Can i grow hoodia

I was so pleased with my lovely cacti- Hoodia gordonii. All 3 were nice-sized, super healthy and potted in nice succulent soil. The packaging was amazing, not one had any damage and zero spilled soil. These people are pros and it shows! I definitely will shop here again! I ordered 2 Hoodia and they both were in great shape and have new growth. Ordered this little cactus on a Sunday and it arrived the next Tuesday, super quick and easy shipping! The plant arrived in perfect condition, it was wrapped up and protected so well, all the dirt and rocks stayed in tact too.

Plant is healthy and even bigger than I expected. Love it! Shipped quickly, arrived undamaged and included quality repotting medium and gravel topping for a nice extra touch.

Great experience!! Close menu. Home Catalog Catalogue2. Log in. It is also found in the deserts of Botswana and Angola. The prime destination for succulent lovers. You are at: Home » Succulentopedia » Hoodia gordonii. Next Article Opuntia microdasys var. Add A Comment. Submit Type above and press Enter to search. Trade in this plant is restricted. See Information document on trade in Hoodia gordonii and other Hoodia species for further details. Hoodia gordonii is a spiny succulent.

In the early stages only one stem is produced but at a later stage the plant starts branching. Mature plants can have as many as 50 individual branches and weigh as much as 30 kg.

Plants under ideal conditions can attain a height of 1 m. Flowers are borne on or near the terminal apex top part of the plant. The flowers are large and have a carrion-like smell smell similar to rotten meat. In some ways the Hoodia flowers resemble a petunia flower. Flowers vary in colour from pale straw to dark maroon. Flowers are normally borne in early spring August or September. Flowers can reach a diameter of 75 mm. Seed is produced in early summer October and November.

The seed capsules resemble small antelope or goat horns hence the Afrikaans common name of bokhorings. Hoodia gordonii has a very wide distribution. It occurs in the north-eastern part of the Western Cape, the north and north-western regions of the Northern Cape and southern Namibia. The plant appears to have a wide tolerance of growing habitats, found in deep Kalahari sands, on dry stony slopes or flats and under the protection of xerophytic bushes.

Hoodia gordonii can, under ideal conditions, live for 25 years in cultivation. In the wild they probably don't live much longer than 15 years.

Hoodia gordonii was discovered by Paterson and Col. Gordon in December in the Upington area. Smaller specimens may be shipped in pots with artificial soil media.

Fish and Wildlife Service that we will obtain for the customer. Additional documents such as phytosanitary certificates and import permits may be required by the destination country. The fees for issuance of these documents must be paid by the customer when the order is placed. International shipments often require a lot of paperwork and multiple inspections. This may delay shipments. Shipping requirements and costs may be the main factor to consider when deciding to start hoodia from seeds or plants.

We offer a greater variety of seeds than plants, and these can be mailed as First Class Mail at low cost, avoiding the expenses associated with packaging and shipping live plants by Priority Mail from our remote Hawaiian location. It usually takes years to grow hoodia from seed to harvestable size.

Most of these are near or at harvestable size and can be planted or used upon receipt. Processing and Shipment of Seeds. Our hoodia seeds are harvested, cleaned, dried and kept in frozen storage until they are needed to fill orders.

Small samples of the seeds are usually removed for germination testing after freezing. We ship our hoodia seeds in small plastic bags containing a packet of silica gel to maintain dryness. Before planting, the seeds should be removed from the bag and exposed to the air for a day or so to rehydrate. If you are not going to plant them right away keep the seeds in the plastic bag with the silica gel packet in a refrigerator to prolong viability.

Hoodia seeds will rapidly loose viability, especially when stored in humid conditions. Soil Media. Use a fast draining media like commercial cactus potting mix, or regular potting soil mixed with sand or fine perlite.

Garden soil should not be used as it may contain fungi and insect pests. The seeds should be planted in small pots or flats at a very shallow depth, just under the soil surface. Under optimal conditions most of the seeds should germinate within one week but a few may be delayed, emerging in weeks.

Avoid starting the seedlings in full sun. In nature hoodia seedlings often begin growing under nurse plants that provide some shade or filtered sunlight. The seedlings will emerge from the soil and open with two small leaves, the only ones the plant will ever have. When the plants are about 2cm tall they should be transferred to larger pots and can be gradually moved to full sun.

Our bare root plants are cleaned and dried before shipment and packaged with paper packaging to maintain dryness and prevent fungus. When your plants arrive, unpack them promptly wearing suitable gloves to protect you from their sharp thorns and move them into a well-lit, dry location out of full sun until they are planted.

Most, if not all of the roots on these plants may be dried out or be lost. After planting they will usually grow back but this may be a slow process — be patient! Most larger plants will require support until rooted. Bare rooted hoodia plants tend to be highly durable in shipment and can survive for months without planting if they are kept in bright light and warm, dry conditions. These are bare root hoodia seedlings that had been stored about six months after removal from soil for an experiment.

They were then replanted and resumed normal growth. Soil Media and Fertilizers. Hoodia are not fastidious about soil and fertilizer requirements. Sand is preferable since perlite adhering to the roots is hard to distinguish from mealy bugs.