Adenium

Family. Apocynaceae.

Homeland of the plant. Common in Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Africa, it can also be easily found in many other countries. 

What does look like? The genus "Adenium" or "desert rose" includes about 5 species of perennial, unusual succulents from the semi-arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. Plants with thick stems and fleshy branches. 

Bare stems with a bizarre tuberous thickening at the base - a caudex, are crowned with leathery leaves, usually oval in shape. The shape of the leaves varies from narrow to very wide.

The leaf blades are glossy, light green or dark green, ranging in size from 5 to 15 cm. The size usually depends on the maturity of the plant and its location. In many species, leaves appear only after flowering.

Flowers can be pale pink to dark red, about 5 cm in diameter. Flowering directly depends on its growing conditions. 

The tree is provided with sufficient heat and water, which will extend the flowering period to at least two to four months, if not more.

After pollination, the tree produces fruits - pods with seeds, which dry and crack when ripe.

Height. Up to 5 meters in the natural environment. Develops surprisingly quickly and after 2 years already forms an attractive tree.

Adenium

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

It is possible to grow from seeds, but this is a rather lengthy process. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the maturity of the seeds - the pods should dry naturally.

The seeds must also be fresh, germination occurs after 3 - 5 days at a temperature of at least 26 °  C, germination is good. 

  1. The sowing substrate should consist of 50 - 70 percent drainage materials - for example, perlite, vermiculite or coarse river sand.
  2. Be sure to place a drainage layer of fine expanded clay on the bottom of the cups.
  3. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in warm water with growth stimulants for several hours, but you can do without soaking.
  4. The seeds are placed on the surface of the soil, only slightly pressed into it with your fingertips.
  5. Since seeds need high temperatures to germinate, the container with seedlings can be placed, for example, on a heating radiator, and when the first sprouts appear, taken to a brighter place.
  6. Sometimes a seed husk remains on the top of the seedling; it should be carefully removed while holding the plant.
  7. Young specimens are grown only in small containers with large drainage holes under a glass or plastic film cover.
  8. Every day, the crops are ventilated for several minutes and condensation is removed. 
  9. Remember that direct sunlight should not fall on tender young leaves - place the seedlings in a well-lit place without access to the sun.

If you sow several seeds in one container, then with the appearance of the first true leaves they will need to be planted in separate cups.

Adenium

How to root cuttings.

Vegetative propagation or cuttings are often successful.

  1. Propagation by cuttings should be accompanied by the use of bottom heating.
  2. Cuttings 10 - 20 cm long are separated from the mother plant with a sharp sterile instrument.
  3. The bases of the cuttings are pre-treated with growth stimulants and placed in a mixture of perlite and vermiculite.
  4. Most of the leaves should be removed from the cuttings to reduce moisture evaporation. If there are buds and flowers on the cuttings, they are also cut off without regret.
  5. Rooting can be done in clean and slightly damp perlite.
  6. The first watering is carried out a week later.
  7. It is worth remembering that plants obtained from cuttings often do not form a caudex.

Succulents also reproduce using grafting - flowers of different shades appear on one plant.

Adenium

Flowering time

Most hybrids and species begin to bloom in the spring when it is warm and daylight increases. 

Many bloom throughout the fall and winter - the buds appear in waves.

The flowering tree looks very impressive, with proper care it can bloom twice a year. The first buds can form at the age of 1.5–2 years.

Care

Grafting, shaping and pruning

Growing adeniums at home is most likely within the power of experienced gardeners, since this genus requires certain agricultural techniques.

It is a succulent that needs warmth and proper crown formation in winter. If you create favorable conditions, then in the summer it will bloom with beautiful large flowers on a sunny windowsill.

How to form?

The formation of the trunk begins at a very early age and consists of pinching young shoots.

The crown is formed in such a way as to obtain the maximum number of lateral shoots. If the flower stubbornly refuses to produce lateral branches, you can add them by grafting "onto itself".

Split grafting can be done even on the surface of the trunk. It is worth covering the cut sites with polyethylene film so that the moisture from the graft site does not evaporate too quickly, otherwise the cut sites will be very dense.

Pruning the root system of the plant also contributes to the formation of a thick caudex. Remember that fresh wounds must be blotted with paper towels to remove the oozing juice, and treated with disinfectant solutions for better healing.

After pruning, trees do not bloom so abundantly - after all, flower buds are formed on last year's shoots.

In the absence of formative pruning, the trunk becomes elongated.

Adenium

Flowering can be stimulated by arranging a slight drought for 2-3 weeks.

Adenium will be happy to be outdoors during the warm season, protected from strong winds, direct sunlight and rain.

Plants may lose some or even all of their foliage if kept in a cool room during the dormant period.

Very elongated and not very attractive specimens about six months old can be given the desired shape by simply cutting the top to the beginning of the caudex.

Do not be afraid that the plant will not have any leaves when pruned - they will appear later from the dormant lateral buds.

