So glad to see it wasn't too sun burned in it's first getting back in the sun...well at least this half was the first to recover...

How old is that plant, Gordon? I find when mine gets bigger pieces of it start falling off...

HAHA....Hetty.".yes I loose parts of it all the time....but it's remarkably strong... I've done something to it before it does start dropping chunks of it...
I don't know how old it is... Maybe 5 or six year s old..always in that 16" clay window box type pot... Everything in there is root... The soil left a few years ago... Well maybe a little soil... But it stays rock hard...even when it is wet... It's a tough life here... But I do supply plenty of food and exotic additives and full sun... And lots of watering... So they put up with the cramped living conditions...being dropped...and sun burned every spring... No matter how slow I ease it out...

Well done Gordon,
Your plant is a Stepelia Gigantea. It seems mine only blooms when hanging down also. Was told they smell, but I never noticed any on mine. It only bloomed two flowers at a time so maybe it wasn't enought. Also no fly ever seemed to bother it. Yours looks like tiny magots in the center. I was told flys do this. They are completely fooled by the flowers. They pose no harm. After giving away parts many times, mine hasn't bloomed in over two years. Maybe this year. Save those broken pieces for gifts.
Stush

Stush... Nope .. no smell on mine either .. not a bit ... yes the little white bits are from flys.. I always have plenty visiting... maybe they can detect a smell... they get a big tigger to lay eggs in mine.. always have.. .. it has little choice but to hang down..it grows up a little then over the edge of the pot... there are a number of plants in my pot... the first cuttings went back along the origional one..
Stush...do you feed yours?

Not too much if any. I am afraid of rot. This is the only time of year they take more water and must be careful to not rot them. Hanging down is their natural growing habitat. Down hillsides or mountain edges. So free draining is a must. This year I went crazy for them. Buying from several nurseries and now owing about 50 or more types of Stapelia, Huernia and Orbia. I even have about 50 seedlings waiting to see what develops. This is maddening. Maybe I should go back to drinking and smoking.

GordonHawk,
Wow, I've never seen a Stapelia so large!

Stush,
Everyone has a "vice." I find plants more healthy than alternatives.

Planto

Wow...fifty types...I'm more than a little impressed ... I wasn't aware of the diversity or number of them... Till I googled... We expect more pictures of flowers from you now... And feed it... Everything loves food..
Planto: well... I guess it got big dispite coming up to the roof...draped over my shoulder as I climbed the ladder...through the hatch... Smaller things come up the circular stAirway with me.. I can't take much credit for anything aside from watering and food... I do give thanks for it though... It is such a joy...
I guess first the flies lay eggs.. The white fluff looking things in the center of the flower... In the real proper place these will turn into your maggots... In the flower I believe they dry up and die with the drying spent flower... The plant/ flower having had the benefit of the flies mucking about in the pollen.. After a little study : The flies lay eggs.. Which turn into maggots... And then they go into a cocoon stage... Which I never realized.. Then into your fly...

Beautiful Gordon. Mine only blooms when hanging too. I also do not get a smell. I have a red one that stinks to high heavens and then flies love it. I am happy it only blooms in the summer outside.

Gordon,
I'd give yourself more credit than that, you're obviously doing something it likes.

Planto

Gordon,
Your right about the fly eggs drying up and dyeing. No food for them only a smell. Plant did it's job of luring a fly in. Most of my plants are too young to bloom. I got some Huernias blooming but not together. I wanted to cross pollinate. I bought some Hoodia to cross pollinate my Huernia with, to increase the size of the flowers. But maybe next year. Some of my recent blooms;









And my seedlings of Stapelia and Huernia;









I am also photo copy of all my astepelias into there own spread sheet with all info.
Turning out to be a bigger job than I had thought.
Stush

Wow... Great bunch of plants there..I tell folks I'm as much of a plant research station as a garden keep up the collection and the best of luck with your x's...
I have a Huernia Zebrina. In four or five pots... As it roots so easy laying on the soil..this one is blooming tonight...others with buds


I also have a relative I guess.. An Edythcolen Grandis. The Persian carpet flower...it hasn't bloomed yet..

Stush, I've never seen a bloom like the one on Stapelia Flavo...most unusual...thanks for sharing!

Bev,
My first and hopefully not my last. First year for many of my Huernias and Stapelias.
Stush

Well Stush, I wish you many years of astonishment and enjoyment with those exotic plants!

Stush where are you getting all the different Huernias and Stapelias? I love that flower does it stink?

Yes...a friend came by and took a cutting....shown here draped around her neck for travel home....that's why I get so few visitors

I hope she got your permission first!

Planto

I was saying I get so few visitors because I try and get them to take a lot of plants back with them... I took that gigantic piece for her.. She liked the away the flies were all over it.. She has a lot of bog plants .. Many of which enjoy a live fly feast.. The pitcher plants.. And fly traps all like the moisture of the bog.. She figured it would travel best draped over her shoulder

I have yet noticed any bad smells from my Stepelias. Not even a fly. I grouped together all the blooming plants together so maybe a fly could pollinate them. Nope. not a one came by. I guess my dogs contributions in the side yard kept them busy. Can't wait till the ones Cinta gave me to bloom, maybe then I will have lots of flys. Will have to keep them on the back of the house.
And where did I get so many. Some were given to me this year. Most came from 'Miles to Go' and 'Bob Smoley's'. Some from EBay, a few other nurseries here and there. They are becoming more and more popular lately.
Stush