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27.2.07

Adenium Obesum Care

Adenium Obesum, also known as Desert Rose, is native to Eastern Africa and Northern Arabia. They like full sun and are very heat tolerant. In the ground it can grow anywhere from 6-12 feet tall, it produces very attractive flowers and it is a popular plant among cacti and succulent collectors for it's unusual trunk.




Growing this rare tropical plant in my indoor garden in Chicago has been a big learning experience. When I started hanging around gardening forums and reading about this plant I came across many threads and people that commented on how hard it was to keep this plant alive and healthy. Many people discouraged this plant for beginners to container gardening or for people who don't have don't have a greenhouse or windows that receive full sun.

The plant in the photo I bought at Wal-Mart, of all places, and since then I found two more at Home Depot's garden center. I didn't pay more than five dollars for each plant and considering the prices I've seen at on-line auction sites like e-bay I think I got a great deal on these beautiful plants and think I would add them to my list of easy care plants.

In the spring and summer I put my plants outdoors and sit them among the other plants in my container garden. Since I'm gardening in a small space and the plants are rather small I place the pots on top of a larger pot. They're heat tolerant plants and like a lot of sun and because of that they get a generous amount of water in the summer whenever I'm watering.

They stay in my outdoor garden among my flowers and other plants but in the fall they start to prepare to be brought into my indoor garden. I don't have plant lights or an indoor plant light set up so they have to make due with sitting in a west facing window. By the time they're brought it they have lost all of their leaves because of the cooler weather and are pretty much dormant. I allow them to go dormant because I don't have grow lights for them and I find it's just easier not to worry about one more plant. During the Adenium Obesum's dormancy I don't water much or any if I can help it because if I did it would spring back to life. The slightest amount of water that I give them after they've been brought in for the winter will start the plant up again. I allow them to get so dry that the caudex ( the trunk) starts to shrink but even then I'll hold back the water.

As the days start to get longer and it looks like spring will arrive I start watering it little-by-little and set it closer to the window when it starts to sprout so that it gets as much sun as possible. When spring finally gets here I just repeat the process of placing it outside.

The plant can be poisonous to people and pets so keep it out of their reach if you want to grow this plant indoors. Last summer my unattended nephew dug out a few chunks from the caudex of one of my Adeniums-lucky nothing happened to either of them. If you want to grow this unusual plant for it's interesting shape it's better to start them from seeds or buy plants that haven't been grafted onto root stock. The fat caudex that everyone likes on this plant can't be achieved with grafting. You can propagate Adenium Obesum from cuttings (watch out for the sap!) but again you won't get as nice a "trunk." If you want to read about how I started Adenium seeds use the search box on the left hand side and search my blog for the entry "Adenium Obesum Seedlings." If you have other questions or comments feel free to ask.

Other Posts on Adenium Obesum:
Adenium Obesum Flowers and Seed Pod
Adenium Obesum Seedlings
Adenium Obesum Propagation by Cuttings

84 comments:

  1. Nice work you have many info on Adenium obesum.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:43 AM

    I just found this site and it is wonderful with lots of great ideas! I have hdd some success with planting adenium seeds obtained from pods in my garden. Your idea about the soda bottle is excellent and I will try it. I look forward to reading more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi,

    I'm glad you two are finding the info useful and hope you come back.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just purchased my first Adenium Obesum. I'm in Phoenix, so we get full sun year-round. I know it's heat tolerant, but I'll keep it indoors during the summer as our temps can exceed 116. I'm looking to transplant to a bigger container. Any tips on soil composition or space? Thanks.

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  5. Anonymous10:22 PM

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge of adeniums! I've had my adenium since last August. It started growing pretty well this spring, but then stopped growing in May, and some leaves started getting brown and dry on the edges, and some dropped off. Do you have any idea what might be the problem, or suggestions of what I could try? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:47 PM

      My adenium always looses its leaves in the winter... i put it in my basement beside my grow lights and stop watering it til spring.. when i start watering again leaves start growing again

      Delete
  6. Anonymous7:03 PM

    I have had an Adenium obesum for many years now and it no longer is blooming...help

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Sorry for not keeping up with the comments on this entry.

