Help with Desert Rose (Adenium Obesum)

[Fuerte Rav]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

How do you keep them so short Fuerte Rav? Mine just keep getting taller, and taller, and taller...

I reckon it's our light: strong clear sun all day virtually every day so they're not reaching for the light. I start the seedlings in bright conditions and keep them that way, then they don't need much adjustment to going outside. My outside plants get full sun until 1 hour before sunset in summer and full sun all day in winter. They're in a well draining mix and get watered well once a week with orchid leftovers, so Kelpak, cal mag, 8-8-8, or plain water, whatever I've used most recently, I don't keep track for them

ES: Selling seed - nah, thanks for the idea but I like trying to germinate them and getting the plants started, then I give them to friends or sell them on our charity table once a month (dog rescue). I've been looking online to get some different seed (different colours) but I'm really reluctant to give my financial detail to possible scammers - thinking of the orchid seed, rainbow roses etc. I'll have to look again, note the seller's name, and see if anyone on here recognises them as a genuine business.

[Fuerte Rav]

The seeds pods are ripening from my second flush of flowers this year and the first pods split today. I've learnt to tape the pods when they get a fair size so that I don't loose the seeds when the pods split!

The first pod had 50 seeds! My starter cells take 15 so I did three trays, 45 seeds, discarding a few that were paper thin. The other pod I gave to a friend - I mean , how many can you look after at a time?


After I had sown them, using my normal method, I came across a YouTube video where the guy started them in water and then potted them after they sprouted. Has anyone on here tried this? Do they transplant fairly well when so new?

[estación seca]

I never used water.

[Fuerte Rav]

My last batch of seedlings have developed nice little caudexes but none are showing signs of multiple growths so I took the bull by the horns and sliced the top off of one today in the hope of forcing more leads. I also placed the cut off top in a bit of Kelpak - perhaps it will root, who knows?






Both my main plants are putting out loads of new seed pods - I counted at least 11 pods on one of the plants!

[WaterWitchin]

This winter I whacked the top off my three. They're branching out well now, but sure took their sweet time doing so.

I read somewhere that the cuttings wouldn't develop a big caudex. I gave mine away, but am interested to see with time whether that's fact or fiction.