How To Grow and Care For Stapelia gigantea ‘Zulu Giant’

By
Kimberly Crawford
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Last Updated on December 8, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford

There are many varieties of succulent plants. They all have striking factors that make them the best. Stapelia gigantea has the largest and most beautiful flower in the succulent flower kingdom. The succulent flower can sometimes be referred to as Zulu giant.

The smell is not very appealing, because it has a characteristic of rotting meat. You will love it because of the conspicuous flowers that look amazing in the garden.

Planting stapelia gigantea

When to plant

The best season to plant the beautiful Zulu giant is during the fall. It is at this season that the conditions are likely to get as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It can grow indoors and therefore you should bring it indoors when temperatures get too low.

Where to plant

The plant is not cold hardy, and it will be to plant in conditions that will favor its growth. Stapelia gigantea will do well in a full to partial sun. An area that will get at least 6 hours of sunlight is the best location for your succulent plant.

A southern-facing window will be excellent if you will opt to grow it as an indoor plant.

How to plant

There is nothing easier than planting stapelia gigantea. You only need to get individual containers where you will place a well-draining potting mix. The potting mix will need to dry between watering.

Ensure that the container is located in a nice place that will give it a happy growth. Warm temperatures and potting mix are the best provisions that you should take care of when planting the stem cuttings on the containers.

Care for stapelia gigantea

Like any other plant, stapelia gigantea will need specific requirements for it to grow well. Among the lead factors necessary are the temperature, water, type of soil, and humid factors. Here is a brief check on each condition.

Soil and fertilizer

Succulents are arid plants and will do well when they are planted in an environment that provides such conditions. Well-draining soils such as the sandy soils are the best for that fact.

Fertilizer is not very necessary as is the case with any succulent, but you will be doing well if you add half-strength soluble fertilizer during the feeding seasons. Don’t add fertilizer during winters, because they are the dormant seasons.

Sunlight and water

The best watering method that will see better growth of the plant is the soak-and-dry method. It means that the plant will need to dry up first before you start watering again.

Full to partial sunlight is the best that is why you will need to place it in a southern-facing window if you opt to grow it indoors. The plant can tolerate full light but may not survive in low light conditions.

Temperature and humidity

Warm temperature is preferably the best and should always be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The fact that it needs a warm condition implies that the humidity should be moderate. This plant will do well in low-humidity conditions.

Repotting

You do not need to repot the plant frequently unless it is necessary. You can report your succulent when the root ball is filled and the roots have begun protruding. Repotting will help you replenish the soil and remove any rotten roots from the root ball.

Ensure that the repotting container has a drainage hole because the plant needs proper drainage.

Pruning and propagation

You can propagate the plant using the stem cuttings. You will use a sterile sharp knife or even a pair of scissors. You will get a healthy stem from the main stem where you will place it in place to allow it to be callous.

You will then place it in a container with well-draining soil, and you will water it when the soil is dry. Pruning is necessary to give that beautiful look and remove the parts that do not align well.

Pest and diseases

The common pests and diseases affecting stapelia gigantea are mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites. You can spray an insecticide once in a while to be sure that the plant is not facing the issue of pests. Root rot may also affect its instances when you overwater it. You can control both pests and diseases if you care about watering and using the insecticide once in a while.

Conclusion

The tips that the stapelia gigantea will need for better growth are reachable. It won’t be quite stressful to grow this cute plant because it only needs similar conditions that won’t be hard for a succulent lover to achieve. If you are fond of succulent plants, then it won’t be a challenge for you to provide these moderate conditions.

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