Stapelia

Small succulents, which at first sight might resemble cactaceae due to their cylindrical stems slightly thorny along the ribs, which offer a wonderful mix of colors: from bright green to red-purple or greyish. This iridescent and exotic aspect of the plant is not its only peculiarity: its inflorescences are even more appreciated. When they bloom, in fact, they are clearly distinguished from cacti: marvelous star-shaped flowers pop out from among the twigs, sometimes up to 30 centimeters large. Despite their unpleasant smell, which they use to attract insects for pollination, the chromatic uniqueness of the stems and the extraordinary beauty of the flowers contribute, overall, to make this succulent of an inestimable aesthetic value! Here are some easy tips for its cultivation: It requires a lot of light throughout the year, however, avoid direct sun rays especially during the hottest hours of the day, as long as they might burn the leaves. Keep it at mild temperatures, never below 12 °C. It’s recommended to shelter it (in a dry place) in winter. Water regularly in summer, but only when the soil is dry. In cold periods reduce watering (once every 1-2 months). It is better to use a specific substrate for succulents, to which you can add fine sand for better drainaige. They do not need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.