Qestions for Stapelia Growers
 

I recently bought several Stapeliads. I live on the border of zone 8 and
zone 9. Should I bring them in for the winter or can I leave them outside
in a sheltered area? I have a very tiny portable greenhouse, more like a
greenshelf really, would this be good to keep them in over the winter?

I jnow these plants have some pretty stinky flowers but just how bad are
they really? Bad enough to draw tremendous swarms of flies and knock you
out at 10 feet or mild as in you have to put your nose right into the flower
to smell it?

Any help or advice on these plants is appreciated

Thanks
Shell
(Houston zone 8 or 9-ish)


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Even though you don't elaborate which species you actually have, you should
consider Stapeliads as being tender succulents that must be brought indoors
for the winter.

The should be overwintered in a greenhouse but they are very much
susceptible to rot if they are kept too wet during their winter resting
season.

Contrary to the popular myth, not all Stapeliads have stinky flowers.

http://www.cactus-mall.com/stapeliad/index.html


"Shell" wrote in message
m...
I recently bought several Stapeliads. I live on the border of zone 8 and
zone 9. Should I bring them in for the winter or can I leave them outside
in a sheltered area? I have a very tiny portable greenhouse, more like a
greenshelf really, would this be good to keep them in over the winter?

I jnow these plants have some pretty stinky flowers but just how bad are
they really? Bad enough to draw tremendous swarms of flies and knock you
out at 10 feet or mild as in you have to put your nose right into the
flower
to smell it?

Any help or advice on these plants is appreciated

Thanks
Shell
(Houston zone 8 or 9-ish)


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.762 / Virus Database: 510 - Release Date: 9/13/2004

" I jnow these plants have some pretty stinky flowers but just how
bad are
they really? Bad enough to draw tremendous swarms of flies and knock you
out at 10 feet or mild as in you have to put your nose right into the flower
to smell it?


It depends on the species and the size of the plant. I used to
frequent a large greenhouse which had a huge specimen of -Stapelia
grandiflora- in a hanging basket.

When it was in full bloom, the flowers filled the place with the
stench of ripe roadkill. It was awesome.


J. Del Col

I have since found that out. Every fly for 10 miles is in my yard, and just
one flower has opened out of 8 buds. the opened flower seems to have been
pollinated so I'm going to let it develope and see what happens. Meanwhile
I am seriously thinking of pruning the rest of the buds.

Shell


"J. Del Col" wrote in message
m...
(J. Del Col) wrote in message
om...
" I jnow these plants have some pretty stinky flowers but just how
bad are
they really? Bad enough to draw tremendous swarms of flies and knock
you
out at 10 feet or mild as in you have to put your nose right into the
flower
to smell it?


It depends on the species and the size of the plant. I used to
frequent a large greenhouse which had a huge specimen of -Stapelia
grandiflora- in a hanging basket.

When it was in full bloom, the flowers filled the place with the
stench of ripe roadkill. It was awesome.

After further reflection and a look at some references, I realized
that the plant in the greenhouse was actually -Stapelia gigantea-, a
real stinker.

J. Del Col


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