Stapelia gigantea continuously aborts flowers - HELP!! :'(
Hello all,
My S. gigantea keeps aborting its flowers:
It forms these flowering bud structures, but they never develop much larger than what's shown in my photo.
Anyone have clues to what may be causing this? I recently repotted it and I water it pretty frequently. It is in a West window and seems to be OK. I've had it for about 6 months.
Thanks!!!
Ben
Comments (15)
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
jojosplants2020
3 years agoRelated Discussions
WANTED: Grandiflora Stapelia 4 Ft.Laud. Victim
Comments (1)hi pooh bear, this is nicole i think i have either traded with you before or sold to you on ebay. i got on garden web today to do some reseach and saw your post. i dont think i have s. grandiflora but, i would love to send you a package of goodies. i know how much i love my stapeliads and can't imagine if i lost them. i have about 20 varieties so if you would like my offer just email me with your address and a list of what you already have. if you can send postage, send it to my email address through paypal, if not it's ok i understand your situation. best of luck and happy new year, nicole...See MoreGreat Stapelia flower
Comments (9)Mark: Do they ever! All of the white "stuff" in the center of the flower is a massive pile of maggots! This flower was just packed with the little nasties. I didn't want to mention it when I first posted, but now that you've broached the subject I'll gladly elaborate... I took some better shots of the maggots, so I'll post one when I get home from work today. Pretty much like you said, the maggots are just a side effect of the Stapelias unique pollination strategy. Instead of luring bees with nectar, these flowers lure flies with the promise of rotting flesh. The illusion is so complete that the flies really think they have found a wonderful morsel of carrion on which to lay their eggs. In the process, the flies pick up some pollen, which would subsequently be transferred to another flower as the fly continued looking for places to lay eggs. Unfortunately for the maggots, the flower doesn't provide any food, so they all starve to death! So the maggots themselves provide no benefit to the flower, and the flower provides no benefit to the flies. Pretty messed up!...See MoreBeauty of Fall: Stapelia gigantea bloom
Comments (19)GreenMikey, How big is that bloom tip to tip? Its been a great summer for Stapelia here. Mine has been blooming like crazy. All three of mine have bloomed at least once, and the one in the hanging basket is on at least its 4th set of blooms. My first bloom was about 13" tip to tip , but it seems like all the subsequent blooms are a little smaller, at about 8"to 11". Is that typical? This is my first year with them blooming so I don't know. Here is a link that might be useful: Stepalia Blooms over the last month or two...See MoreStinky Stapelia Adventure (Short Story)
Comments (8)Neil - Thanks! I hope I can manage! Erica - This was my first true test with the chopsticks and by far it's the best method yet. Well worth the $1 from China. =) Nicholas - Agreed, they look so much better separate in new pots. The back area was jam packed with succulents, you could barely move. I left my number and they are going to try and find an Adromischus for me. Hoping they have at least one stashed away back there....See MoreBen Merritt
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI water maybe once a week or less sometimes. In Fall it dried out frequently (but never seemed to lose turgor pressure). To be honest, lately I give it more water because I thought the dryness was causing the aborting!
I live in FL so it's not too cold but yes there is in general less sun on the West window!
I have a balcony that faces South (although blocked by some tall oaks). I'll take both of your suggestions and move it to the balcony where there is more sun and it is hotter.
Thank you so much.
Ben
jojosplants2020
3 years agoKara 9b SF Bay Area CA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPost it when it blooms Jojo. I ❤️ stinky flowers too!
jojosplants2020
3 years agoBen Merritt
3 years agoKara 9b SF Bay Area CA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThanks it’s an Orbea melanantha. That day flies were all over those flowers. I have a couple short videos of flies buzzing all over it, but I could only get a pic with one. The smell on this flower has definitely a strong carrion smell, but I can smell a slight spice undertone like cinnamon.
If you click on this pic and look closely a fly laid a few eggs on my little Duvalia corderoyi. This flower smells straight up like rotten meat🤮
chuy415
3 years agoKara 9b SF Bay Area CA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThanks Chuy! I was pretty excited when I found those little eggs. That plant is really small the pot it’s in is about 3” wide at the top.
I wish nurseries would carry more Stapaliad type succulents, but unfortunately they don’t. I think it must be the stinky flowers that turn people off, but for some reason I find it so interesting. Besides the smell the way these flowers look are really cool.
I finally got some growth on my Huernia zebrina var. magniflora this year. I’ve been waiting for yrs. It looks similar to the regular H. zebrina, but on magniflora the flower is HUGE in comparison zebrina. If I remember correctly the flower on this guy was 2.5” across.
Just checked Llifle and magniflora flowers can get up to almost 3.5” across! I believe it! I guess that’s where the name magniflora comes in🙂.chuy415
3 years agoKara 9b SF Bay Area CA
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoVery pretty!!! That flower is huge🙂. I’m happy you finally got to see some flowers😁.
In my experience my Stapeliad type plants bloom the last days of summer. I never get stinky flowers in the Spring, it’s always around this time of year. I’ve had some bloom all the way thru November.
Right now I only have two stinky flower plants blooming, but I see buds on others.
I almost lost my Stapelia scitula last Fall. I had a nice terra cotta pot full, but it almost all rotted away from me watering it carelessly overhead. So I’m very happy I was able to save a little piece.
It’s a common Stapelia, but I really like the way it looks and flowers are pretty stinky.Ben Merritt
2 years ago
Ben MerrittOriginal Author