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Starfish floweris a succulent perennial known for its large, hair-covered blooms.
Starfish flower prefers bright sunlight, warm temperatures, and sandy, well-drained potting mix.
It can be grown indoors year-round in temperate climates or outdoors in subtropical climates where temperatures stay above 40F.
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Light
Starfish flower grows best with at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day.
That means full sun conditions outdoors or a bright, sunny window indoors.
Plants can also tolerate partial sun, or two to six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil
Plant starfish flower in a gritty, sandy potting mix that drains and dries quickly.
Let the soil dry out completely before watering again.
When temperatures cool in winter, stop watering and wait until early spring to resume.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep warmth-loving starfish flower in a place with temperatures above 50F in winter.
During the growing season, this plant’s ideal temperature range is between 70F and 95F.
Note that extreme heat beyond this range may impact plant growth.
This plant prefers drier air rather than humid conditions.
Fertilizer
It’s not necessary to fertilize your starfish flower.
Avoid fertilizing this plant in fall or winter.
You’ll have the best chance of success propagating in the spring or summer during active growth.
Here’s how to grow starfish cactus from cuttings.
Note that it may take a couple of years for newly established plants to bloom.
Expect blooms to last anywhere from a couple of days to one week.
This rotting meat smell is designed to attract pollinating flies to the flower.
Tip
Starfish flowers can smell like rotting meat at full bloom.
To manage the odor, many gardeners bring their plants outside during the summer.
