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My POS (Plant of Shame)
Tylecodon reticulatus
#succulents #caudiciforms #tylecodon #plantofshame
Photo of a mature plant, approximately 15 cm tall. Purchased as a rooted cutting in 2016, already with a dense reticulate crown leftover from previous inflorescence. The plant was oozing pink goo when it arrived and had to be rehabilitated for 20 months before going back into the pot for another attempt at rooting. That process took another two years. The crown had to be trimmed off because you can't walk near the thing without it snaging on something. I keep it in a heavy pot to force me to be careful when I move it. It is growing in full sun, inside a wire cage built to protect it from squirrels and birds. T. reticulatus is classified as "Least Concern" but its population in habitat is declining due to aggressive collection. When I bought it in 2016, I only checked its conversvation status and assumed it was grown from seeds (the seller had a solid reputation and had been in business for decades--definitely enough time and experience to have grown such plants from seeds). Although it was diseased on arrival, it had the magnificent weathered look only found in habitat-collected plants, especially caudiciforms. I may be wrong, but I don't think I am. So, well. Shit. I have since gone into several rabbitholes, learned some depressing shit and hardened on what plants I will and will not buy. Still, I own a habitat-collected plant. I am embarrassed that I have it, but here we are. Oh, and it is blooming for the first time. At least I didn't fucking kill it.
May 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM