The Starfish Cactus is the perfect succulent to cultivate this summer—discover the best ways to care for it.

The starfish flower is a succulent perennial recognized for its sizable, hairy blossoms. Originating from South Africa, it is also commonly referred to as the carrion flower due to the foul odor of its flowers, which is similar to decaying flesh, a strategy to lure in pollinating flies.

The Starfish flower thrives in bright sunlight and warm conditions, favoring a sandy, well-draining potting mix. It can be cultivated indoors throughout the year in temperate regions or outdoors in subtropical areas where the temperature remains above 40°F.

Care for Starfish Cactus

Here are some tips for nurturing starfish flower in your indoor or outdoor space:

• Position in an area that receives complete to partial sunlight.
• Use a coarse, well-draining potting soil for planting.
• Water infrequently during the growing season and refrain from watering during the winter months.
• Apply cactus fertilizer sparingly during the spring and summer months.

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Light

The Starfish flower thrives when it receives a minimum of six hours of intense, direct sunlight daily. This can be achieved in outdoor settings with full sun exposure or by placing it in a well-lit, sunny window indoors.

Plants are capable of withstanding partial sunlight, receiving anywhere from two to six hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil

Cultivate starfish flowers in a gritty, sandy potting medium that allows for rapid drainage and drying. You can enhance a cactus potting mix by incorporating materials such as pumice, coarse sand, and perlite to improve its texture and drainage capabilities.

Limit the amount of organic material in the soil, as it can retain excess moisture and heighten the risk of root rot. Applying a light layer of pea gravel on the soil surface can assist in keeping the succulent stems of the starfish flower from becoming waterlogged.

Water

The starfish flower exhibits remarkable resilience to dry conditions and thrives with minimal watering throughout the spring and summer growth period. When watering, ensure the soil is adequately saturated and provide enough water to allow it to drain from the pot’s bottom holes.

Allow the soil to dry thoroughly before the next watering. Once winter temperatures drop, cease watering and wait until early spring to start again.

Climate and Moisture Levels

Ensure that the warmth-loving starfish flower is kept in an environment where the temperature stays above 50°F during the winter months. Throughout the growing season, the optimal temperature for this plant is between 70°F and 95°F.

Be aware that temperatures exceeding this range could affect the growth of the plant. This species thrives better in arid environments compared to humid ones.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing your starfish flower is not essential. Nevertheless, you can use a diluted cactus fertilizer, reduced to half its strength, once or twice throughout the growing season. Refrain from applying fertilizer during the fall or winter months.

Cultivating Starfish Cactus from Cuttings

Propagating starfish cactus is straightforward; you can do this by taking cuttings from a healthy parent plant. The optimal time for successful propagation is during the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.

Before starting, collect small plant pots or containers, sanitized pruning shears or a sharp knife, and a gritty cactus potting mix. Follow these steps to propagate starfish cactus from cuttings.

1. Select a healthy stem from the parent plant. Utilize your pruners or a knife to create a precise cut at the stem’s base.
2. Place the cutting in a warm, shaded area for a few days to let the cut end form a callus.
3. Once the stem has developed calluses, prepare a plant pot or a shallow tray by filling it with the gritty potting mix suitable for a mature starfish cactus. Lightly dampen the potting mix.
4. Position the cuttings parallel to the ground, ensuring they rest on the surface instead of being buried within the soil.
5. Place the cuttings in a warm area where they can receive bright, indirect sunlight. Once the soil is fully dry, you can water them very gently, for instance, by lightly misting the surface of the soil with a spray bottle.
6. In a span of a few weeks to a few months, you will notice roots developing from the severed end of the starfish cactus stem. When the roots are visible, you can transplant the cuttings into a gritty soil mix and tend to them as you normally would.

Tips for Encouraging Flowering in Starfish Cactus

The starfish cactus is more prone to flowering when you replicate its natural environment at home or in your garden during the summer and autumn blooming seasons. This involves providing warm temperatures during the day (avoiding excessive heat), cooler nighttime temperatures, extended dry spells followed by watering, and ample bright, direct sunlight.

To prevent bud drop, it’s wise to avoid putting your plant under stress or making abrupt changes to its environment after the flowers have formed. Keep in mind that newly established plants might take a few years before they start to flower.

Anticipate that the blossoms will endure for a duration ranging from a few days to a week. The sizable, starfish-like petals, which exhibit rich red hues, are adorned with minute hairs and emit a strong scent that many may consider off-putting. This odor, reminiscent of decaying flesh, is intended to lure in flies for pollination.

Tip

When in full bloom, starfish flowers emit a scent reminiscent of decaying flesh. To mitigate the smell, numerous gardeners choose to place their plants outdoors during the summer months.

Steps to Take After Your Starfish Cactus Blooms

Once the starfish flowers have wilted, you can eliminate the blossoms by trimming them off at the base of the flower stem using sterilized pruning shears.

Tips

• Plant pot starfish in terra cotta or other unglazed clay containers, as they absorb moisture and promote faster drying of the soil.
• It’s preferable to underwater this plant rather than to overwater it. If you notice that the stems are shriveled or wrinkled, it indicates that your starfish cactus needs some water.
• Refrain from repotting your plant until its roots have completely occupied the soil surface. Plants that are root-bound might have a higher chance of blooming.
• Wait for nighttime temperatures to rise above 50 degrees in late spring or early summer before moving your plants outdoors. Slowly introduce them to the brighter outdoor environment to avoid shocking them.