Interesting results can be obtained by merging adeniums - the result is a large plant with a thick, powerful caudex and multi-colored buds.

  1. For merging, trees of approximately the same height and size are selected.
  2. The stem is slightly incised with a sharp sterile knife at the site of future fusion.
  3. The stems are connected to each other with stretch tape or elastic bands so that the wound surfaces are in contact with each other.
  4. The dressing is changed periodically.
  5. After about a month, the trees will fuse into one single tree.

One of the most interesting techniques for forming the root system is adenium - octopus.

  1. The first pruning is done when the caudex of young plants reaches 3 cm in diameter - the lower part of the trunk is simply cut off.
  2. The bush is placed for rooting in damp perlite.
  3. After some time, a large number of roots appear in a circle at the base of the stem.
  4. When the roots reach 3-5 cm in length, planting is carried out in such a way that the roots are located on the surface of the substrate in the form of sun rays - along the entire circumference of the trunk.
  5. With each subsequent transplant, the bushes are placed at an increasingly shallower depth, resulting in the formation of a very attractive root system that is available for everyone to see.

Soil 

This exotic genus requires a very porous, well-drained substrate with a slightly acidic or neutral pH.

About 50 percent of the soil should be coarse sand or fine gravel.

As a top layer, it is better to surround the caudex with small pebbles or coarse sand to avoid rotting.

The soil should easily allow moisture and air to pass to the roots.

Adenium

Watering

Adenium is a desert plant that easily tolerates drought. The frequency of watering depends on the soil in the pot.

Trees are watered daily only on very hot summer days.

If the flower grows in a warm room, where the temperature is above 15°C, it should be watered regularly even in the winter months.

Let the soil dry out between waterings - a softened caudex covered with small wrinkles will indicate the need for the next watering.

With the arrival of spring, watering is increased.

If the bush is repeatedly exposed to prolonged drought, it may enter a dormant period.

For watering, use softened or simply well-settled water at room temperature.

Fertilizer 

When growing young seedlings, it is worth using fertilizers with a high nitrogen content (or balanced) and feeding every 2 weeks.

To form a large caudex and start flowering, you should reduce the amount of nitrogen in the soil and use fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

During the dormant period, fertilizing is stopped and resumed only in the spring, with the appearance of the first signs of new growth.

Liquid fertilizers for cacti and succulents can be used as a nutrient solution.

Adenium

Containment temperature

Choose a place with a temperature of no more than 35°C; in winter, keep it cooler, but not lower than 15°C.

Indoor flowers respond well to changes in daily temperatures, but do not tolerate frost.

A cool winter allows the bush to rest and gain strength for subsequent flowering.

If the temperature is too high - over 35°C - most trees experience slow growth and flowering.

Lighting

For proper development, the succulent requires a lot of sunlight. If it grows in poorly lit places, the branches become thin and the flower petals fade. Direct sunlight falling on the tree during the day in spring and summer can cause foliage burns.

In the autumn and winter months, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps is possible, since flower buds are formed at this time.

Please note that the caudex (base of the trunk) is very susceptible to sunburn. The base of the plant should be shaded.

Spraying 

Air humidity is high, regular spraying is necessary.

In autumn and winter, when the weather outside is cloudy, air humidity should not be increased.

Spraying is carried out only in the morning so that the moisture has time to evaporate from the surface of the leaves before dark.

If necessary, you can use a room humidifier.

Adenium

Transplantation

Planting in fresh soil is carried out as needed - the powerful root system can even tear the pot.

In a cramped pot, adenium slows down its growth and blooms reluctantly with small flowers, but you should not offer a container that is too large for it - loose soil will retain moisture drainage and the roots may rot.

When transplanting young seedlings in the spring, the roots and tops are often cut slightly diagonally - it is believed that this helps them form a large caudex.

The central root can be cut almost to the base, and the cut site can be sprinkled with crushed coal and dried in the open air.

In general, before planting in new soil, it is better to keep the root system in the open air for several hours so that the roots damaged by the transplant have time to dry out and heal.

After planting in new soil, watering is stopped for about a week - this will prevent rotting of the roots damaged during transplantation, and the tree will try to get to water on its own and will grow roots more actively.

Only a transplanted adenium can be unstable - make a support for the caudex from small pebbles or expanded clay.

Avoid pots that are too deep - small specimens should be planted in shallow containers to expose their attractive root system. Shallow containers will also produce a thicker, more rounded caudex.

Each time you replant, reduce the planting depth by 1–2 cm – this way you can get a beautiful tree with an open root system.

  1. The pot should have large drainage holes to drain excess moisture after watering.
  2. At the bottom of the pot it is worth laying a thick layer of drainage material - for example expanded clay.
  3. Instead of replanting, you can use gentle transshipment, moving the tree to a new home along with an old lump of earth. This procedure will be less traumatic for the root system.

