Mine just finished blooming - they are such a neat-looking plant.

Thanks! Yes they are fantastic plants! I love em!

So anyone out there have more experience with them and can answer the questions I posed above?

I did some across a LARGE Buddah Belly down next to the Smithsonian Arts & Industries building (next to the Smithsonian Castle). They have a large collection of tropicals, palms, and cycads that they trot outdoors every year, and seems to grow every year. The one they have is rather large, about 4' tall and has several branches. It had many flower spikes on it, and on the very top flower spike, there were two seed pods that were still light green, but big. They did however have one other, much smaller plant, so it did not help to answer my question much.

I've had several seed pods form but the majority of the spent blooms just drop. I have a few plants and have no idea if they require cross pollination. Maybe they do since your single plant has not produced any seeds. The pop is definitely audible. lol The seeds can also shoot a good 30 feet away from the plant. BTW mine are still single stemmed as well and are about the same size as yours.
Karyn

One of my BB plants has a couple seed pods on it now. Sorry that the pic is blurry.
Karyn

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I still don't know if it requires cross pollination with another plant or not either.

It appears, from the few I have seen in real life in bloom, and from photos, that the seed pods only form where the larger central blooms are like in your pic. Those bigger blooms tend to open first. The smaller blooms up on the smaller coral colored branches dont seem to produce any pods. Maybe there are both male and female flowers on a single plant.

Mine has 2 flower "spikes" on it right now, one is in full bloom, the other one is just now starting to bloom, and the plant is putting up new leaves like crazy. Its definately been very healthy this whole time. The growth rate and flower production definitely speeds way up during summer. I just hope I can get some actual seeds from it. But as you say, the big central flowers usually just fall off before any seeds form, and the spike just kinda dies.

Ok, so I think Ive finally gotten the answer to my question! I do NOT think you need to cross it with another plant. I think its able to do it on its own, meaning it probably has male and female flowers on the same plant. Mine is now actually setting 4 seed pods off of the current bloom spike. this is the FIRST year I have had it outdoors during the summer, so I think maybe I never got seeds before because the flowers never got pollinated. I have noticed there are a certain kind of very small bee that are attracted to the flowers and spend alot of time rooting around down in the blooms. I guess that is what is pollenating it. Ill post some pics in the next few days of the seed pods, and ill try to get a pic of the little tiny bees that seem to love the flowers.

Just an update:

I got seed pods! So I guess my question is answered. These plants are in deed able to pollinate from the blooms of just one plant. Based on what I have seen, the flowers that produce the seed bods are the 2-4 larger flowers, that occur down in the axis of the "branches" on which most of the other flowers occur. The flowers that occur in these axis are typically much larger than the blooms at the tips of the branches. I guess that should be a good indicator of both male and female flowers on the same plant.

Now that I have got the pods, I just hope I can catch them right, before the explode the seed 10 feet away never to be found! Its my understanding that when the pods turn brown is when they are just about ready to pop. Does anyone know this for sure?

Anyway, here are a couple photos of my seed pods:

Congrats on the seed pods. Mine are in a greenhouse and I don't know if anything is flying around in there or not. I cut stockings and tie a piece around the flower stalk once the seeds look mature. I wait until everything except the seed pods have dropped from the stalk. I actually have them wrapped now. The seeds are next to impossible to find if the pods explode because they shoot so far away.
Karyn

I just saw this thread and have to say they do not need another plant to pollinate.
I had only 1, about 2 years old, outside in a pot. It had several seed pods last summer which apparently popped, because this spring I found 2 seedlings sprouting in the bed next to the pot and 1 in the same pot.
Now I have 4!
Probably could have started a nursery of them if I had paid attention as the seeds were ripening!

My pods opened. I guess I wrapped them just in time. I planted 6 seeds but have no idea how long they take to germinate. I'll probably have to get out the seed mat because the temps will be dropping here before too long and I won't start running the GH heater for quite a while.
Karyn

These germinate quickly and are easy to grow. Besides insects I think humingbirds pollinate the flowers. If you cut the head off the plant will branch but probably best to do it in warm weather when the plant is starting to grow for the season. Down here it is a plant that is happy with our long dry season, it does not need to be watered. chris

Out of the 6 seeds that I planted 4 grew. I kept two. The stems are about 5" and still light green. One has 2 leaves, the other 4.

Thanks for the replies! Karyn, how long did they take to germinate? Just wondering. Thanks!

