stapelia

Cause: Stapelia (Spring/Fall type) is a genus of African succulents famous for its large, star-shaped flowers that imitate the appearance and smell of rotting meat to attract fly pollinators. The hairy, maroon to yellow flowers can reach 6-14 inches across depending on species. Unlike the foul smell suggests, the plants themselves are healthy — it's an evolved pollination strategy. Stapelia are closely related to Huernia and share similar care requirements. The ridged, four-angled stems are gray-green and can reach 8 inches tall.

Solution: Water every 10-14 days during growing season, much less in winter

Prevention: Water sparingly; provide bright light; protect from frost; use extremely gritty soil.

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Cause: Root mealybugs colonize the rootball of Stapelia pulvinata and other stapeliads, surfacing as little new top growth and a scatter of white woolly patches on the roots themselves when the plant is unpotted; the bugs feed unseen beneath the soil while the above-ground stems stagnate, and they spread easily to neighbouring succulents sharing the same pot or watering routine.

Solution: Unpot the Stapelia, shake or wash all of the old soil off the roots, and swirl the bare roots in a contact insecticide to kill the root mealybugs hiding in the rootball.

Prevention: Use a fresh, sterile gritty compost at every annual repot, scrub the pot before reuse, and quarantine any new stapeliad for at least a few weeks before placing it next to healthy plants.

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Cause: Stapelia and its close relative Orbea variegata (formerly Stapelia variegata) rot at the base when the stems stay too wet in summer or the winter is too cold and humid; the succulent stems turn black and soft, the roots rot, and a clump that should fill a 15 cm half-pot can collapse within days once the base goes.

Solution: Unpot the plant immediately, shake off the wet compost, and use a clean knife to pare away every soft, blackened part of the stem until only firm green tissue remains, then dust the cut surfaces with a fungicide.

Prevention: Use an extremely well-drained, gritty loam-based or soil-less compost with at least 30 percent coarse grit, water only when the compost has fully dried, water sparingly during the winter rest, and never let the pot sit in a cold, humid greenhouse corner overnight.

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Cause: Stapelia pulvinata is adapted to bright sun but its hairy, velvety stems scorch when they are moved into stronger sunlight too quickly, especially during a hot, stuffy spell; the damage shows as brown scorch marks on the stem surface, often combined with shrivelling, and the marks are permanent on that segment.

Solution: Move the scorched Stapelia out of bright midday sunlight into a position with light shade, and give it plenty of fresh air during hot weather.

Prevention: Harden off Stapelia pulvinata into brighter light over a two-week step-up, keep it in a sunny but airy spot in summer, and avoid placing it behind glass where heat can build up suddenly on still, hot days.

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