I find when we speak of "Caudex". The caudex is the naturally occurring trunk, stem or calliper of base.
Once the tree, seedling or other is lifted. What was part of the "root". We now are calling part of the caudex.
I have always understood this, but I need to not get hung up on this. It is just that after growing so many of these and nothing in comparison to many, there Natural Caudex of so many that I have started becomes large with out lifting to create a bigger caudex.
This Large Caudex after all "is" what the greater majority find interesting about the adeniums and what they seek.
What I see in Kadie's photo's of her trees which she has cut the tap root off of, is a nicely grown root structure. The roots are mainly on the outer extremities, so as they grow larger the results is a wider (which is my preference) base.
It is natural, just with a bit of intervention.
This "look" is what I would like and want with all my trees.
In Growing the Arabicums & TS's, you see a fattening in seedlings with out having to do this cutting of tap root, although it is still done quite regularly.
Willeke, I would hate to discourage you from trying some of your seedlings (or yourself, Ken) by cutting the tap root. I can totally understand any anxiousness about doing so, but if you try on a few and see what results you have. Then you will feel more confident about doing more in the future.
Please excuse my rambling. I always get caught up when we speak of "caudex", because I feel for those just getting introduced to Adeniums can be unsure about the term "caudex". It is quite conveluded.
With any tree, shrub and other Genus of plant. The calliper of the trunk/stem becomes larger above ground as the tree ages. The same with Adeniums.
I found this photo of someone's Adenium which they cut off the whole base. "This is not my tree."
Thought you might like to see it.
Rick
