But this is not the issue here. Now you have the possibility, to raise your very own, private Hoodia Gordonii plant in your home. Not to produce the Capsules on your own, just to have a "Queen of the Namib" in your home, on your balcony, in the kitchen or in the garden. Just as a reminder on "heavier" times, just as a motivation tool for your diet.
"Hoodia Shoots" will be sent to you directly from South Africa. Once, when you have the Shoots in your house, obviously, you have to take care of them. Although the Hoodia Gordonii is used to the rough and hostile environment of the Namib and the Kalahari, it is not enough to put the Shoots into some soil. Some caretaking is greatly appreciated. Even a very robust Hoodia Gordonii needs some "basic love".
Hoodia Gordonii is often called a "Cactus". Botanically correct, we would have to call her a "Stem succulent", which is at the end not much of a difference anyway. She needs a little bit more water, but you do not have to be a professional gardener, to raise "Hoodia Shoots" into a grown plant.
When the Hoodia Shoots arrive, they have to be watered for 24 hours. For this you need to boil water and let it cool down to 35 degrees Celsius. Into this water, you put the "Hoodia Shoots" for a day.
In the meantime, whilst your "Hoodia Shoots" are watering, prepare the soil. For this you mix one third of cactus soil with two thirds of coarse sand. Into this mixture you put the watered "Hoodia Shoots", approximately 1,5 cm deep.
Now for the next two weeks, you should water your "Hoodia Shoots" every second day. The humidity of the soil should start at a depth of about 1,5 cm. As soon as you see the first signs of the plant on the surface, you cut the watering to once every two weeks.
After about a month, you can start to use fertiliser and from now on, you can watch your plant growing, without any additional effort.
Additionally you should observe that between November and March, Hoodia Gordonii does not need any water. Hoodia Gordonii loves temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius, especially during the first year. Later on, when your Hoodia is in the garden, temperature is not an issue any more. In the spring, as soon as the temperature is above 18 degrees Celsius, you can put your Hoodia Gordonii outside.
After three years your "Hoodia Shoots" became to a grown up "Queen of the Namib". With a height of more than one meter and a very colourful green, Hoodia Gordonii looks nice in every garden. Once a year, your Hoodia Gordonii will blossom. This is the time, when you will enjoy your "Queen of the Namib" the most.