    Bryan,

    It is probably too late to answer you but I just wanted to say that you just need a good draining and coarse soil mix.

    Amy,

    Can't really help with limited info but I hope your plant pulled through.

    Anonymous,

    Could be several things from soil, to light to water to being fertilized too little.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous6:07 PM

    Hi,
    I have a beautiful Adenium Obesum which flowers often. It has sent out two shoots one just above and one on the caudex. Should I take them off?
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous9:21 AM

    If the leaves on the Adenium Obesum turn yellow and fall off, is that from over-watering? Thanks, Chris.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sorry for the late replies.

    Anonymous, you could cut it off but it it isn't doing anything I say just leave it. If you cut it off though you could root it and grow a second plant.

    Chris,
    Yellowing leaves could be a couple of things. Too much water, too little light. Or the fertilizer. Let it dry out between waterings to make sure it isn't over-watering. I let mine dry out to the point that the trunk shrinks a little and it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

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  11. Anonymous8:04 AM

    Hi
    I love this plant and it is doing quite well in the heat and humidity of northern Va. Maybe a stupid question but is the growth which looks like an airplane propeller seed pods? If so should they be cut off to maintain plant health?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous5:50 PM

    HOW CAN I ROOT CUTTINGS FROM MY ADENIUM OBESUM ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:35 PM

      Stick them directly in soil. Don't overwater!

      Delete
  13. Anonymous,

    Sorry for the late reply but that growth is indeed seed pods. You can keep them and try to harvest them or cut them off. It is up to you.

    GoodBoy,

    Yes, you can see this post Propagating Adenium by cuttings

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous11:27 PM

    I live in Missouri, my adenium was doing good throughout the summer but fall came and I brought it in. The leaves began to yellow then brown then fall off. It is on a western window with a plant light on it. Plenty of drainage and I let it dry before I water it again. Should I just let it go into dormancy? How will I know if it is dead or just sleeping? How much water will sustain it without bringing it back?
    -Andrew

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  15. Andrew,

    Sorry for the late reply. But if you still see this...the leaves on mine browned and fell off. I brought them in a couple of weeks ago and they have started to grow new leaves again. If you're growing yours under a plant light it has probably started to grow again like mine. If it has broken dormancy I would just continue to let it grow now.

    If your plant happens to die you'll probably notice the "trunk" start to shrink first and or maybe the tips start to brown. When mine are dormant and in a cool area I don't water. I'll only water when they're actively growing.

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  16. Anonymous10:23 PM

    im curious why do u say watch out for the sap could u email me please leo_bright3@yahoo.com please and thank you

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous8:58 AM

    hello all
    i'm Ical, ilive in jakarta, indonesia, i just found this forum,i'm so happy. I have a beautiful Adenium Obesum but why it has no flower? email me please yll32khad@yahoo.com
    thx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i'm from Malaysia,i just bought two pot of Adenium Obesum 6month ago,when it still blooming in Beautifull Red flower but since then i had never seen this blooming flower again, it just cant bloom even it enought fertilize. Please help and email to me soo.malcolm@gmail.com.

      Delete
    2. i'm from Malaysia,i just bought two pot of Adenium Obesum 6month ago,when it still blooming in Beautifull Red flower but since then i had never seen this blooming flower again, it just cant bloom even it enought fertilize. Please help and email to me soo.malcolm@gmail.com.

