Additional pics in the comments. Young Fockeas usually grow in the shade of companion plants. by Bruce Brethauer. Only under exceptional conditions can a caudiciform be grown to perfection in home interiors. broad, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, apiculate, rounded at the base, slightly folded lengthwise, undulate, shortly pubescent on both sides; flowers 3â5 together, lateral at the nodes; pedicels 1â2 lin. Archived. COLD WEATHER ADVISORY. Product is out of stock. It is recommended not to expose it to direct sun during the hottest hours of the day, watering once every 5-6 days and use sufficiently deep vessels. I have found that the product Moo-nure provides a surprisingly good potting medium for a number of my succulent plants - it has a fantastic texture which remains very friable, resisting compaction, while providing excellent drainage, and is good source of trace elements (I continue to rely on liquid fertilizer to provide adequate levels of nitrogen, potassium, and potash). Product ID : FOCKEA-TGLNSIS. Iâm having some trouble correctly identifying this guy, is it a fockea edulis/crispa/capensis, or something else? Close. Habitat:Namibia,South Africa(North Cape,Western Cape). With many years, this caudex can grow to 30" in diameter. Leaves are also variable in many extended populations. Provide a trellis, place the plant below a bush, or allow it to vine along a wall or similar structure. Fockea edulis is another species very similar F. crispa. I've read that the caudex will grow bigger when it's under the substrate surface and that caudexes that the part of the caudex that's ⦠1. Always wait a week after repotting to water. 1 Namibia, Okonguati, Bruyns 4089 (NBG) AM233391 AM231766 AM233373 Fockea. In cultivation, many growers choose to reveal the huge caudex by lifting a good portion of it above the soil line when repotting. Some have entire margins, while others have strongly undulated or crisped margins. This is the best way to stage this plant, but whenever the caudex is exposed in this manner, the portions which are exposed virtually cease to grow - only the portion of the caudex which remains underground will continue to increase significantly in size. Another consideration is that, under normal growing conditions, the greater portion of the caudex of this species, lies hidden from view: to produce a really impressive caudex in this plant, it is necessary to grow it for years, possibly many years, before raising it above the soil line – few growers (beginners or seasoned experts) have this kind of patience. They are dioecious, so both male and female plants are needed to produce seeds. polycephala (Button Cactus). Take a look at these photos of F. capensis: http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2663-2. The underground caudex enables the plant to persist through extreme drought, sometimes surviving for several years without measurable rain. The plant can be watered periodically through the dormancy period to limit any root losses and leaf drop. Under cultivation, the growth rate of most plants is more modest, at least in my plants – with the vines adding about a foot or so of growth each year. MÄÅím tlouÅ¡Å¥ku kaudexu. However, most specimens of Fockea capensis have smooth green leaves and F. crispa seems to be a rare variety. Unusual for members of the asclepidaceae, or milkweed family, this species has the reputation of being edible (as indicated by its name “edulis”). The generic name "Fockea" honors the Dutch botanist Charles Focke (1802-1856). Choose a container that has drainage holes and a depth deep enough to accommodate the rich root system of the plant. I will add a few points specifically for this species - While Fockea edulis is less fussy about excess moisture than some of the caudiciforms and tuberous rooted succulents, it will nevertheless require a very freely draining potting medium which dries quickly. It apparently served as an emergency food for the Hottentots who consumed the tubers after they had been specially processed to remove or neutralize any toxins that may be present in these plants. They are cold hardy down to USDA hardiness zones 9b, 25 °F (-3.9 °C). User Owned Plant. earliest collection of Fockea was made by Thunberg at some time during the three years which followed. Some authorities regard F. capensis as a variety of F. edulis. Browse more in Succulents category. This plant will not tolerate frosts - light frosts will kill all foliage and vines, and a hard sustained frost will kill any portion of the plant below ground. Author: Two plants from Kakteen Haage. In times of severe drought; both the leaves and vines are deciduous, leaving only a small stump above ground to mark the location of this plant. Stems grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) long and climb up on any available support. Do not underpot young seedlings, as they will slow down their growth. Fockea capensis, also known as Fockea crispa, is a caudiciform succulent with erect or climbing stems that grow from a large gray warty tuber. To force tuber growth, feed with high-nitrogen fertilizer with a lower potassium level, only during the growing season. It was established by Endlicher in 1838 for the single species, Fockea capensis, based on a specimen cultivated at the Schönbrunn Garden at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. These plants really need a good exposure to sunlight (after they have been properly acclimatized), warm to hot summer temperatures, and exposure to summer rains, and regular fertilization through the summer months to produce their best growth. I have recently begun experiments with this as a potting medium for some of my caudiciforms, and I am quite impressed with the results I have seen so far. Water only enough to prevent the shriveling of the tuber. Curiosity: Some Fockea specimens were used, in the past, for human consumption by the local populations. 25-08-2012 - Monster Fockea Crispa, 200+ Years Old, 16. It is an easy species to grow, presenting few difficulties, and it is a plant with lots of character: by providing a few basic requirements, it is a reliable and long lived species, It may not be for every grower, but is seems once you have grown it for a while, you become hooked. Tak trochu záhadná Fockea capensis Endlicher (1839). The leaves are simple, opposite, and vary in size and shape between species. Its foliage is thin, creeping or vining, with opposing, elliptical-oval leaves with strongly crisped margins. Fockea edulis is native to South Africa and southern Africa. The foliage attracts whitefly, and periodic spraying with an insecticide may be required to control this problem. Fast-draining soil mix is the best soil for your Fockea to drain excess water. The caudex is usually hidden underground and grows up to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter. Fockea's are dioecious, meaning you must have a male and female plant to produce seed. Fockeas are also attractive to mealybugs, and the aphid occasionally feeds on young stems. Caudex grows underground in wild, and if planted like this will get much larger faster... but usually raised up when potting to display it. Author:K.Schum 1895. This famous plant had been collected by the explorers sent by Emperor Joseph II of Austria in the Cape Colony sometime after 1786. 6. The vines may also be clipped to maintain a more compact plant, but this may limit the growth of the caudex. Fockeas have large tuberous roots. I have found this to be an easy and undemanding plant, tolerating benign neglect without complaint - it responds well to my general guidelines for growing succulent plants. 2 South Africa, near Port Elizabeth, Bold 2381 (GRA) AM233389 AM231764 AM233371 Fockea edulis South Africa, near Steytlerville, Bruyns 7051 (BOL) AM233390 AM231765 AM233372 Fockea multiflora, ace. For a spectacular tuber, grow your Fockea in a large pot for several years before raising it. Lawn And Garden For this reason, it is advised to grow it for several years with the caudex buried in the soil, until it has attained a desired size before raising it above ground. They can be grown in the ground, but Fockeas are usually seen as attractive potted plants. Kindly arrange to bring your package of plants inside immediately. Fockea edulis. long, 1/4â 1/2 in. Fockea edulis (Apocynaceae) It forms a thick grey tuber, known as a caudex, with small wart-like growths (tubercules) all over the surface. Fockea capensis K. Schum. rootstock very large; stems 1â2 ft. long, tortuous or twining, puberulous or very shortly and softly pubescent; leaves very shortly petiolate, deflexed, 1/3â 7/8 in. Dále pak F. ⦠Even so, Fockea edulis remains one of the most popular and enduring of the caudex plants, and tops the lists of many growers as an ideal beginner plant for those becoming interested in growing caudiciforms. Sow the seeds in a well-drained mix at about 70 °F (21 °C).