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Dorstenia gigas bullata

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In Stock · Ships in 48h
$ 75.00 / plant
Attribute Option
Quantity Qty
1
Sales Type Retail, WYSIWYG
Product Size Caudex2.8cm
Weight 0.5 kg
Propagation Method Offset
Genus Dorstenia

Description

Origin

Dorstenia gigas Schweinf. ex Balf.f. is endemic to the island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot belonging politically to Yemen (Africa / SW Asia). It was first collected during nineteenth-century botanical surveys of Socotra and has since become an icon of the island's succulent flora. The bullate leaf form traded informally as 'bullata' represents a particular leaf-texture variant selected from wild-collected seed and is propagated by cuttings rather than seed.

Habitat

In its natural environment, this species is a specialist of windswept limestone plateaus and granite cliff faces of the Socotran archipelago, where it grows in shallow pockets of mineral soil at altitudes around 300–900 meters above sea level. Rainfall is low and irregular, influenced by both the summer Indian Ocean monsoon and the winter trade winds, and the air stays relatively humid for much of the year. Plants perch in exposed positions where their caudices are kept cool by constant air movement.

Description

Dorstenia gigas is the largest of the Socotran succulent Dorstenias, a pachycaul species with a bottle-shaped trunk and a relatively small leafy crown that has become a holy-grail caudex plant in serious collections.

Caudex & Stem: The trunk is a swollen, bottle- to dome-shaped, smooth greyish-green caudex that can reach a metre or more in great old plants, often branching from the base and forming small candelabra-like clusters over decades.

Roots: A coarse root system emerges from the base of the caudex, anchoring the heavy stem into the thin layer of mineral soil that sits over Socotra's limestone and granite bedrock.

Leaves: Leaves are clustered at the branch tips, obovate, and in the bullate form the blade is conspicuously puckered and dimpled between the veins, giving it a crinkled, almost quilted texture. They are mid-green and somewhat fleshy, and are shed during prolonged dry periods.

Flowers & Fruit: The inflorescence is the characteristic Dorstenia shield: a flattened, irregularly lobed green disc that sits on a slender stalk above the foliage. Tiny fruits develop on the surface of the disc and are ejected ballistically when ripe.

Cultivation: Grow in a very sharply drained, mineral-rich mix under bright light and good air movement. Water moderately during warm months and keep the plant on the dry side in winter, with temperatures that never approach freezing. Specimens branch and develop character slowly, so patience is essential.

Care Guide

Essential Care Tips for Thriving Plants

Light

Provide partial to full sun. Most plants thrive on direct UV exposure. Avoid placing behind window glass, as it filters out the essential UV rays needed for healthy growth.

Water

Follow the "Soak and Dry" principle. Ensure the top 2–3 cm of soil is bone dry before watering (use the finger test). Reduce frequency in winter, but do not stop watering entirely.

Temperature

The ideal range is 18–35 °C. Maintain temperatures above 5 °C during winter. Please note that temperatures below 0 °C pose a significant risk of plant death.

Humidity

Best kept at 30–50% humidity. Note: High air humidity is not a substitute for root watering. Avoid overly damp areas to prevent root rot or leggy side shoots.

Soil

A loose, well-draining medium is ideal. A mix containing 50–70% grit or mineral soil is recommended for aeration. Outdoor ground planting is also a viable option.

Fertilizer

Fertilize during repotting using Osmocote A2 slow-release fertilizer. Apply sparingly twice a year, or adjust the fertilizer type based on your specific home environment.

Planting Guide

Start Your Green Journey in 4 Steps

Unbox & Inspect

Carefully unpack and inspect the plant’s body and roots. We recommend taking photos or videos immediately for your records. Place it in a shaded, well-ventilated spot for 1–2 days to acclimate to its new environment.

Potting & Placement

After 24 hours of rest, pot the plant using slightly moistened soil. Place it in a bright, airy location to encourage recovery. Keep away from AC vents or heaters to prevent damage from temperature fluctuations.

