Here are my first-ever-to-germinate-from-seed Adeniums. They have just been moved to separate pots form their three compot pots. The oldest and largest is the one on the upper left and it is about 4" tall. It germinated exactly a month ago, and the others germinated afterwards. A couple germinated just 2 weeks ago. I have read that they should be in plastic pots to better maintain moisture, but I like to grow my succulents in clay. Watering is not a problem for me, having over 1000 tropical plants to maintain.

Seedlings looking good, Ken. I think that the terra cotta pots are fine, as you are aware of and know what is required. The one factor would probably be what ever soil media a person has them in. A fast gritty mix would be harder to keep even moisture for seedlings.
Looking forward to seeing them grow.
Rick

Wow! Four inches tall and only one month old...that's amazing, Ken! They are all looking good!
Last year, I grew a community of adeniums in a 5" clay pot...I had added a little more humus in the soil and watered slightly more often than others in the plastic pots. One of the adeniums bloomed at just over 7 months old (my third bloom from seedlings):


Looking forward to seeing your blooms, Ken. In the meantime, please do keep us updated on their growth.

Kadie. Ursula's seedlings seem to grow fast, and I assumed the 4" growth is average. That's about the growth rate of some of my plumeria seedlings.

Ken, as far as seedling size, I think your 4" seedling is above average for its age.
@RCanada, what say you?

Ken, at taking second look at the seedlings. Why is it that they appear (some) to be white at their base? Did you pot them up a little higher?
I did not give much in the way of seedling appearance earlier, as I was not taking the time I should have with racing off.
Rick

Yes, some of them had that lower stem under the sphagnum, and I elevated them when I potted them. Some I left at the same level as before. Just a bit of experimenting. Did I do wrong?

Ken,
You know, experimenting is something that we all do and I myself. Definitely a good way to see how it works and you only learn in the process. Nothing is ever wrong in this situation.
Rick

RCanada said:
You know, experimenting is something that we all do and I myself. Definitely a good way to see how it works and you only learn in the process. Nothing is ever wrong in this situation.

Just now "unearthed" an experiment I recently conducted, and I think I lost one arabicum in the process. But I did learn! Will post pictures later.
Kadie

@drdawg and @RCanada, I have posted pictures of my experiment on my "A chronical" thread.

I repotted my Adenium seedlings this week. These came from the same batch of seeds as Ken's @drdawg, except I had seeded them out at the middle of April.
I will hopefully soon have a lot of little plant gifts to give away....

And we have a couple of new seed pods forming after this Summer's blooming

They all look like the same variety, Ursula. They certainly do look healthy.

They all look like the same variety, @Ursula. They certainly do look healthy.

Ursula, your seedlings are coming along nicely. Seedpods!
Kadie

This is ten days later. There is perhaps 1/2" new growth, but the growth has slowed.

8-20-15


8-30-15

Ken, I wonder what could make the growth slow down? When I transplant my adeniums I mix in a little CRF in the new media. (Osmocote 14-14-14 controlled-release fertilizer.) I also apply liquid rooting hormone weekly for about 2 weeks.
Kadie

Perhaps it is because they are getting some direct sun. I had them in the shaded greenhouse until early week. My potting mix has some Osmocote in it. I don't use any rooting hormone though. Since I have never grown Adenium, I really don't know why the slower growth.

It could very well be direct sun. I just remembered an experiment I did last year with one adenium that had a lot of terminal branches. I had transplanted the 2 month old seedling into a 4" clay pot containing a media of humus, vermiculite and sand. It was in shade in the morning then full sun from noon on. The media dried out too fast (even with daily watering) and the plant stunted. After 6 weeks of this I repotted into my regular media in a plastic 6" pot and it flourished and grew quickly. This pic was taken when the plant was 7 months old.

very cute!!