      Delete
  18. anonymous,

    Watch out for the sap because it would be poisonous at worst and just an irritant at least.

    ical,

    Can't really tell you why it isn't flowering since I don't know you're growing it or feeding it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:39 AM

    Hi Bryan,
    I grow adenium obesum plants also. The soil has to be a bit porous, therefore you will have to use a bit of sand to lighten it. Desert Roses as they are called, need the porous soil that will enable the water to drain easily. If there is soil in your backyard you can mix that with the potted mix(that you will find in the garden centre,) and the sand. Do not forget to fertilize - miracle grow has a range that can be utilized.

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  20. realyy it is a good work. i gone the article with full of practical experience on Adenium.
    really good. i am also lover andcollector of adenium.
    thanks
    urs
    mr jyoti patel,
    orissa,india
    jyotipatek2k7@yahoo.co.in

    ReplyDelete
  21. really it is a good work. i gone the article which is a full of practical experience on Adenium.
    really good. i am also a lover and collector of adenium. everyone must collect and grow one from varities of Adeniums. it is a nice plant.
    u are also great, that u have potted and taking care in a cold climate country.it is too difficulty. really u r great. though, india is hot and easier for Adeniums.
    give some tips 4 adenium.
    thanks
    urs
    mr jyoti patel,
    orissa,india
    jyotipatek2k7@yahoo.co.in

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous2:07 PM

    My New Adenium has a very thin trunk. Will that get thicker?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hibbek, The trunk will get thicker the better care you provide for your adenium. It will continue to grow and grow.

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  24. I have been growing Adeniums from seed for the last 6 years successfully. To induce a full bloom of flowers one should heavy prune the stems early spring.

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  25. Thank you for sharing your info on this plant - it's been very helpful. I live in an apartment in S. CA, so the plant stays indoors all year by a South facing window and I keep it watered all year. Is it better to let it go dormant in the winter? Also, would you have any advice re: fertilizer (right I'm not using any)? Mine didn’t flower this year – just grew buds that dried up and fell off. =( One more question, the branches are quite long - can I prune now or should I wait until Spring? Thanks!
    -ac

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  26. Raju,

    Thanks for the tip on pruning, I'll have to try that and see if it works on my Adenium.

    Crazy Running Fool,

    Your climate is really different than mine, so you could probably get away with not letting it go dormant. Try a cacti & succulent fertilizer that it created for cacti & succulent plants that flower. Ask in your local garden center or nursery. Preferably one that specializes in cati & succulents.

    I'd hold off on pruning plants until the spring time when plants are actively growing, unless necessary by disease.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have several of these very large plants that have been growing for about 7 years. Every year I cut them back so they are bushy and not leggy. The average size of mine around about 3' tall and 6 ' wide and it is not uncommon for them to have 50+ flowers. They flower constantly except when the temp is constantly above 100F.
    They put off weird alien seed pods about twice a year. I've never tried harvesting the seeds or propagating since I have heard that they grow from seed very, very slowly. I live in the Middle East and the temps range from 50F - 125F. They do well whatever the temp but do love the heat. I keep them out of the direct sun when the temp is over 100F (June - Sept). Here are a few tips. I water mine generously and if they get to much water the leaves turn yellow and fall off. A few days without water solves this problem. I give them tomato food about 4 times a year. As they grow and bulb at the bottom gets bigger and wider. Ever year of so you need to raise the plant about a 1/2" (for a big plant) so the bulb continues to stick out of the ground. Don't be alarmed if some of the roots start growing from the top of the bulb outside the soil. At some point the huge bulb root will become root bound and fill the size of the pot. re-pot before this happens or you will have break the pot to get it out. FYI - I found a small one at Wal-Mart last summer and gave it to my mother in southern TX. It is happy and healthy there.

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  28. Hi Tom, Thanks for commenting and providing such valuable feedback.

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous8:46 AM

    how poisonous are these plants to dogs, fatal or what? my plant seems always limp ? to much water or??? flowers great but always limp? it is now leaves turning yellow and dropping ?...bb

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  30. Anonymous3:33 PM

    Thanks a lot for the info!! How often do you water during the growing season?

    Dave

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  31. Anonymous11:11 AM

    I have two Desert Rose plants that have been doing just great for a couple of years. One flowers all the time and one has never flowered; weird! They are both inside for the Texas winter. My questions? One flowered but all the buds have a thick white powder on them and they died. The powder is spreading onto the leaves. The other has leaves turning dark and dry on the edges. Never had this problem before and wondering what the issue is?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dave,

    If they are in almost full sun I'll water my Adeniums daily during the growing season.

    Anonymous, Without seeing a picture I can't say what the white powder is. I'd take it to a local garden center or nursery and see if they can advise you about how to deal with it. But from my experience you probably have some kind of pests.

    The dry edges on the leaves could be from water, that sometimes is a sign of too little or two much water. Check to see if the roots are crowded in the pot. If they are then the leaves are drying out because it isn't get enough water. If there aren't many roots or if you can see that the roots are rotting then it is from too much water.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous1:31 AM

    Hi,
    I am a senor citizen from Chennai,India.I 've
    good collection of the desert rose.I find from
    my experience for the past 3 decades propagation
    from seeds make a very healthy plant.The plant
    needs abundant sun light.I have 4 bonsai plants
    and one of them is 28 yrs old which is my pet.
    I intoduce the plant to my visiting friends and relatives.

    good luck to plant lovers

    Moorthy

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Moorthy,

    Thanks for the Adenium growing tips.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous4:37 PM

    I live in PA and have tried to grow these plants, only to have them rot in the spring after watering them for the first time since fall. I allow them to go dormant and bring them inside, and they do fine with almost no leaves all winter, but they always rot after only one watering in the spring. What am I doing wrong?

    Ben

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ben,

    Don't know if I have an answer to that one. Could it be the kind of soil they are in? Maybe the soil stays too wet after the first watering? If they are in a peat based soil that could be the problem.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous7:27 AM

    I Live in a very cold part of Spain and the info I find on line about minimum temperature it´s very confusing (it goes from 5 to 16 grades centigrades...). I guess, like in cactai, is always a good idea to let them "shrink" for the winter but, in your opinion, what´s the minimum temperature they can take???
    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous,

    I've left mine outside until it gets to be about 30 degrees where I live. Lower than that and I'd be worried it would freeze or become damaged. It isn't necessary to let them shrink, if you bring your adenium indoors and it is warm it will continue to grow. If it is still growing don't feel like you have to without water or put it into dormancy.

    ReplyDelete
  39. How old is your post? I missed it. I love these plants, but I think you saw my post on the oleander moth, the cats of which are devouring my adeniums. Incidentally, I've seen these growing wild in the Sahel. The Senegalese refer to them as "petit baobabs," and they really do have a resemblance to the true baobab (Adansonia digitata), which is depicted on Senegal's national coat of arms.

    --Penny

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hey Penny,

    It is a pretty old post. I haven't blogged about Adeniums in a while. I keep getting seeds for new blog posts and then I keep losing them. I hope to one day get a chance to see them growing wild as I love them.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous2:58 PM

    Hey, thanks for info!

    I keep my Adenium Obseum plants indoors. I wanted them to go dormant, that's why I stopped watering them in beginning of december, because there wasn't enough light for them.
    Now the caudex has shrank a lot, some leaves fell off and also the tips started to brown. I still hold back the water.
    Is it OK or are they dying?

    Thanks, Dave

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Dave, Sorry for the late reply...the caudex will shrink really drastically. In my experience it will bounce back, if you're worried, go ahead and give it a tiny drink of water.

    ReplyDelete
  43. ok i have had my DR for a while now the sun wasnt strong enough and the branched grew long and thin and i pruned them bach to about five inches from the stem and the branch ends went brown and hard should i be worried?

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  44. Dirk, it is natural for the stem to die back if you didn't cut to an area that has a leaf or branch bud ready to grow. In most cases the stem may die back and fall off like I think you mention. If you cut another branch I say cut to an area that has a bud or branch growing off to the side.

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  45. Hi, thanks for info!
    I like adenium obesum

    ReplyDelete
  46. Amazing that you raised these Mini Baobabs in Chicago! I'm tempted to try growing them from seed now :) what kind of soil does it like? Would succulents/cacti soil be OK for it?

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  47. Nakhoda, Succulent soil is ok, but you may want to add something gritty to the soil to make it fast draining.

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  48. Anonymous9:53 AM

    In tropical countries need ample sunlight, but don't need much watering. If laid outside occasional rain water is sufficient.

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  49. Anonymous10:59 AM

    My friend from Yemen said adenium sap could be used for cuts and wounds. I once cut my finger while trying to open a margarine can, quite deep cut. I had four stitches. As of my friends advice I applied to the wound some sap from the cut stem. It was sticky and I felt numbness. The pain disappeared for a while.

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  50. Anonymous12:08 PM

    I live in central Texas and my 12 year old Adenium Obesum has almost outgrown it's pot. Should I wait until it's dormant to repot? Also, for those of you living in the South and are having leaves yellow and fall off - check the leaves to see if they have little specks of dirt all over them - these are spider mites and they've been a huge problem this year here (sometimes there is webbing which also indicates spider mites). I've had to spray my plant about every three weeks this year with Rose Defense (safe for when you bring it indoors), it's a mild insecticide. I've never had this problem with spider mites before, I think it's due to the drought here this spring and summer.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Anonymous8:03 PM

    adenium obesum ...my mother in law just leaves hers outside to whatever elements come about and its growing taller, beautiful and the caudex is nice and hard...mine I just repotted, was careful to mix sand with my soil and it gets plenty of sun and I almost let it dry out before next watering but its not growing like other one and the caudex has some "give" to it, its jus not as firm as id like...any tips?

    ReplyDelete
  52. @Anon, Thanks for the info on how they care for adeniums in tropical countries.

    @Anon with the Yemen friend, WOW, that's crazy. I used to know an Adenium grower who would leave his Adeniums on the ground of his greenhouse so the rats would chew on the leaves and die from eating them. Glad it worked out better for you than those greenhouse rats. ;/

    @Anon in Texas, You can easily 'slip' a plant into a larger pot without disturbing the roots. If this is possible go ahead and repot the plant now instead of waiting for it to go into dormancy. If you repot while it is dormant and break any roots you could end up rotting your Adenium.

    @Belamybaby5, I'd say go ahead and treat it like your mother-in-law's plant and see if that firms up the caudex. Sometimes we care for plants too much and we end up babying them and they're not as strong as they could be. Succulents that are grown hard (meaning they're allowed to be stressed by heat & sun, only get rain water) seem to be bigger and healthier than succulents we fawn over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the reply, I am trying to post again and seem to not be having any luck. Im wondering when I should thinnk about pruning my 9 month old baby adeniums, I hear if you pinch the tops while they are young it causes them to branch...true? I don't wanna hurt my babies!

      Delete
  53. I have a Adenium obesium that has a small caudex and a skinny trunk.When It was given to me the girl thought it was dead and i wanted to see if it was or just dormant.I watered it,put it in the sun and it began growing 2 little stems and then leaves on them.This summer it did good outside with 3 short stems with leaves.

    My question is how can I make the caudex fatter and the trunk thicker it's so skinny and it's a foot tall from top of caudex to tip of trunk.

