Adenium – The desert rose
Adenium, known as the Desert Rose, is a unique and captivating plant that thrives in arid and semi-arid regions. It is an extraordinary plant that showcases remarkable beauty and resilience in arid environments. Embrace the charm of these desert beauties and enjoy the rewards of growing and nurturing these beautiful plants.
Origin and Characteristics:
Adenium is native to regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is known for its striking caudex, which gives it a unique and sculptural appearance. The plant features succulent leaves and produces showy flowers in various colours, such as pink, red, white, and yellow.
Cultivation and Environment:
Adenium thrives in warm and dry climates, making it suitable for growing in desert-like conditions. It requires well-drained soil and prefers a location that receives full sun exposure. Adequate airflow and ventilation are crucial for preventing fungal diseases.
Planting and Potting:
When planting Adenium, choose a well-draining soil mix with sand or perlite to ensure proper drainage. The container or pot should have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Plant the Adenium seedlings or cuttings at a depth that allows the caudex to be partially exposed.
Watering and Drought Tolerance:
Adenium is adapted to survive in drought conditions, so it is important not to overwater. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and water thoroughly but infrequently. During the dormant season, reduce watering to prevent root rot.
Fertilization and Nutrient Requirements:
Use a balanced fertilizer formulated explicitly for succulents or cacti. Apply the fertilizer sparingly during the growing season to avoid overfeeding. Adenium has low nutrient requirements, and excessive fertilization can cause damage.
Pruning and Shaping:
Pruning Adenium is essential for maintaining its shape and promoting branching. It is best done during the active growing season. Remove dead or damaged branches and prune them to encourage a more compact and bushy form.
Propagation:
Adenium can be propagated through various methods, including seeds, cuttings, and grafting. Seeds require proper scarification and germination techniques. Cuttings are commonly used and can be rooted in well-draining soil or water. Grafting allows for the propagation of specific Adenium varieties.
Pest and Disease Management:
Adenium is generally resistant to pests and diseases. However, occasional infestations by mealybugs, aphids, or spider mites may occur. Monitor your plants regularly and take appropriate measures to control these pests. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overwatering to prevent fungal diseases.
Winter Care:
In cooler climates, Adenium needs protection during the winter months. Bring potted plants indoors or place them in a greenhouse to protect them from frost. Reduce watering and provide adequate light to maintain plant health.
Enjoying the Beauty:
Adenium’s vibrant and showy flowers make it a stunning addition to any garden or indoor space. Enjoy the beauty of its blossoms by providing the plant with optimal growing conditions, including sufficient sunlight, proper watering, and regular care.
What makes it unique:
One of the popular flowering succulent plants. Perfect bonsai-looking flowering plant. Popular house plant with attractive foliage. Popular low-maintenance plant. It has fleshy leaves and beautiful open-trumpet-shaped flowers. It is a succulent and forms more of a bush than a tree. Adenium can be a fast-growing and stunning houseplant with the right conditions. Adenium, a succulent plant, is more commonly known as Desert Rose, and the plant will reward you with its unusual shape, beautiful flowers and its tolerance of occasional neglect.
Things to know about ADENIUM
Common (vernacular) Name
अडेनियम (Hindi), Desert Rose, Sabi Star, Kudu Lily, Mock Azalea, Impala Lily and many more.
Botanical Name
Adenium Obesum
Origin
East Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa
Family
Apocynaceae
Plant Type
Succulent and Tropical plant
Plant Features
Ornamental : Ornamental flowers, Ornamental stems (Caudex).
Bonsai : Adenium is not a real Bonsai, It is a plant looking like Bonsai. But it can be easily to trained and make a Bonsai.
Landscape Uses
Container Planting, Bonsai and General landscape.
Species
Adenium obesum, Adenium arabicum, Adenium multiflorum, Adenium swazicum, Adenium somalense, Adenium crispum, Adenium boehmianum, Adenium oleifolium, Adenium socotranum and Adenium oman.
Varieties
Obesum and Hybrid.
Size
Height : 3 to 9 feet tall and Width : 3 to 5 feet wide when mature.
Indoors or Outdoors
Outdoors : Well growing and blooming.
Indoors : Can be grown, where it will get 4-6 hours of direct sunlight at a location (sunny balcony, sunny widows etc.).
Blooming / Flowering
April to October (Seven months). In some cases, 365 days flowering. Long duration of sunlight will result in a nice bloom. Shade will give only foliage.
Flower Colour
It’s come with Pink, White, Purple, Yellow, Red, Variegated, Striped, Picotee and many more shades.
Lucky Plant
The Chinese "Laughing Buddha" with big stomach is considered to bring "Good Luck" in the same way Adeniums with big caudex is considered "Lucky". Adeniums are also known as "Wealth plants".
Lighting / Sun Exposure
Sun Lover : Bright Sunlight or Full Sunlight at least 6 to 8 hours every single day.
Temperature
Grow best preferably above 20°C and can be tolerate max temp. as high as 48°C.
Growth Rate
Adenium is a slow growing plant, it can grow up to about 12 inches per year.
Watering
Water your Adenium regularly after the substrate in the container is completely dry.
Not tolerate overwatering.
Fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizer, or a water-soluble liquid fertilizer once a month.
i.e. - Bone meal (phosphorus-rich), Compost, 20-20-20 fertilizer (NPK), liquid organic fertilizer etc.
Pruning
Pruning of Adenium should be done only in spring (February). It is always better to do hard pruning, it encourages to new branches and shoots to appear and bloom on new growth. It is also a way to get rid of infected branches.
Propagation
Seeds : The best time to sow your Adenium seeds is in the end of Winter / early Spring.
Stem Cuttings : Grow from Stem Cutting can be done in Summer / Rainy season.
Grafting : Grafting of Adenium can be done in Rainy season, or better in February to March.
Dormancy Period
Month : November to February (winter season)
Drops flower and foliage, Watering minimally.
Avoid : Prune, Propagate, Fertilize and Repotting.
Container
Terra cotta or clay pot with shallow or wide in shape is preferred, as it drains well and dries out more quickly.
Soil Type
A well-drained succulent mix. Prevent soggy potting medium.
Our recommendation for potting mix : Mixture of gritty sand(40%) + garden soil(35%) + compost(15%) + bone meal(5%) + perlite(5%) + Antifungal Powder (2gm). You can substitute cocopeat, gravels, coarse, vermiculite, manure & vermicompost mix etc.
Soil pH
Neutral to Acidic pH (potential of hydrogen) - Ideally: around 6.0
Repotting
It is advisable to repot the Adenium 1-2 years preferably spring or warm season.
Maintenance
Low maintenance and easy to grow.
Properties
Toxic or Poisonous to both humans and pets upon ingestion.
Special Features
Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators like butterflies and bees.
Infestation / Pests
Aphids, Scale insects, Mealy bugs, Spider mites.
Diseases / Problem
Stem and root rot are one of the most common problem due to Fungal Infection, Overwatering, Faulty Potting Soil, Kept in Shade, Lack of drainage in pot that plants hold too much water than needed and have no ways for the water to out.
Some Glimpse of ADENIUMS
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