[Overview]
A succulent perennial.
The stem is thick with 4 ridges, and there are coarse teeth along the ridges.
The leaves are reduced and almost never seen; if present, they drop soon.
The flowers are borne on young stems, and many are star-shaped with 5 lobes; some are densely hairy.
Many give off a rotten smell, which in their native range attracts insects such as flies.
The fruit is a follicle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
Plant in well-drained soil.
The growing season is May–October, and it goes dormant in the cold season.
It is safer to have 10°C or more for overwintering; when temperatures fall below 10°C, stop watering and let it go dormant.
It dislikes excess moisture, so in the growing season water thoroughly when the soil dries, and gradually reduce watering once temperatures begin to drop.
Fertilize in the growing season: apply slow-release chemical fertilizer, and also apply liquid fertilizer 1–2 times a month except in midsummer.
Flowers appear on young stems, so do not cut those stems.
Scale insects are a pest.