    Thanks you for all the information you share on here.
    Have a nice day
    Jelinda

    ReplyDelete
  54. Anonymous12:42 PM

    I purchased a tiny Adenium Obesum about five or six years ago from a gentlemen who'd started it from seed. It had a very nice caudex at the time, although it was tiny. A year later, I ran across him and asked why it was not branching out. He told me I had to cut it. I did so, and a few months later had three branches. For a while it did quite well, and then the problems began. I don't know if my taking it back and forth between Ohio and Florida was a detriment, but for a while it did not seem so. Now it gets beautiful leaves and shortly thereafter they turn yellow and drop off. I thought there was a possibility this last time that I'd overwatered, so took it out of the pot and let it lie on a newspaper in filtered sun for several days and also changed the soil. It's back in the dry soil now, so I'm waiting. The caudex is a beaut!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you're doing a good job of trying to stop the leaf loss of your Adenium. Hope it has worked out for you.

      Delete
  55. Anirban9:35 AM

    Hi,
    I have a adeniun plant which is about a feet tall..but it has got only one stem/branch and the caudex is also not thick..and its growing upwards very fast.
    I was just amazed by the Adenium bonsais of yours.
    So what should i do to make a proper bonsai. Please help..

    Anirban
    Kolkata, India

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anirban,

      Was your adenium grown from seed or from a cutting? From your description I am guessing cutting and those don't develop the fat trunks that make them look like trees. You could try pinching the tips of your plant and seeing if that encourages branches below that will fatten up the caudex.

      Delete
  56. Anonymous11:56 PM

    Hi, this is "anonymous from central Texas" I repotted my Adenium and it's doing beautifully. Only problem I'm noticing this year is that the leaves are getting brown spots on them. Some have died and fallen off. I don't think it's the spider mite problem I had last year. I have been watering twice a week instead of once a week and fertilizing it more - I think this has actually been good - the leaves are as big in May as they usually don't get until August... Thanks for any help - this is a wonderful website!!!

    P.S. I can't believe how many Adeniums the Home Depot here has started carrying (all with small trunks and a lot with wound limbs but still I'm surprised).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Usually, when a plant develops larger than normal leave it is because it isn't getting enough sun. The spot could be anything from a little burn/imperfect area caused by a droplet of water, bug poop or fertilizer. I can't really say, but maybe try wiping down the leaves of your Adenium regularly if you get too many spots on the leaves. Yeah, the big box garden centers sometimes carry some nice Adenium plants. They're usually where I find all the Adeniums I buy.

      Delete
  57. Anonymous2:09 PM

    I've had an adenium for just over a year now that I purchased through mail-order. It is healthy, but has never bloomed. However, many of the leaves come in wrinkled and twisty... not very attractive. I'm in Ontario, so it's indoors in bright sunlight from about September to May, then outdoors.
    Any thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A number of things could be affecting your adenium. It could be that they aren't getting enough light, the leaves could be wrinkling because there was a change in how much water it was getting, or there was a change in the temperature and humidity as the leaf grew out. Unless there's some major leaf or branch loss, I wouldn't worry about an ugly leaf or two on your adenium. Plants don't have to look perfect all the time.

      Delete
  58. I have two 9 month old adenium obesum seedlings. They are an inch or so tall and are just beginning to grow well; I have herd of pinching the tops to make them branch out but I worry its too soon or I will kill my babies. HOw should I go about pruning them for ultimate growth? Thanks for tips!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pinching to cause your Adeniums to branch out depends on how tall of a plant you want. Pinch it at the height you're comfortable producing more branches at.

      Delete
  59. Anonymous3:51 AM

    I've just bought my first adenium so these blogs are very useful. Thanks. I think I may have overwatered it already though - when we brought it home, my husband said it looked very dry so I gave it a big drink. I'll wait until it dries out before watering it again.
    One thing that would be handy is to know when the blogs were posted. Perhaps bloggers could add the date occasionally.
    Jill W Plymouth, England. 14 August 2012

    ReplyDelete
  60. I have 15 adenium obesum's that I started from seed in April 2012. They are growing beautifully on my deck in clay pots. I live in southeastern Michigan (Detroit suburbs). My question is...should I transplant them into larger pots before bringing them indoors to winter? The caudex are thickening nicely and still have plenty of room to expand.

