Tylecodon ventricosa DT6603 Graaffreinet

[Acid John]

A right mess of a plant for most of the year, then it is forgiven when it flowers. Nice red tracery on the blooms.

[Herts Mike]

Lovely! Well done!

[ralphrmartin]

Super photos.

Tylecodons have an amazing variety of flowers - dull greens and browns through pinks whites and lime to bright orange, small to large, frilly, urn shaped, bell shaped, ...

Well worth growing just for the flowers, if you look at them closely.

[MatDz]

Cannot agree more! This thread reminded about this T. striatus DT5320A I have that's getting ready to flower. What a little overachiever it is! I might make him a dedicated thread when the flowers finally open.

PS: One day I'll get a proper camera!

[Acid John]

Did I mention the flowers and stem have sticky glandular hairs all over the surface.

The flowers brushed against an Epithelantha.

[MatDz]

Hah, I'll need to check mine! Hope you don't mind me joining your thread?

Still T. striatus DT5320A:

[Apicra]

I've looked at my own specimens of these and again they are behind with our late spring. The Graaff Reinet ventricosus has spikes about 10" high and is only just forming the buds, whereas T. striatus usually follows T. ventricosus in the middle of summer.

I'd be worried if plants got as shrivelled as the first. Mine has turgid stems with leaves now starting to shrivel back from the tips, after I stopped watering one month ago. These plants are from the Fynbos and not desert species, so get considerable water across each winter growing season.

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble

[MatDz]

Thanks Derek! My T. striatus must be rather confused by indoor temperatures over winter, but I am glad you didn't point it out directly!

[Acid John]

The more the merrier Matz.
Derek the plant is now drying out. It seems to be able to survive as a dry stick through summer till I water it in the autumn.