Mature and old plants not only have impressive dimensions, but are also distinguished by their considerable weight, so both transshipment and replanting them cause difficulties. For such specimens, annually replace the top layer of soil 5 - 7 cm thick with fresh substrate.

Adenium

Diseases and pests

  • If the caudex becomes soft - this may be the beginning of rot - transplant the bush into fresh soil, cut off damaged roots and stop watering for about a week.
  • Even a simple stop in development and growth in the warm season should alert you - it is better to take the flower out of the pot and examine the root system.
  • Too damp and cool conditions can cause rot, especially during the first winter, with the leaves turning yellow, blackening and falling off, and the roots being severely damaged. The rotten parts are cut off, and the affected area is cleaned to healthy tissue, the cut area is treated with disinfectants, dried and re-rooting is carried out.
  • Deformed, twisted leaves indicate the presence of a virus.
  • Adenium does not bloom in the absence of a dormant period or in insufficient light. The tips of the leaves become dry and brown when overwatered.

Harmful insects appear mainly when the rules of care - agricultural technology - are violated.

Mealybugs suck sap and nutrients from plants and are usually the main cause of slow growth. However, they can be easily removed with strong water pressure. Also, among harmful insects, the plant may be attacked by aphids.  Spider mites can occur on leaves and branches. They are extremely harmful; to prevent their appearance, it is important to promptly remove old and damaged leaves and to ventilate the room with the plant well.

Purpose

Adenium is a beautiful flowering tree, which is often used to form bonsai, and this happens relatively quickly - in just 5 years.

Sometimes they are planted in small bowls to demonstrate a large and attractive root system.

Note

Be very careful with the plant juice, as adenium is poisonous - place the pot out of reach of children and pets. When working, it is advisable to protect your hands with gloves or wash them thoroughly with soap after pruning.

If the juice gets on the skin of your hands, redness and itching occur, if it gets on the mucous membranes, a burning sensation is possible.

With proper care, representatives of this genus can live for hundreds of years even in indoor conditions.

Interestingly, in some African countries, adenium juice is used as poison for arrows.

Hydroponics

Adeniums can be grown hydroponically.

Adenium

Adenium varieties:

Adenium Obesum

     The most common species in home culture, profusely blooming adenium. It is an evergreen succulent that forms a caudex - a large thickening of the trunk that allows it to store reserves of moisture and nutrients. It has spirally arranged leaves and white-pink flowers up to 7 cm in diameter with a long flower tube and 5 rounded petals. 

Adenium Obesum

Adenium socotranum

Although the genus Adenium is quite diverse, Adenium Socotra deserves special attention. This is one of the largest species, reaches almost 5 meters and has a cylindrical trunk (2.5 meters in diameter). 

Adenium socotranum

Pink flowers of the plant appear for a couple of weeks in spring; adeniums bloom only with good care. 

Adenium Desert Rose

This adenium is widely known for its deep, funnel-shaped pink flowers and swollen, succulent stems. It is often called "fat", plants whose growth depends mainly on pruning. When this succulent grows on its own, it can reach 3 meters, although there are cases where the plant reaches 5 meters in height. The plant easily forms during periods of its most active growth (during the spring and summer months). 

Adenium Desert Rose

Adenium arabicum

This variety resembles a baobab in appearance and has a squat and very wide caudex. The branches are short, twisting, covered with grayish or dark brown bark. The leaves are large, green, fleshy, the flowers are pink or red. It is believed that this is the most drought-resistant large-flowered adenium, which, in addition to the caudex, has a very powerful root system.

Adenium Somalense

Succulent trees up to 1.5 m high with a rounded caudex at the base of the trunk and abundantly branching shoots. The branches, trunk and caudex are covered with brown bark, which contrasts well with both the leaves and flowers. The leaves are narrow, linear, reach a length of 5 - 10 cm, have a matte, silver-gray surface, on which the central vein stands out as a light shade. The flowers are attractive, bright, up to 5 cm in diameter - with oblong pink or red petals.

Adenium Somalense

Adenium multiflorum

Deciduous flowering shrubs or small trees up to 3 m high, resembling a baobab tree in appearance. The plants have a caudex and a trunk covered with gray or brown bark. The leaves are green, glossy, club-shaped, the leaf blades are entire, and often fall off even before flowering. The lower surface of the leaf blades sometimes has a lighter shade. The flowers are collected in small axillary inflorescences, reaching a diameter of 5 - 7 cm, the petals are painted in white - pink or red shades.

Adenium multiflorum

Adenium boehmianum

Small trees up to 1.5 m high with a lush, spreading crown and a thick caudex at the base of the trunk, covered with light gray or brownish bark. The leaves are glossy, dark green, thick, wide, the leaf blades are entire, often with corrugated edges. The flowers are funnel-shaped, with 5 rounded petals of pink or lilac color.

Adenium boehmianum

    There are double adeniums with large and bright flowers and variegated leaves.