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  61. I have 15 adenium obesum's that I started from seed in April 2012. They are growing beautifully on my deck in clay pots. I live in southeastern Michigan (Detroit suburbs). My question is...should I transplant them into larger pots before bringing them indoors to winter? The caudex are thickening nicely and still have plenty of room to expand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If they still have plenty of room to expand you can leave them where they are. If you repot them and break any roots you'll just be slowing down the growth of your adenium obesum.

      Delete
  62. The 4.5 inch caudex of my propagated adenium has develope an area of soft rot where it enters the dirt. any way to save it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JMD,You can cut back on the watering, maybe move the soil away from the part of the soft rot. If you feel comfortable enough doing it with your plant you could cut away the chunk and let the cut dry. But if you're not that experienced with plant surgery maybe just try not getting it wet.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:38 AM

      My Desert Rose was left outside and froze (all leaves turned black)in early November. I pruned heavily and brought it in side. Do you think it has a chance of coming back?

      Delete
  63. Anonymous11:54 PM

    Ive had my adenium since early winter and have had it inside with 2 fluorescent grow lights. I bought it in this tiny bonsai pot with little root room. I got a pot and am ready to repot what soil do you use for yours. Over the past week random leaves are starting to turn brown/green crispy mixture at the tips then taking over the the whole leaf perimiter. It dosnt look like any noot burn ive ever seen and i flushed for multiple weeks staight with no difference and have been on the smae feeding schedual since the beging havnt changed it and neer had a problem. Do you think its getting root bound or has a disease.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Did organic soil compost suit adenium..?or need mix wit abit sand?

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous8:10 AM

    I grew mine from a seed it is only a 1/2 inch high it only has 2 leaves, I will try some sand mix. And putting it outside in full sun. How can I make the stem get thicker? I'm afraid to pinch the top off, because it might kill it! I was told these can grow on lava rock? please give me some advise JS from Michigan

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  66. Anonymous12:52 PM

    hi I want you to teach me an easy way how to start with adenium obesum I am from Mauritius it a small tropical island need help please I am sabina

    ReplyDelete
  67. Anonymous3:13 PM

    Hi,
    can you help me with some advice about problem I have with my Adenium obesum plants. I would be very grateful.
    During summer they grew excellent and in late autumn some of them are even blooming, but when I remove all plants on colder place for dormant (about 50 F) branches start to shrink and wrinkle on same places, not wrinkling like usually in dormant , but on healthy branch, or on some place or on the end of branch it became dark, wrinkle, and leafs didn't fall off the usual way, it just became dark. Can you please give me advice what happened to them? I know it's not time for pruning but I cut off all those parts and brought the plants to room temperature (75 F)under artificial light made for plants.

    Thank you
    Jovana

    ReplyDelete
  68. Anonymous1:45 PM

    Hi I just bought my desert rose today and got it for $5. I am very excited but... I am also the one that can kill an air plant. I am hoping if I mark your page I will find more info as I go. I think I love my plants to much. I'm hoping I don't over water because I tend to do that. The young man that sold it to me said they love the water and they don't like to sit in water. So, do I put a bottom under my container to catch the water or leave it open so it drains through. ( it has drain holes in the pot) I have not seen a potted plant where it shows the entire container. just asking leaburgess22@yahoo.com
    thanks so much

    ReplyDelete
  69. hi, nice blog

    i was trying to find more. i have 16 rose valentines sprouted from seed that have just received there 4th leaves.
    another 6 weeks or so until summer has gone... but this is Eng;and, the heat wave wont last long.

    im thinking maybe they stay in all this year and through winter on windowsill so can still get winter light and house heat. maybe next year move to the garden at late spring etc

    my only issue is goes well and i end up with 16 on a windowsill, wife wouldnt be happy. i can put in shed which will still get cold but not as much as actually outside and has minimal light

    any suggestions

    ReplyDelete

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