Hello all!

I've been growing succulents for almost 2 years now, and i feel as though i'm really starting to get the hang of it. So, to really test my abilities, I bought myself a Persian Carpet Flower.

I know they don't tolerate temperatures below 40F, or even 50F, so I have mine on a heat mat (one made for reptiles--no thermostat, i've heard they regulate based on room temp to stay around 80). Mine was shipped from Florida to southeastern Pennsylvania...in mid january...over a weekend. I immediately repotted into a gritty mix (3-2-1-1 perlite, fir bark, granite chips, and c&s soil respectively) and placed it, on the mat, under a grow light.

My question now is, how often should I water it in these conditions? It's stems are a little limp but I hear they're prone to rot, yet prefer lots of water when it's warm. Do they require a dormant period or can I keep the same conditions year round?

Sorry for the book, but this was my ultimate goal-find and I really don't want to kill it! Any and all pointers are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Great looking little plant!

I can't offer advice because I'd never even heard of Persian Carpet Flower (Ceropegia sordida) before reading your post. WOW, love the looks of the bloom! I bet some of the members on the cacti/succulent forum would be able to offer tips: https://garden.org/forums/view...

I've had an Edithcolea grandis for about 1 1/2 years now. I must be doing something right because I haven't killed it yet. It gets a little more light than my other Stapeliads but not direct sun. It sits amongst other succulents (split stones, Astrophytum and Euphorbia). The temps range from about 55 in winter to well over 100 in summer. In winter, I don't water too often, and in summer, once every 1 - 2 weeks. It hasn't bloomed yet but I got it as a small rooted cutting so I am being patient.

Daisy, nice looking plant! Is the darker coloration due to brighter light? I find the bloom on that plant really gorgeous but I read that the flowers are stinky.

plantladylin, these flowers and similar (stapelia, orbea, etc) are carrion flowers. Flies are their pollinators, so they smell like rotting meat and compost to attract specific insects. Gross, but very interesting.

I had an orbea hybrid outside last summer and it bloomed vigorously, and let me tell you--every time I looked at it the flowers were covered in flies!

Lin, It came red-colored but has gotten darker. I didn't realize some were green until Alyssa posted a photo of hers. I got mine from Arid Lands Nursery.

Alyssa, yep ... I almost got a Starfish Plant (Ceropegia gigantea) but changed my mind due to the fact that I wasn't sure I wanted a stinky plant. I guess I could always put it way out back on the deck where the "aroma" wouldn't waft up near the house.

Daisy, I've heard that some plants get the redder coloration with higher light intensities while others may get redder coloration in cooler temperatures. Nature is so amazing!

Some smell worse than others. The small flowered varieties that I have don't seem to smell - at least I haven't noticed.

I kept my S. Gigantea in a bay window in my living room while blooming and it wasn't smelly unless I got close to it, even then I practically had to stick my nose in it. Gorgeous, yet strange blooms they are.

I have two of those. They need special treatment.

They are extremely rot-prone. My first one started to rot so I had to cut it. Took forever for it to take root and it started shriveling up like beef jerky. It's doing pretty well now.

The dark color is due to sun. If you want, you can put it indoors for a few days and it'll get some of its original green back. Mine have turned a dark green and for a while were slightly dark purple. See attached photos.

These get soft easily if dehydrated. Give it water once a week if it's warm.

They HATE cold weather. Keep them warm in a humid environment and watch out for rot.