root rot on Stapelia
Quick answer
If your Stapelia has root rot, the most likely cause is: 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.
Start here:
- 1. 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.
- 2. Keep the plant above 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) in winter in a dry atmosphere, allow the compost to dry out between waterings in summer, and only repot into a fresh, very gritty mix after the cuts have callused.
Why Stapelia gets root rot
Stapelia
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.
How to reverse root rot on Stapelia
- 1
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.
- 2
Keep the plant above 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) in winter in a dry atmosphere, allow the compost to dry out between waterings in summer, and only repot into a fresh, very gritty mix after the cuts have callused.
Keep root rot off this Stapelia
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.