Stapelia Of Various Types - Features Of Planting And Care At Home + Photo

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Stapelia: beauty or beast?

All the inconsistency of the stocks is very accurately expressed in the words of Goethe: "The most beautiful, most monstrous flowers." After all, it is the strange combination of the beauty of the flower and the pronounced smell of decay that attracts flower growers who love contrasts. Despite its uniqueness, the slipway does not require much maintenance. Observing the simple rules of its cultivation, even a novice florist can easily grow this "beautiful monster".

Content

• 1 History and appearance features of the stocks

  • 1.1 Main plant varieties

    • 1.1.1 Large-flowered stapelia (S. grandiflora)
    • 1.1.2 Stapelia variegata (Stapelia variegata), or changeable
    • 1.1.3 Giant Stapelia (Stapelia gigantea)
    • 1.1.4 Stapelia glanduliflora
    • 1.1.5 Stapelia golden-purple (Stapelia flavopurpurea)

• 2 Boarding and transfer rules

  2.1 Subtleties of planting succulents - video

• 3 Features of plant care

  • 3.1 Lighting and temperature

    3.1.1 Temperature regime of flower keeping - table

  • 3.2 Moisture level and watering

    3.2.1 Specificity of seasonal irrigation of stocks - table

  • 3.3 Top dressing

• 4 Features of flower reproduction at home

  • 4.1 Reproductive method (by seeds)
  • 4.2 Vegetative method (cuttings)

• 5 Dealing with problems

  • 5.1 Methods for eliminating maintenance errors - table

    5.1.1 Problems of growing stocks in the photo

History and appearance features of the slipway

The stapelia, or "order star", was named back in 1737 by the Swedish naturalist Karl Linnaeus in honor of Bodeus Van Stapel, a doctor from Holland. The homeland of the flower is South and South-West Africa. In nature, the plant huddles in the mountains or comfortably sits on the shaded shores of water bodies. There are about 80 varieties of these flowers on the African continent.

Blooming stapelia

Stapelia belongs to the genus of perennial succulents that store moisture in their tissues to survive during prolonged drought. Since the shape of the fruit of the stapel is similar to the tail of a swallow, it belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family.

Most often, the height of a plant ranges from 10-20 cm. However, some species can reach 60 cm in height. A feature of the structure of the slipway is the absence of leaves. It consists of numerous juicy tetrahedral stems branching at the base, with large smoothed denticles on the edges. Due to this appearance, the slipway is often confused with a cactus.

Shoots are often green or bluish. In particularly bright light, the stems can acquire a purple-red hue. Stapelia flowers are located on the shoots one, two or more. They have bent pedicels. The diameter of the flowers is from 5 to 30 cm. The petals are fleshy, with a smooth or fleecy surface. This amazing flower mimics the skin of a carrion, attracting flies - the main pollinators. But the most attractive to these insects is the disgusting putrid smell of the plant.

The main plant varieties

Different types of stapelia differ mainly in the shape, size and pubescence of flowers, as well as in their smell.

Large-flowered stapelia (S. grandiflora)

Large-flowered stapelia is practically odorless

This is the most popular type. It pleases with its large, up to 15-20 cm in diameter, flat, fleecy flowers on low peduncles. The petals are lanceolate, wide open at the beginning of flowering, bend back after 2-3 days. The lower part of the flower is greenish-blue, and the upper part is dark purple. With sufficient light and moderate watering, the stem also acquires a purple hue. The main advantage of this type is the absence of an unpleasant odor.

Stapelia variegated (Stapelia variegata), or changeable

"Motley star" with a roller in the center of the flower

Differs in deep green stems with a reddish tint and rounded edges with erect teeth. It reaches a height of only 5 - 10 cm. The flowers are small (5 - 8 cm in diameter), most often painted in yellow or yellow-brown colors. The petals are covered with clearly visible lines and dots, which determines the name of the species. The corolla is flattened. The petals are triangular, with curved edges. Outside they are smooth, closer to the middle - folded. There is a roller in the middle. Also, flowers have a rather noticeable smell. This type of stapelia is very resistant to uncomfortable growing conditions.

Giant stapelia (Stapelia gigantea)

Giant stapelia - a huge pubescent star with a disgusting smell

It is popular because of its huge flowers with a strongly dissected corolla, which can reach a diameter of 25-35 cm. The color of these giants is most often light yellow or greenish with reddish transverse lines. The petals have the shape of an elongated pointed triangle with long hairs along the contour. The ends of the petals are slightly bent. However, this handsome man spreads a clearly perceptible smell of missing meat. Such giant flowers are supported by powerful (up to three cm thick) shoots of medium height. They are characterized by embossed wing-shaped edges and the presence of subtle teeth.

Stapelia glanduliflora (Stapelia glanduliflora)

"Veiled Star" - ferruginous staple

Its shoots are similar to those of the giant slipway, but lower (up to 10-15 cm). Flowers of this variety of staples are arranged in 1 - 3 pieces on elongated pedicels. Corolla up to 5 cm in diameter has a standard star shape. Distinctive features are yellow-greenish color with pale pink stripes and dots and the presence of clavate-shaped hairs covering the surface, creating a "veil" effect.

