I was recently given a rather large Stapelia gigantea cutting. My questions are-
How do I root it?
What medium should I use?
Should I use rooting hormone?
I orginaly just set it in a pot of cactus mix but now I see a small amount of black appearing at the base. Should I cut this off?
Stapelia gigantea cutting .. help?
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Buck Hemenway
- Posts: 2798
- Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:39 pm
- Location: Riverside, Ca USA
- Contact:
Wildfyre,
We treat stapelias and huernias just like cacti, only they don't need as much time to harden off. I've had good luck with rooting hormone with succulents in general, but I'm of the belief that the fungus inhibitors are the most important feature for rooting succulents.
They are notorious for rotting during their dormant period, which you are in in Seattle. Watch the black spot and only cut if it continues to spread. If you cut, take ALL of the discolored flesh and liberally sprinkle all of the cut area with the rooting hormone. Cactus mix is OK, but you probably should be using at least 75% pumice/ perlite mixed with the cactus mix.
No water at all until you are sure it is growing and then sparingly until mid summer.
It takes full sun here in Southern California.
Buck
We treat stapelias and huernias just like cacti, only they don't need as much time to harden off. I've had good luck with rooting hormone with succulents in general, but I'm of the belief that the fungus inhibitors are the most important feature for rooting succulents.
They are notorious for rotting during their dormant period, which you are in in Seattle. Watch the black spot and only cut if it continues to spread. If you cut, take ALL of the discolored flesh and liberally sprinkle all of the cut area with the rooting hormone. Cactus mix is OK, but you probably should be using at least 75% pumice/ perlite mixed with the cactus mix.
No water at all until you are sure it is growing and then sparingly until mid summer.
It takes full sun here in Southern California.
Buck
Buck Hemenway
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nachtkrabb
- Posts: 1551
- Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 7:07 pm
- Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Hi,
good to hear that everything went right. I have some Stapelias and I cut them down each spring before they start to flower.
To grow the cutlings, I don't do any effort at all: simply 2/3 normal potting earth, 1/3 gross sand (or half/half). No special helpers or hormones necessary, Stapelias luckily are weeds
.
good to hear that everything went right. I have some Stapelias and I cut them down each spring before they start to flower.
To grow the cutlings, I don't do any effort at all: simply 2/3 normal potting earth, 1/3 gross sand (or half/half). No special helpers or hormones necessary, Stapelias luckily are weeds
.