Growing Orbea From Seed.......

16 years ago

Hi. I have a bunch of seed from an Orbea Varigata, that I have not planted, because I have never tried to grow any Stapleia from seed. This Orbea has the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen from a Varigata. It is a big flower,for a varigata, deep yellow with brown/purple spots and a VERY VERY delicate bright purple fringe all around the bloom. If I touch the fringe, it falls off, it is that delicate. I dont know the exact name, I ordered it as Orbea Varigata from a very reliable Stapelia/cactus company,and this is the bloom i got!

I HAD the regular one, the light yellow or beige flower, a bit leathery, with the brown spots, but all of those plants died on me...to much water I think. But this one I have a nice big pot full of it now, it regrew from 2 sad nearly dead cuttings, and then it bloomed and I got a seed pod. I luckily caught it the day it split open and saved the seeds. BUT...I have no idea how to plant them. And does it take a long time to get blooms from whatever comes up? I assume it was fertilized by its own pollen. BUT it was around many other blooming Stapelias at the time, and summer here in south Fla. So lots of bees and bugs flies to pollinate them.

So...how do I plant the seeds and is it worth the trouble?

OR would someone like these seeds, and maybe swap with me a few cuttings of Orbea Cilata...it is a pure white flower with a white fringe...if I didnt spell it right. Mine died after 3 years, and I cant find it anymore. Ok...any help or a swap would be great. Thank you

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Comments (3)

cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
16 years ago
Some adjustment will be necessary, but this was found using 'growing asclepiads' as a search criteria.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Career in Carrion
promethean_spark
16 years ago
Go to a home improvement store and purchase some aquatic potting soil. It should look like orange kitty litter (but is vastly better potting media than kitty litter). Fill a plastic pot with that to within 1" of the top. Spread stapelia seed so they are about 1/2" apart. Sprinkle more aquatic potting soil on top so they are covered by about 3/16". Water thoroughly with warm water. Place a piece of saran wrap over the top and use a rubber band to hold it tight. Place it somewhere where it will stay at about 80'F, but not where it will receive direct sunlight. A CFL bulb right over the pot will be adequate light (and perhaps heat). You can remove the cover once the seedlings start to push against the plastic film.

This same procedure works very well with most cacti and succulents (aloes, agaves...). You may want to spray some fungicide in the pot after germination to prevent damping off, I use ortho rosepride with triforine, mixed as per the label.

Seed should sprout in about a week.
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aveo5
Original Author
16 years ago
Aquatic potting soil? Boy that one I have never seen in my life. I am going to have to hunt for this. I hope Lowes or Home Depot carry it. Is it a very expensive soil or only available in big bags? My luck it will be a 50lb bag,and all I need is a pot full! Thanks for the advise.

I use the Saran wrap and rubber band trick to get my mega hot peppers to sprout,and place them under the lights in one of my AeroGrow gardens. It makes it very warm!