First Watering

Use water that has sat for at least 24 hours. If using the damp-potting method, wait 2–3 days before the first watering. Ensure a thorough soak until water drains freely from the bottom.

Daily Care

Monitor leaf condition and soil moisture daily. If the soil remains damp, increase ventilation rather than watering. Proper airflow is essential to prevent root rot and ensure lasting health.

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  • 4 stars: 3 (15%)
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This product has no reviews of its own. The merchant grouped it with related products, so the reviews shown are from across that group.
M
M.S.
Same Size Shipped|W1.5-2cm|Grafting

Delivery was very fast! I received a very nice and healthy Euphorbia turbiniformis, grafted on a well-chosen E. neorubella rootstock. The graft is very stable (I have tried gently pressing the scion and it stays fully secure on the rootstock), and I think the choice of the caudex rootstock really brings out the natural beauty of the cute scion on top, as their colours look good together (compared to other E. turbuniformis in the market that are grafted on green rootstocks). The E. turbuniformis scion was also bigger than I expected, and it appears to be pushing out new side offshoots, so I am very pleased with the robustness of this plant. It continues to do well a month after arriving. Thank you for the excellent customer service and growing advice, and I look forward to shopping with you again!

M
M.S.
Same Size Shipped|W4-6cm|Seed-grown

Delivery was very fast! I received a very nice and healthy Euphorbia actinoclada with a strong root system. It was grown under very good conditions, so it has remained very compact such that the reduced main stem is so full of healthy branches that it is hard to see without peering behind the branches! The plant is also highly robust and actively growing new spines, not to mention, and also bigger than I was expecting, which I am very happy with. It is doing very well even 1 month after ordering. I am very pleased with my order! Thank you for the excellent customer service and growing advice, and I look forward to shopping with you again!

M
M.S.
Same Size Shipped|W9-10cm|Seed-grown

Delivery was very fast! I received a very nice and healthy Euphorbia schizacantha with a strong root system and mature enough to put out very pretty red flowers. The plant that I received was much bigger and more mature than I was expecting, which I am very happy with. The natural corking is also very beautiful and helps me appreciate the maturity of the plant. It is doing very well even 1 month after ordering. I am very pleased with my order! Thank you for the excellent customer service and growing advice, and I look forward to shopping with you again!

M
M.S.

Delivery was very fast! I received a very nice and healthy Euphorbia brevirama with a strong root system and mature enough to put out cute little blooms, and is actively growing new branches. I am very pleased with my order! Thank you for the excellent customer service with my order too and I look forward to shopping with you again!

Y
Y.

All the plants were in good condition, and the seeds were in good condition too.

I’m really glad it looks like we can do business together for a long time. Thank you.

Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you're happy with your plants and seeds. Looking forward to a great long-term partnership. If you need anything else, just let us know!

Z
Z.

先程受け取りました!!
とても新鮮で安心した取引になりました!!!!
またよろしくお願いします!!

S
S.

The plants are all in excellent condition! Thank you so much once again

S
S.

Absolute perfection! I am so pleasantly surprised—the plant I received is actually even larger than the dimensions listed. The root system was packed exceptionally well for transit, and the leaves are still vibrant and green.

P
P.

The plants arrived safely, all have been potted, looking forward to them regaining their vitality!

M
M.G.
No.01 Balance|W8.8cm|Own-rooted

Beautiful plant, fast shipping, and all my questions were promptly answered. Highly recommended!

W
W.

The plants arrived in wonderful shape! Thank you.

L
L.

Pretty cool plant. Traveled very well.

D
D.

I received my order and so far everything looks amazing! Thank you so much I genuinely appreciate it

C
C.

Thank you so much! Really excited to receive them

m
m.

The plants are beautiful.

E
E.

Thank you so much! Really excited to receive them

E
E.

I received my E. mlanjeana seedlings, and everything went perfectly. A dream come true!

D
D.

I received it and potted it up! I will take a picture tomorrow morning when it’s not dark out! I can also send you pictures once it leaves out again

M
M.

They're potted up! In half shade to settle in.As you can see my collection is growing nicely thank you for these beautiful plants!