Stapelia golden-purple (Stapelia flavopurpurea)

Stapelia golden purple smells good

It is even shorter - up to 10 cm tall, species. The shoots have a rich green color, sometimes they acquire a purple hue. The shape of the stems is distinguished by smooth edges. The flowers are rather small (up to 4 cm in diameter), arranged in 1-3 pieces at the tops of the stems. A feature of the flower shape is the most strongly dissected corolla with narrow and pointed triangular petals. They are also characterized by a wrinkled surface - often light green or golden yellow, sometimes with purple wrinkles. Inside the flower is a white disc covered with pink or purple clavate villi. The main advantage of this type of stock is its pleasant aroma.

Boarding and transfer rules

Substrate for succulents or cacti is great for stocks

Since Stapelia is native to Africa, it prefers highly sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5–7. The optimal composition of the substrate is a mixture of two parts of sod land and one part of coarse sand. A ready-made substrate for succulents or cacti is also suitable - it is useful to add small pieces of charcoal to it.

1. Young stocks are replanted every spring. Mature plants do not require frequent replanting. It is enough to transplant them into new soil once every 2-3 years.
2. Before planting, the soil must be processed - fry in a pan or spill with boiling water.
3. Fill 1/3 of the pot height with drainage, the rest 2/3 with prepared substrate.
4. When transplanting, it is important to remove the old central shoots that will no longer give flower buds.
5. Transplanted (as well as newly planted) plants are not watered for 5-7 days to prevent decay of the root system.

Subtleties of planting succulents - video

Features of plant care

Lighting and temperature

Stapelia needs bright, but diffused light and daily sunbathing. Therefore, she feels most comfortable on the windowsills of the southern or eastern windows. However, one should not forget about shading the plant on especially hot days to avoid burns.

The amount of heat required for the slipway directly depends on the season. Wintering in a cool room promotes the formation of flower buds.

Temperature regime of flower maintenance - table

Season	Life cycle	Temperature
Summer	Period of active development and flowering	+ 22 … + 28 ºС
Autumn, spring	Relaxation	+15 ºС
Winter	Dormant period	+ 8 … + 14 ºС

Moisture level and watering

Staples develop and bloom best in a moderately humid climate. However, air humidity is not a decisive condition for the successful keeping of this plant. It perfectly tolerates dry air.

Stapelia does not require abundant watering and spraying, even in the hot season. Excessive watering contributes to the occurrence of fungal infections and plant decay.

Specificity of seasonal watering of the stocks - table

Season	Watering requirements
Summer	Moderate regular watering once a week.
Spring-autumn period (active vegetation)	As the soil dries up (no more than 1 time in 2 weeks).
Winter (rest)	Only after the earthen coma has completely dried (you can occasionally spray the topsoil from a spray bottle).

Top dressing

Stapels need feeding during the growing season and flowering. In the spring and summer, the soil should be fertilized once every 2 weeks. Ready-made preparations for cacti or succulent plants are sold in specialized stores. Potash fertilizers enhance the "immunity" of the stocks and increase the resistance to diseases. The most popular drugs are Agricola, Garden of Miracles, Uniflor. No additional feeding is required in autumn and winter.

The introduction of top dressing will ensure the development and flowering of the stock

Features of flower reproduction at home

Reproductive method (by seeds)

Stapelia, even when grown indoors, sets seeds quite well. The big disadvantage of this method is its duration. Seeds ripen throughout the year.

1. Ready freshly harvested seeds in early March are sown in small containers with a mixture of one part of leafy soil and one part of sand.
2. After sowing, the temperature is maintained at +24 ° C.

3. Approximately 21-28 days after sowing, the first shoots appear.

   

   Sprouted Stapelia Seeds

4. The seedlings are dived and planted in pots with a diameter of 6 cm.
5. One-year-old plants are transferred by transferring to larger pots.

Vegetative method (cuttings)

1. When grafting, shoots are taken from an adult plant and dried within 24 hours.

2. After that, they are planted in pots with a mixture of coarse sand and peat chips or simply in sand for rooting.

   

   Rooted staple stalk

3. It is best to place the pots in well-lit places, for example, on the windowsill of the south, south-west or east window.

Dealing with problems

It is quite easy to look after the stocks. However, sometimes gardeners have problems, it is important to find out in time why they appear, and then overcome them.

Maintenance error elimination methods - table

Problems	Causes	Solutions
Lack of flowering	Warm wintering; insufficient lighting; too frequent and plentiful watering; the wrong composition of fertilizers, their lack or excess.	The plant should spend the dormant period in a cool room; provide the slipway with good lighting; adhere to the rules of watering, do not overmoisten the soil; do not abuse fertilizers, in particular, with a nitrogen component; use sandy loam soil.
Yellowing shoots	Insufficient lighting.	Transfer to a well-lit place; cut off the yellowed stems and use them for grafting.
The appearance of brown spots	Burning stems with sun rays.	Move the plant to a place inaccessible to direct sunlight.
The stems become soft	Drying out of the roots.	Provide sufficient watering
The appearance of diseases and pests	Stapelia are resistant to diseases and pests; they suffer most from waterlogging in the cold season, which causes fungal diseases.	Exclude excessive watering; feed with potash fertilizers.

Problems of growing stocks in the photo

Lack of light causes the stems to turn yellow

Drying of the roots manifests itself in the softness of the stems

Brown spots - the effects of sunburn

If you are a fan of unusual plants and you are not afraid of the extraordinary smell of most types of stocks, then it will not be difficult to replenish your home collection with a new favorite. Just follow the simple rules for keeping the stock and be amazed at its special beauty!