Viewing comments posted by Reine

Euphorbia ecklonii is a winter grower. It loses its leaves in summer, but will put out new leaves late fall. Prone to rot. Water every 2 weeks during summer dormancy.

Euphorbia decaryi var. spirosticha is endemic to SW Madgascar. It has spiraling stems and is slower growing than Euphorbia decaryi var. cap-saintemariensis.

Euphorbia cuneata grows into a tree or large shrub in its natural habitat (Arabian Peninsula / Sudan (Red Sea Hills) / Uganda / Kenya / Tanzania). In cultivation, the plant is usually kept trimmed, often under 12 inches. It forms a caudex, more or less above soil level, though the caudex is usually raised as it grows.

Corallocarpus wildii is an African caudiciform.

The caudex is perennial and produces an annual vine.

Likes lots of water in summer. Fast-draining soil is a must. Like most succulent cucurbits, this one appreciates regular feedings.

If planted in the ground or large tubs during the growing season, the caudex tends to grow faster. Pot up for winter and protect from frost. Replant the following spring.

Corallocarpus boehmii is from Africa. It produces an above-ground caudex. The caudex is perennial, growing a new vine every year.
Grow C. boehmii separately from other species of the Cucurbitaceae family to keep it from cross breeding. Flowers are not showy, but the fruit is, being a bright red when ripe.
This plant likes lots of water in the summer. A fast-draining soil is a must. Protect the plant from frost, and water it very little while it is dormant in the winter.

Ipomoea obscura 'Ethiopia' differs from Ipomoea obscura 'Keniyaki' by the color of their throats. While 'Ethiopia' has a dark throat, 'Keniaki' has a white throat.

Seeds sown indoors in March produced one flower in July, but late August and into September it has bloomed profusely. Several plants on a trellis will make a beautiful afternoon display.
They like heat to bloom and do best in the sun.
Flowers will stay open until dusk and reopen around noon the next day.

Ipomoea obscura 'Keniaki' differs from Ipomoea obscura in the flower colors.
'Keniaki' blooms are a bright orange-yellow with white throats, while I. obscura has pale yellow to whitish blooms.

I found Ipomoea albivenia easy to germinate. They are fast growing plants. Seeds I planted May 23rd, 2014, were blooming in July 2015.
The flowers are sweetly scented with a touch of spiciness. Just lovely.
Because I use a fast-draining soil, they have needed watering almost daily in my hot Texas summer.

I suggest at least a half dozen plants on a large trellis/arbor for more blooms at one time.

Protect from frost.

Tinospora caffra belongs to the Menispermaceae family and is native to Africa. This plant is widespread and grows in such places as Angola, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and a few other areas in Africa.

Information has been hard to find for T. caffra.

I grow it in a fast-draining soil mix. Mostly full sun with plenty of water in its growing season, which is mid spring until fall for me. I do not let it freeze. It goes dormant over winter and I do not water during this time. I return T. caffra outdoors when there is no more chance of frost and when overnight temperatures are 45°F and higher. New growth begins in mid to late spring.

The caudex is green and unusually shaped with several growth tips where vines emerge, and the leaves are large.

Momordica rostrata is in the Cucurbitaceae family. Found in Kenya, Africa.

This plant is one of many caudex-producing cucurbits belonging to the cucumber, pumpkin, squash, and gourds family. It is easy to grow.

I grow M. rostrata in a fast-draining soil mix. I protect it from cold, wet soil and frost. The vines lose their leaves and the caudex goes dormant in the winter. At this time I keep it dry, or give it very, very little water (maybe a little water, 1 or 2 times), until new growth appears in early spring. As soon as night temperatures stay 40°F or above, I put it back outside. I trim off the old vines, but some growers do not.

Vines do best with a trellis or something to climb on. Mine blooms in bright yellow flowers. Both male and female flowers are needed to produce fruit, which turns a bright orange-red.

Easy from seed if soil is above 85°F. I start them indoors on heat mats.

Talinella pachypoda is a member of the Portulacaceae family. Found in Northern Madagascar. It is not a succulent. l chose this species for its base, trunk growth.

Though l have had this plant for more than ten years, l still do not know much about it, and I haven't found much information on it. It has been growing in the fast-draining soil mix l use for most of my succulent plants, and in mostly full sun. Overall, it is being ignored.

This year I am giving the plant more water and less full afternoon sun, and I will be more diligent on regular feeding. l hope I will see more growth and blooms in the future, which it hasn't produced yet.

I will post new photos at a later date.

Ipomoea tuberculata is one of the first caudex-forming Morning Glories I am growing. Although still seedlings, the very small tubers looked promising during transplanting.
I plan on planting them in a raised bed with trellises for maximum growth next spring, then pot them up for winter dormancy indoors.
There is very little information I could find on this species.
I am eager to see the plants a year from now, and I hope to add more information regarding growth and cultivation.

Fockea comaru belongs to the family Asclepiadoideae. (Though the Asclepiadaceae is a former plant family now treated as a subfamily in the Apocynaceae).
This plant needs a fast draining soil. Water when actively growing. It can grow all year, but water only enough to keep the caudex from shriveling during the winter. I bring mine in every winter and let it go dormant, watering only 3 or 4 times until new growth in the spring.
Fockea comaru is a slow growing plant but with time the caudex can grow 20 or more inches.

Raphionacme flanaganii has a caudex that can be raised above the soil for interesting effect. The large plant is in a 12" shallow pot. It has dropped all of its leaves and is going dormant for the winter. It gets VERY little water during this time.
The large Raphionacme flanaganii was repotted in the spring and more caudex was lifted above the soil. I was surprised to find three additional entire plants at that time. All four plants were potted up separately. The largest of these "offsets" is the plant with leaves.
The leaves are about four inches long and soft. The vine branches and is thickest close to the caudex. The caudex can sunburn easily.

Euphorbia labatii is a caudex-growing plant found in one place: Tsingy, a national park on the west coast of Madagascar. The plant was considered rare when first discovered, though it can be found for sale now. There is currently very little information available. I hope to see more about this beautiful plant in the near future.
I treat Euphorbia labatii as I do my other caudex-forming Euphorbias, growing them in a fast-draining and light soil mix. Crushed pumice (approximately 3/8") and perlite make up at least 50% of my soil mix, sometimes up to 60%. With a fast-draining soil, I can water often during the growing season.
Everyone has different conditions for growing plants. This is how I grow them, using clay pots, almost all unglazed. My plants are outside until temperatures drop into the 40's. The house temperature usually stays in the low 70's to mid 60's. For the 5 months they are in the house, I might water 4 times. After the last frost I start moving plants out again.

This Euphorbia caudiciform comes from the Republic of South Africa.
This plant grows well in a light, fast draining soil. I use crushed pumice (approximately 3/8 ") and perlite to lighten up my potting soil.

Euphorbia francoisii is a caudex growing plant from Madagascar. This small plant grows best in a light, fast draining soil mix. Propagation has been easy using stem cuttings and seeds.
Though it flowers spring through fall for me, nature does not always pollinate the flowers (Cynthia) for me. I haven't tried pollinating them myself.
The flowers vary in color. I have seen pale green, pale yellow and a mix of green-yellow. The leaf color can also vary between plants. Some plants have a silvery touch to the green leaves, while others have a white or cream touch. Grown in direct sun, the leaves will turn reddish to burgundy.
This is an easy to grow succulent. Do not let it freeze. Do not let the soil stay wet. I water often during the growing season, spring through fall, and water sparingly, maybe once a month, in the winter. Sometimes I just mist them.