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Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 8:07 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I water it twice a week. But we are reaching almost 40°C these days in the tropics. I wouldn't want to overwater it. Please help.

Thumb of 2016-01-08/crissy/0213c0
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Jan 7, 2016 8:25 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
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Maybe you can try and put a wooden stake to help the plant grow erect.

How does the stem feel, does it still feel solid and firm? I would also inspect the root system and see if it has a caudex forming below the soil line and check its condition too. If you see it appearing getting too soft, lift the plant, remove the soil and allow to dry, allow the roots to heal, and return to its container, making sure the media is well draining.
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 8:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
Thanks! It doesn't appear to have caudex. The stem feels really bendy and soft. But it doesn't look like it's rotting. Looks healthy. I don't know
Last edited by crissy Jan 7, 2016 8:40 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 8:42 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
Could I be underwatering? It's really hot... I've got a bigger one, but it's doing great ( I water them the same)
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jan 7, 2016 8:46 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
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Welcome! crissy. I'm going to call on @Rainbow to help you here.
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Jan 7, 2016 10:15 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
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@Dutchlady1
Thank you for your referral. I will be glad to try and help here.

@Crissy
From what I could see at the base of the plant, there is a caudex. So I am guessing that this is a plant grown from a seed. You indicated in so many words that you are in the tropics with 106F temperature. I live in a wet tropical climate myself and have been somewhat successful in growing my adeniums.

I recommend transplanting your adenium into a 6 inch pot with well draining media: 1 part potting soil, 1 part perlite. The stem appears etiolated (long intervals between leaf nodes), perhaps caused by excessive water or fertilizer, or both or inadequate sunlight exposure. In this case, I also recommend pruning down to the 2nd set of leaves at transplanting.

My young adeniums love rain...but they do need some respite from it if more than 2 days in a row. If this happens, bring your adenium into covered shelter to at least allow the topmost surface of the soil to dry out just a tad bit.

This is just from my experience. Your decision to accept my advice is of course totally on you.
Last edited by Rainbow Jan 7, 2016 10:16 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 10:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
Thanks u! I'll transplant it and tell u about results!
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Jan 7, 2016 10:36 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
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You're Welcome! Crissy! By the way, Welcome! to ATP! Smiling

KD
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 10:36 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
*Blush* I obviously don't know what a caudex is if u say u can see one ...
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Jan 7, 2016 10:44 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
Okay, here's an example of a few of my own.
Thumb of 2016-01-08/Rainbow/454890
The fat base at soil line is the caudex.
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Jan 7, 2016 10:48 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
Of course I may be wrong, Crissy! The base of your plant does look a bit swollen like a caudex. Was this plant a cutting from another adenium?
Last edited by Rainbow Jan 7, 2016 11:03 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 11:19 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
It was a gift from a friend who's got a big one. But I don't think he even knows whether deserts roses grow from cuttings, so it could have been a seed?
And you're totally right. It's slightly bigger at the bottom of the stem. I agree Thank You!
you're awesome Smiling
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 11:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
I have watered it this morning, and it seems to have slightly straightened itself. Si maybe twice a week is not enough in this heat?
Thumb of 2016-01-08/crissy/e3f43d
Avatar for crissy
Jan 7, 2016 11:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Townsville QLD (Australia)
Friemd confirmed, definitely a seed. Smiling
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Jan 7, 2016 11:56 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
The adenium straightening out after water has been given is a very good indication that it was thirsty. Mine also get droopy when they are thirsty.

I have no idea how old this seedling might be...but seedlings are very thirsty all the time. With a potting media that is loose and well aerated (as they should be), in the current heat and with no rain, watering every other day is good for this size of seedling.
Last edited by Rainbow Jan 8, 2016 2:42 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 7, 2016 11:57 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
crissy said:Friemd confirmed, definitely a seed. :)


Wonderful! Hurray! Hurray!
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Jan 8, 2016 12:18 AM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
One other thing, Crissy, please don't transplant it into a clay pot. The clay will draw out the moisture and you will have to water the plant 2 to 3 times a day. Best to use a plastic pot at this young age. Grow it as a tropical plant and push it to grow a big fat caudex.
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Jan 8, 2016 9:33 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Nice to see the improvement there Crissy! We get those triple digits here in my area too during summer but it is a dry furnace heat, and I can get away watering my Adenium more frequently with our humidity levels very dismal oftentimes at 0 to 30% only, but I still allow intervals just the same, this plant ably hoards water in its trunk and makes fatso roots/caudex below soil line later on.

I took a photo of my other Adenium before while it was dormant, curious how the roots below soil line looked, and it showed me how it has started to form a nice caudex below. The lghter green part is the one above soil line and the yellow, lighter looking part is the root/caudex part.

Thumb of 2016-01-08/tarev/066697
Last edited by tarev Jan 8, 2016 9:34 AM Icon for preview
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Jan 8, 2016 11:13 AM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
I ran across this info and thought you all might find it useful.

http://adenium.tucsoncactus.or...
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Jan 8, 2016 1:02 PM CST
Name: KadieD
Oceania, Mariana Islands (Zone 11b)
Wet Tropical AHS Zone 12
Adeniums Tropicals Morning Glories Container Gardener Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Dog Lover Cat Lover Bee Lover Vegetable Grower Butterflies Permaculture
@Moonhowl
Thank you for posting Dr. Dimmit's article. I have referred this article many times to newbees. This is where I learned about the importance of treating adeniums as "wet tropicals, not desert plants." Thumbs up
Last edited by Rainbow Jan 8, 2016 1:03 PM Icon for preview

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