Adenium obesum = Desert Rose

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Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Could I grow one of these as a houseplant in winter? I may "need" one. A cool companion plant for my Madagascar Jewel, right??

These are as easy to grow as their relative the oleander during warm weather. Fast draining mix, huge amounts of water and fertilizer. The warmer the nights the better. Almost nobody kills them in the summer except by putting a plant they just bought into too much sun. Even if you don't water, it will just drop its leaves and go dormant.

They're tricky in winter in a cold climate. This is when almost all of them die. If you can keep the plant always above 70 F / 21C you should have no trouble.

They have no frost tolerance. Big ones in habitat might freeze to the ground and recover from the underground stem, but a plant in a pot will not.

They cannot tolerate being damp or wet, and cool (below 60 F / 16C.) They might die after just one or two nights like this, unless the next day is a lot warmer.

They're even tricky in winter here in Phoenix. If you can keep them hot and bright all winter you may keep watering, and they will stay in leaf and keep growing. Otherwise you need to dry them out completely and let them drop their leaves in late summer, so the potting mix is bone dry before nights dip below 55-60 F. Then they need to be kept as warm as you can all winter, dry, with some light. Adenium expert Mark Dimmitt in Tucson stops watering his bigger plants (that need a hand truck to move) in late August or early September, to be sure they are completely dry by mid to late October. A plant in a smaller pot with loose potting media may only take a week to dry out, so you need to look at your weather.

If you can't keep them reliably above 70 degrees F / 21C during the day and 60 F / 16C all winter you can expect losses from time to time.

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Ha well I got sold some fake arse seeds a while back then
Lol

Many of the seeds sold on eBay are fake. Go with reputable sellers. Remember you need the proper US import permits for seeds from anywhere outside the US, or your seeds might be confiscated and burned - or worse. Overseas vendors rarely know, or ignore, the proper process for us to import plants and seeds, so you need to find out before ordering. A phytosanitary certificate is not enough.

[WaterWitchin]

I can easily keep them at 70F in winter, as long as they are okay being inside?

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Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I can easily keep them at 70F in winter, as long as they are okay being inside?

Yes, they should do fine. I might suggest keeping it dry and dormant in winter until you get the hang of it. Not many people have a warm and sunny enough spot to keep them growing through the winter, not even in a lot of greenhouses.

[DirtyCoconuts]

That’s good advice.

The rain cuts down here and I don’t water them in the winter.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Could I grow one of these as a houseplant in winter? I may "need" one. A cool companion plant for my Madagascar Jewel, right??

Sending you a PM

[DirtyCoconuts]

Kim- here is the "white" one...see what i mean LOL

Brogdon by J Solo, on Flickr


i have never cut one for shipping- how big of a piece do you want?

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Kim- here is the "white" one...see what i mean LOL

Brogdon by J Solo, on Flickr


i have never cut one for shipping- how big of a piece do you want?

To root a cutting, it is good to start with the tip of a branch, ideally about 3-4" long.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Word. Does it matter the season or growth period?

[JScott]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Could I grow one of these as a houseplant in winter? I may "need" one. A cool companion plant for my Madagascar Jewel, right??

When I lived in Oklahoma, I had one of these that I grew as a houseplant in the winter and it did great. Unfortunately, I moved to Tennessee, and I left it where it got too much rain (it is much drier in Oklahoma) and the plant eventually rotted away. But I had great success growing it as a houseplant until it died in Tennessee. I want another one. I think it would do great in Texas where I am now.

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Those wishing more information will find this useful:
The Adenium Pages - Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society
The book shown is the definitive guide. The first author, Mark Dimmitt, is also a well-known grower of orchids, Tillandsias and succulents. The second author owns the Tucson nursery Living Stones/Plants of the Soutwest, where Adeniums can be found.

Adeniums are easy from fresh seed sown in heat in fast-draining soil kept moist. They flower in the 2nd or 3rd year if grown well.