Thanks everyone for all the info. I did just find this with about the two plants: Dorstenias gigas: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/30399/0 "Endemic to Soqotra." "Widespread and locally common in places, especially on inaccessible cliffs and steep slopes on limestone and on the grante pinnacles of the Haggeher. Found at 30-1,100 m." Dendrosicyos socotrana: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/33691/0 "Widespread in dry areas on Soqotra; locally common in Croton socotranus shrubland on the plains and locally abundant in succulent shrubland on limestone; less common on igneous rocks; rare on Samha. Altitude of sea-level to 500 m. Dendrosicyos socotranus is a monotypic, endemic genus, and perhaps the best example of the swollen-trunked bottle-trees for which Soqotra is famous. On Soqotra it is widely distributed in several vegetation types but has a rather fragmented distribution; over large areas there are only isolated trees or small, relict populations, whilst in other ares it is relatively abundant. There are a few trees on the island of Samha, but none on Darsa or Abd al-Kuri. " Here is a link that might be useful: map of Socotra

Adam, I would expect you to get something. Don't hold your breath for the D. gigas to flower. I've had three of them for a few years and have not seen mine flower, while all my other Dorstenia flower all year long. The problem I see is that they are selfing so when you take the pollen from one to cross it to the other, you've already pollinated the donor. The other thought is that it might not work, if the receptors on the stigma are a different shape from that of the pollen. I think this is a question for Michael (OOA). I'm patiently waiting for my D. lavrani to flower so I will know if I have one of each sex. I think it's going to be a long time coming!!!! This post was edited by bikerdoc5968 on Sat, Jan 10, 15 at 14:07

Dave T. U.K. London I have been growing a Dorstenia Gigas for 10 to 12 years. In the end I decided they must be kept warm and it resides in the South facing, double glazed, always heated dining room. Loves the warm and moist compost. Mind you, in the winter, I backed a lot of the watering off. when leaf drop occured, it seemed to coincide with a period of lower temperatures outside. It never mattered however as I would back off the watering until the leaf drop finished and until I saw it was producing new leaf buds. Then I would start watering normally again. It would recover from the leaf drop and be as leafy as you would want it. It is now 4ft high and has a caudex about 6 inches or more diameter. It is very large. I now have a much more serious problem as branches are dying back and dropping off. I think it was because I had to put it in a very large pot, 15 inches in diameter and consequently new compost. I think there was something wrong with the compost. PH is o.k. but there is something wrong with it. (Growth hormones) I am going to repot it again with fresh compost and a lot of grit. I do not want to loose it. . Basically, it is a house plant with a few additional requirements. Warmth and not extremely low temperatures i.e. not below 15C. Good quality compost and good drainage. Water only when it seems to be growing or just a little when leaf drop occurs P.S. I have been growing Succulents for around 40 years so I know about drainage. Dave Traish, member of The British Cactus and Succulent Society.

I am interested in answers too, as I have recently started growing a couple D. foetida. Click on this LINK for some good info I found helpful. What I get out of it is heat but not full sun, frequent watering during the growing season but not sitting in wet soil, leaf drop during the growing season may be a sign of rotting roots, and leaf drop in cooler months is a sign the plant is going dormant and should be watered less. My poor plants are getting mixed signals in their first winter with me, I guess. They want to go dormant but I am watering them when the soil is about dry. I use a gritty mix, so they may survive my errors. The thread you started got me looking for info, so thanks! ez