How to Plant a Stapelia Gigantea Starfish Flower

Choose a pot that is about 1 inch larger than the pot the starfish flower is currently growing in. If it is still a cutting growing in a rooting medium, prepare a 4-inch pot for its first home. An unglazed clay or terracotta pot is the best choice for succulents, as the walls of the pot allow water to evaporate, keeping the roots on the dry side, as they prefer.

Place a rock or clay pot shard over the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot to keep the soil from washing out with the excess water.

Fill the chosen pot to within 1 inch of its rim with a mixture of 1/3 coarse builder's sand and 2/3 potting soil. This is a good mix in which to grow succulents such as starfish flower.

Use your fingers to make a hole in the potting soil that is large enough for the root ball of the starfish flower. Insert the root ball into the prepared hole. Firm the soil around the plant so it stands up alone.

Water the plant thoroughly, so the soil settles around its roots and eliminates any air pockets.

Place the pot in a sunny south- or west-facing window, in a room maintained at average indoor temperatures of 68 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit.