I have had many of these over the years but most eventually succumbed to either rot, mealy bug or just dried up. I find they like to be somewhat mistreated. Little water or nutrients and unlike many Asclepiads, a very hot place in full sun.
They don't like pots and tend to sprawl over their confines and seek out other places to root. I therefor placed two of these plants diagonally opposite each other into a cat litter tray and let them scrabble to their hearts content.
These are six years old from seed. For some reason only one has decided to flower, but that's good enough for me!
Joined Havering branch 2006, although have been growing on and off since the age of ten!
Have a large balanced collection of both cacti and succulents but enjoy growing cristate, monstrose and generally anything a bit weird!
Excellent! Well done! I managed to flower one last year, after keeping it in a propagator, but it lost its roots over winter, and I haven’t been able to root it again. I have a couple of seedlings from this year, and hope to get them through winter with any luck.
Nice amount of variation in the patterning in the diffferent parts of the flower in your plant. Definitely deserves the name Somalian rug flower (not Persian and not big enough to be a carpet, harrumph).
I too want to know the temperatures. I read one grower who said they only got flowers when they kept it in the high 30s °C. I have my seedlings at minimum 25°C at the moment. They might get in the high 30s if we have a good heatwave next year.
Diane and Pattock... I keep mine at a minimum of 20 but they have gone much lower without any problems. I think it is the humidity that usually plays havoc with them.
It seems stressing them by placing them on a high shelf not far from the glass at the correct time of year helped to persuade it to flower, as I have tried this method with other Asclepiads.
Joined Havering branch 2006, although have been growing on and off since the age of ten!
Have a large balanced collection of both cacti and succulents but enjoy growing cristate, monstrose and generally anything a bit weird!
, just need to keep it going for the National next year.