These are a few of my plants.

Mostly vining plants here.


Lots of Dorstenia foetida.


Pachypodium saundersii in the large pot.


I'm getting the lumber from my niece's deck and will be able to make more shelves and tables so l can display my plants better and be more organized.



Up front is a Pseudobombax ellipticun and small euphorbias on the rack in the back.

I love your collection Reine!!! I always love those big caudices!

Thank you Tarev.

Caudiciforms, Euphorbias and the pachycauls (Bursera, Commiphora and Boswellia mostly) are my plant passions.

This is my second year growing caudex producing cucurbits and Ipomoea from seed. This year l transplanted the seedlings into 55 gallon drum halves to get maximum growth during the growing season. Hoping for great results.

with Tarev. Your Pachypodium saundersii in the large pot is very impressive. Be sure to show a photo of the 55 gal. drum planter. Tell us more about growing caudex producing cucurbits and Ipomoea from seed. I didn't realize that was possible. I've got to expand my horizon a bit. I can't wait to plant the mirabilis seeds. Until now, I've taken them for granted since they commonly grow on the roadside.

I admire your patience with seeds Reine! I am very bad at seed level. So I just get young plants and go from there..if I don't kill them during overwintering first

2nd the motion to Deebie..love to see the drum planter halves!

Seed planting was overall a big failure last year. I tried when temperatures were too low. I read, asked questions and took a good look at where the plants come from. Most are from Africa. These seeds need to be in the 80's and some even in the 90's for best germination.

This year, l had my dad build two heat mats, using a wood frame and incandescent rope lights. I showed photos in post #803593.

That brought temperatures into the mid 80's but would cool off at night as the room cooled. So l added a second rope light to one of the frames. That brought temps into the high 90's and some days they hit 100°F. This enabled me to start seeds indoors, in March.

Overall l achieved excellent results this Spring. The seedlings are now in the large tubs for the growing season. They'll be dug up and brought in the house for protection when overnight temps drop into the mid to low 40's, depending on how rainy it is at that time.

I sowed half of each species, to see how things went. I plan on sowing the remaining seeds July outdoors. In deep, aluminum roasting pans. Poke at least 10 holes in the bottom, then set that pan into a shallow roasting pan. This way watering is done from the bottom and seeds are not disturbed when watering.

I'll post photos of the tubs.

Four large tubs of caudiciform seedlings.

Ipomoea lindheimeri, Kedrostis sps dodoma, Corallocarpus boehmii

Ipomoea macrorhiza, Coccinea megarrhiza, Ibervillea maxim

Apodanthera aspera, Apodanthera sagittifolia, Corallocarpus welwitschii

Kedrostis africana, K. puniceus, K. leloja, K. mildbraedii


Except for the two lpomoea, the rest belong to the Cucurbitaceae family.

Looks good Reine! So when do you raise up the caudex a bit?

l've heard that the longer the caudex stays under the soil the faster they grow. Then raise the caudex when you get the size you want. They'll still grow above the soil, but not as fast. I don't know if this is true or not.

This doesn't apply to all caudiciforms. More towards the ones that start underground.

Fockea edulis and F. crispa are better left under the soil until they get larger.

I want to buy a young Fockea and plant it with some stones in the pot to see if the caudex would develope some contours. Hopefully to have an unusually shaped caudex years later.

I always circle around these lovely caudex forming plants when I am in my favorite succulent store. But have to always restrain myself, since I do not have space to hide them during winter. So I will just happily enjoy your collection Reine! They are really wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing the photos!

Reine, your collection and knowledge is impressive, thank you for sharing!!! That pachypodium is gorgeous. Has it flowered for you?

Some very cool & unusual plants, TY for sharing them!