tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post2065279221943882072..comments2024-03-28T06:48:42.379-05:00Comments on MrBrownThumb: Orbea variegata-Starfish Cactus, Toad CactusMrBrownThumbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-72223537297822385742011-10-12T07:45:22.478-05:002011-10-12T07:45:22.478-05:00I recently inherited a starfish cactus and soon af...I recently inherited a starfish cactus and soon after repotting it began to grow like crazy and produce buds. It looked really GREAT and was very excited as the first bloom opened yesterday morning! By the afternoon however the stems closest to the bloom were beginning to droop and suddenly look terribly unhealthy! They have become very soft and rubbery and there appears to be a whitish fungus. HELP! I dont know whats happened or how to treat the problem...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-7736340953552680952009-08-16T01:17:36.839-05:002009-08-16T01:17:36.839-05:00Sorry for replying so late to the last two comment...Sorry for replying so late to the last two comments.<br /><br />@Pelargonium thanks for the response and I'm glad you like the posts here. Interesting to read about how you're growing them and the success you're having with them.<br /><br />@Jan<br /><br />I had a similar experience with another plant recently. LOL, it isn't a pleasant experience to wake up to the smell of "death" and wonder where it came from, is it? Good luck with your plant.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-73084049581802091102009-07-19T12:56:28.091-05:002009-07-19T12:56:28.091-05:00Thank you for the interesting and informative arti...Thank you for the interesting and informative article. I've been trying to find out the identity of this mystery plant ever since it started flowering and I began to smell death in my kitchen! A little plant labelled 'cactus' and bought for 50p has stimulated much conversation. And what a flower!Jan, UKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-6829456370933302922008-04-29T15:33:00.000-05:002008-04-29T15:33:00.000-05:00Another interesting point, they lose their scent i...Another interesting point, they lose their scent if they open at night because flies are diurnal, it is interesting that they can 'block' their glands in such a way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-80567496768020618052008-04-29T15:31:00.000-05:002008-04-29T15:31:00.000-05:00This is prob one of the only blogs I read, plant i...This is prob one of the only blogs I read, plant info is so immense, every bit helps, thanks!! I live at the foot of the mountain where Orbea was once endemic (altho now I'm sure it is all over the world!). I have had the plant growing on my balcony in the same place for three years, full harsh African sun, unbearable winds and out in the rain all winter. In such conditions the plant grows very stout, sending up new leaves instead of height. They remain their variegated colour, the purple, as a sunscreen but do very well, the new growth more variegated. Now (April end) is when they bloom, they send up many flowers and I hav even had a four-petalled flower bloom. This plant has spread three times its original size in the short amount of time. The lengthening of Orbea is basically them looking for more light, they grow in full sun on Table Mountain, some days temp reaching 40 deg Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). They will only bloom on new leaves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-54503157605062442562007-09-03T23:06:00.000-05:002007-09-03T23:06:00.000-05:00Hello Kate, Captain, Moe, CG and Jean. Glad you al...Hello Kate, Captain, Moe, CG and Jean. <BR/><BR/>Glad you all liked the bloom too...thanks for stopping by and commenting.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-23797811694678286962007-09-03T07:24:00.000-05:002007-09-03T07:24:00.000-05:00What an interesting plant. The flower is really b...What an interesting plant. The flower is really beautiful! Thanks for telling us all about it.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06582928041599976211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-34483468091994132092007-09-03T02:51:00.000-05:002007-09-03T02:51:00.000-05:00Very unusual plant and thanks for the growing tips...Very unusual plant and thanks for the growing tips!CGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13773161375865716360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-20132471239017143082007-09-02T14:41:00.000-05:002007-09-02T14:41:00.000-05:00Wow! Those are fantastic flowers!Wow! Those are fantastic flowers!Moehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10812721018943129727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-91876436507895530222007-09-02T14:32:00.000-05:002007-09-02T14:32:00.000-05:00You know, that is the most AMAZING flower I've eve...You know, that is the most AMAZING flower I've ever seen I think! ONe simply must adore mother nature for creating such colorful flowers. What a pattern!<BR/><BR/>I'm speachless. Admiring it. Wow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-70241681757514397702007-09-02T10:08:00.000-05:002007-09-02T10:08:00.000-05:00This is an interesting-looking plant. I love the f...This is an interesting-looking plant. I love the flower colours, though wouldn't be too thrilled with the scent. I would like to have one now!kate smudgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10564410520744285676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-48068579716958028962007-09-01T12:53:00.000-05:002007-09-01T12:53:00.000-05:00Hey everyone,Thanks for stopping by and taking a m...Hey everyone,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to comment.<BR/><BR/>No rain, <BR/><BR/>Maybe you should drop yours like I did. Mine fell out of the pot and a few days later it was setting blooms. I wonder if the stress of being unpotted contributed to the bloom. Poor thing probably thought it was going to die. :)<BR/><BR/>Carolyn,<BR/><BR/>No worries :0) I've been checking up on your blog and saw one of your installations earlier in the summer.<BR/><BR/>Catherine, Sarah & Lost Roses,<BR/><BR/>Glad you all like the plant. I've been having fun showing it to the kids in the 'hood and seeing their reaction at the smell of the flower. Nobody has expected it coming from such a nice bloom.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-53189003578718472322007-08-30T22:04:00.000-05:002007-08-30T22:04:00.000-05:00I guess you could call this a "conversation piece"...I guess you could call this a "conversation piece" plant! As in everyone asking... what is it, where did it come from? This is really a spectacular plant, thanks for the info on it.LostRoseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06586462466899344347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-33817162375627603612007-08-30T20:03:00.000-05:002007-08-30T20:03:00.000-05:00Yikes ! I just realized that when I redid my blog...Yikes ! I just realized that when I redid my blogroll your site was somehow omitted ! So sorry ! I've corrected that mistake.<BR/><BR/> Been really busy all summer installing gardens and haven't visited as often. Your photos are just unbelievably beautiful !Sweet Home and Garden Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08026451200405491815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-66201135084158547752007-08-30T14:34:00.000-05:002007-08-30T14:34:00.000-05:00Very Unusual and beautiful plant!Cactus seem to ha...Very Unusual and beautiful plant!<BR/>Cactus seem to have the most beautiful flowers! So , glad you shared all the interesting info on it also!!Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14980240879371944143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-46140522160800120152007-08-30T13:12:00.000-05:002007-08-30T13:12:00.000-05:00Glad you reminded me that this Stapelia variegata ...Glad you reminded me that this Stapelia variegata is now called Orbea. It's hard to keep up with all the changes in classification. Luckily, the plants stay the same regardless of what they are called. I'm still waiting for my O. variegata to bloom this year. It doesn't look promising.Aiyanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525758484165324330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-50616456445370985452007-08-30T07:45:00.000-05:002007-08-30T07:45:00.000-05:00What an amazing, unusual and intriguing cactus. Th...What an amazing, unusual and intriguing cactus. Thanks so much for sharing. Sara from farmingfriendsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com