Re-potting caudex plant advise please.

[wildedges]

Hi again. I found this plant in a garden centre while on holiday and it was just labelled 'succulent'. I think it's Fockea Edulis from my internet research but I'm happy to be corrected. From what I gather the caudex stops growing once exposed to light so I'd like to bury it again and allow it to grow for a few years or however long it takes to get to a nice size. I found a good guide to general care http://www.columbuscactusclub.com/fockea-edulis.html but it doesn't say much about pot size and whether I just bury the caudex in gravel or if it has to be soil. To bury the existing roots and the caudex I'll probably need a long-tom type pot I imagine but I've found some succulents hate these so I'm cautious.

[ralphrmartin]

Yes, I'd agree its Fokea edulis. It's basically a plant with a big root, and will do fine in a long tom; indeed it will grow better in a bigger pot, I suspect - mines never done a great deal in a 4" long tom pot.

[Terry S.]

Most so-called caudiciform succulents are actually geophytes with their tubers completely buried in the ground in the wild. However Fockea edulis and capensis grow with their tubers partially exposed (as does Dioscorea elephantipes from the same areas of South Africa). Therefore in cultivation the tuber can remain partially exposed as in your photo. It is a bit of an iceberg though and there is plenty also below ground such that Ralph's advice about a large pot is quite pertinent. Also note that it only requires to be kept frost-free during winter.

A rather nice thing to find in a garden centre.

[wildedges]

A rather nice thing to find in a garden centre.

Yes I was really pleased with it, although it has turned out to have a few mealy bug hitchhikers. It was a very nice little independant garden centre near Conwy.

Thanks for the advice both. I'll get it potted on this weekend and kept indoors until the frost risk has passed.

[Tina]

You don't need to pot it upright, you can plant it at an angle over time it should grow into a more interesting shape, I have one of mine now totally horizontal and wrapped round the deep pan.

[wildedges]

Good tip, thanks.

I just saw this program on Youtube which has some really interesting caudiciform plants if anyone is interested. Oh to have that kind of growing climate...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLmLCeL15w&t=919s

[wildedges]

I brought this plant in for the winter a couple of weeks ago and I think the change in location has triggered flowering.

[Tina]

That's good flowering at such a small size

[wildedges]

It's been in the greenhouse with the tomatoes this year and I've been giving it the odd splash of comfrey feed when I'm watering the toms, I don't know if that's helped at all.

[ralphrmartin]

Well done! Mine's never flowered, and I've had it for years.