Stapeliad thread 2020

[Herts Mike]

Sowed seeds Saturday lunchtime, checked this morning and Orbea and Tavaresia already up.

[ralphrmartin]

That's quick!

[jenniemay]

Sowed seeds Saturday lunchtime, checked this morning and Orbea and Tavaresia already up.

How exciting. I love Stapelias. Are they easy from seed?

[Herts Mike]

By and large I don't find them any more difficult to other succulents and they get the same treatment.

[jenniemay]

By and large I don't find them any more difficult to other succulents and they get the same treatment.

Thanks for the info Mike. I might give them a go. I have four plants, but would like more as they are so beautiful... Despite the aroma of the flowers.

[Terry S.]

To misquote the words of Hannah Glasse "first catch your seeds". Asclepiad seeds are in very short supply because it requires something like a binocular microscope and lots of knowledge to hand pollinate the flowers. Seeds are released on parachutes when the pairs of seed horns split on ripening, but I have found in the past that horns that are not, but almost, ripe can be removed from plants and left to dry and split. If fresh they germinate very quickly as described above and in my experience they grow much more quickly than most cactus seedlings. Shelf life is not great.

[Herts Mike]

Indeed, as Terry says, getting hold of seeds is the tricky bit. Nurseries have very few if any.

[ralphrmartin]

My first seeds are coming up now too - Orbea descainseana.

[jenniemay]

Indeed, as Terry says, getting hold of seeds is the tricky bit. Nurseries have very few if any.

Hmmm. Might have to wait a while and buy cuttings instead.

[ralphrmartin]

Stapelia getleffei up now too.