Carrion flower care guide

The carrion flower is a succulent with soft, four-sided, velvety stems that grow in a clump. It looks like a cactus with no spines. Once it is a few years old, it may bloom with one of the largest flowers you can grow indoors. Each flower is a pale yellow star, striped with red and covered in fine hairs. It can reach 25 cm (10 in) across or more. It smells like rotting meat. That smell draws in flies, which pollinate it.

Light

Give it bright light with a few hours of direct sun. A south or west window is best.

In strong sun, the stems may turn red or purple. That is a stress color and is fine if the stems stay plump. In low light, the stems grow thin and pale and it will not bloom.

Water

Water when the soil is fully dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. From spring to fall, that is about every two weeks.

In winter, water once a month or less. Too much water rots the stems from the base. Rot is the most common way to lose this plant. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a gritty cactus mix. A wide, shallow clay pot suits its spreading clump.

Repot every two to three years in spring. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it warm in summer, between 18 and 29°C (65 and 85°F).

In winter, a cool room between 10 and 15°C (50 and 60°F) gives it a rest. The rest helps it bloom. Keep it above 7°C (45°F).

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Flowers

Buds look like small, puffy balloons near the base of the stems. They grow for weeks, then open in late summer or fall. Each flower lasts a few days.

If the smell is too much, move it outside or to a porch while it blooms. Flies may lay eggs on the flower. Cut off the flower once it fades.

Pruning

Cut out soft, dead, or shriveled stems at the base. Use a clean knife.

Propagation

Cut a stem at a joint. Let it dry for two to three days until the cut end calluses. Set it in dry cactus mix. Wait a week, then give it a small drink. Roots form in two to four weeks.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Soft, black stem base	Rot from too much water
Wrinkled, thin stems	Thirst, or roots lost to rot
Red or purple stems	Strong sun or cold. Fine if plump.
No flowers	Too young, not enough light, or no winter rest
White, cottony spots on stems	Mealybugs
Slow decline, white fluff on roots	Root mealybugs

Pests

Mealybugs are the most common pest. They hide in the grooves of the stems. Dab them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Root mealybugs live in the soil. If the plant declines for no clear reason, tip it out of its pot. White, waxy fluff on the roots means root mealybugs. Wash off the old soil, rinse the roots, and repot in fresh mix.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists carrion flower, Stapelia, as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Varieties

• Stapelia gigantea has the biggest flowers, pale yellow with fine red stripes.
• Stapelia grandiflora has smaller, dark purple, hairy flowers.
• Starfish flower, Orbea variegata, has smaller stems and yellow flowers with dark spots. Care is the same.
• Lifesaver plant, Huernia zebrina, has small flowers with a raised red ring in the center. Care is the same.