I can't remember exactly but seem to recall 2 of the seeds coming up fairly quick, maybe 2 or 3 weeks and the others were probably up within another 4 weeks. I should have written it down but knowing me I would have lost the paper it was written on. lol

I grow lots of these but have found, that when planted outside, they will only last 2 years.
The seeds will germinate within two weeks.

Well, I planted the seeds today, 4 of them. In just 24 hours they have already swollen up on one end and appear to have a green bulge like structure poking out. It appears to me that that would be the "leaf" end of the seed. It is the fatter end. I will post some photos of them as soon as they really sprout, but for now it looks like it is not going to take too long. Thanks for the updates on yours! Karyn, if you have any photos of your seedlings that would be awesome! Thanks!

Hi all - I have a question. I have one of these plants & it bloomed wildly last summer & grew in size quite a bit. It went dormant & was inside and was fine. About a week ago, the weather got warm and there was sun, so I took it out on the porch & gave it some water. Yesterday, the temperature dropped, but not as low as other times when it's been out (about 40 degrees). Anyway, I brought it inside today since the temperature is beginning to drop & will be low through the weekend (I'm in Missouri). When I brought it in, it had a soft spot high up on the trunk - maybe a sign of rot! This happened almost overnight! Is there anything I can do? I haven't watered it since the nice weather (about a week ago), but the soil is still damp. Is the plant doomed?

I'd make sure it's kept consistantly warm and let it dry out until the foliage starts growing. Keep an eye on the soft spot. If it seems to be spreading you might want to trim it below the soft spot.

Thanks for the response. I've been watching closely & since my post, the soft spot began to spread & fast. I took a bold step & cut the plant below the soft spot. I'm not sure if it can live through this. It was the bulbous part of the trunk, so I have no idea what will happen. I figured it was the only choice - it was going to just die of the spreading rot. I could find no information about whether or not this would actually kill the plant.

When I know what's happening, I'll let everyone know. I'm sooo bummed. . . . .

I hope it survives. Make sure you don't water it until you see some growth appear. You can dust the cut end with a fungicide. I don't know if it will help or not but I treat the cuts on many of my thick stemmed plants.

Ok I read all of the postings, my question is why isn't
the Belly growing the plant is getting taller it's healthy
and has flowers and leaves. But I would like for the Belly
to grow, should I put it in a shallow pot?

I have a Jatropha that has been without any leaves since the spring. One of it's branch stubs has the appearance of life.... But no active growth in over 7 months. Does anyone know if these guys can be forced? Thanks, Steve

I have 2 Jatropha (gout plants) Mine are the one in the ground 7 feet tall and blooms very well. The blooms are white shaving brush type.with yellow stamens. I jus topped it this year and made cuttings. I also have a 6 footer in a pot. This one has yet to bloom. You mention yours blooming but the picture of the seeds is not the same as my bloom area. Let me know
Bill Kemp

Hello, I'm from Singapore, I'm looking for Jatropha podagrica, can you tell me where can I buy? Please....

Does anyone know where I can get the Yellow Flower Jatropha Podagrica? I have been looking for so many years! Please help!

I received mine when it was approximately 8" as well. I keep it in full sun since I live up North in zone 7B. The plant has not stopped flowering and sprouting leaves. I also have 6 babies growing. Whenever I see a pod that's about to burst, I keeo an eye out for the seeds, I then just tuck them in the soil about 1/2"down and about 1 -2 weeks later my babies sprout. I have also heard of people putting a mesh bad around the pods to catch the seeds since they do tend to "fly" rather far from the tree. I winter it indoors and still have beautiful leaves and some flowering, but I have never not had a flower. Good luck.

That pot fits the gnome world like Jatropha plants..

I am very pleased to announce 7 seedlings from my Buddha Belly. I have been waiting 5 years for a seed to grow. I believe the seeds that came up were from last years pops. It was such a pleasant surprise♥️

Hi . Sorry im late .

All you need is one plant. one stalk. If you look closely at the blooms you will notice one looks just slightly different, instead of the yellow pollen(male) it will be green and they (female)are usually the first ones to the party. If you keep your plant indoors then its up to you to cross pollinate. After a few weeks tie a sheer draw string bag around the pod or the whole stalk to catch the expolding seeds. ( i only had two mature seeds in my pod the first time.)

cheers

cadylou— a great remedy to stop root rot in its tracks is to water it ( i know ) with hydrogen peroxide . like 7 caps full in one cup is my measurement. it brings oxygen right to the roots. ( now i wonder if you did the same measurememts a d put it in a spray bottle would that help the rot at top.