I would love to know what this cactus (or succulent) plant is called. This is the first time it has bloomed. I have had it for about a year and a half.
Before the flower blooms, it looks like a capsule or a balloon that keeps growing bigger. Now, I have two other new flower buds on the plant starting already.
By the way, as soon this flower opened up, the flies were attracted to its center.
– Deborah, Penn Valley
The succulent plant shown in your photos is a member of the genus Stapelia. Stapelias are mostly found in South Africa and are in the same plant family as oleander, vinca and plumeria.
Sometimes called starfish flower, this plant has another common name: carrion flower. That's why flies are attracted to it.
According to Placer County master gardener Julie Saare-Edmonds, not all stapelia smell bad. They can make attractive houseplants with fuzzy textured leaves and unusual flowers.
In the largest varieties, the flower can reach 16 inches across. Stapelias are easily propagated from cuttings.
Stapelias like well-drained, sandy soil and a warm, bright spot in semi-shade. That makes them ideal for containers, so they can be easily moved or protected during frost.
Water sparingly, especially in winter when the plant goes dormant.
I am writing in regard to a problem I am having with flies in my backyard. They appear to be normal houseflies, and they swarm under the patio cover.
I have two small dogs that I clean up after every day. My garbage cans are around the corner of the house, about 80 feet away from where the flies are.
When I mow my lawn, some flies do come up out of the grass. I have tried spraying my lawn and bushes with sprays including malathion, as suggested by my local nursery. Anything you might suggest other than a fly swatter would be appreciated.
– David, Elk Grove
Most measures to control houseflies are nonchemical, says Sacramento County master gardener Bill Pierce. The selective use of insecticides against houseflies is one component of a total fly-management program but should be used only after all nonchemical strategies have been employed.
While humans are most commonly bothered by the adult stage, the fly's larval stage should be the prime target for control.
Elimination of larva habitat is the preferred method of pest-fly suppression. By removing material in which larvae develop, the life cycle of the fly can be broken.
Use a fly bait around your garbage cans to eliminate larvae. Make sure the lids on the cans fit tightly so that flies are excluded and cannot lay eggs there.
For additional information on identifying types of flies and appropriate controls, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to: PN 7457 Flies, UC Cooperative Extension, 4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA 95827. This information is also available at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
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