exotic plants can.
Reasons why it does not bloom
The lack of flowering may be due to non-compliance with the temperature regime. If in the summer the indicators decrease, then the vegetation slows down. Also, insufficient sunlight exposure leads to a negative process. In the shade, the plant does not form flowers.
Breeding
The process of reproduction is carried out by seeds or cuttings. The second option is more convenient for gardeners, since the plant takes root more quickly and begins to bloom.
Cuttings
Stapelia, the process of propagation by cuttings requires certain knowledge. In order to cut the cuttings, you need to use a sharp knife. Slices are then sprinkled with charcoal. The process of planting in a new container is carried out 2-3 hours after cutting. The substrate should consist of coarse sand and a small amount of peat. After complete rooting, a transplant is carried out in a new pot. The mixture should be standard for the species. If a stapelia is selected for breeding, how to propagate it needs to be studied in advance, charcoal can be used for strengthening.
