Sunday, February 24, 2008

Adenium Trivius

Senior Citizen vs Junior Citizen

Adenium2 nubie van regency penghuni baru Jati 4 mesti salim dulu ama Om-Om penghuni senior. Inilah contoh kerukunan antar umat pertanamanan, hehehe penghuni gurun2 arab ketemu ama penghuni2 hutan hujan tropis amerika selatan. Judulnya ntar When Adenium met Anthurium hehe itu mah plesetan When Harry Met Sally.

Adenium Hunting in Regency

Rupanya ke regency tuh jauh banget dr rumah saya, perjalanan kurang lebih 3 jam, melewati pasar cipulir lanjut ke permata hijau, belakang alam sutera dan akhirnya.... ....regency bintaro hehehe alias nyasar bin kelewatan. Padahal aslinya ternyata ga kan lebih dari 30 mnt hehehe. Tp perjuangan itu tidak sia2, 11 tersangka berhasil diciduk di TKP. Uang tebusan bervariasi dari 12,5K untuk Lygo n Trivius (bener ga ya? Fotonya yg merah itu). 15K untuk Zahra n Cellona. 20K untuk Green Magic Dragon, Petit Green, si hijau Little Mermaid, Dottie, Axella (ini sama dengan Santa Clause bukan?). Ada plus2nya pula hehe Superba yang dah gede itu gratisan.
Silahkan menikmati hasil tangkapan berikut ini!


Multi Branches Adenium Arabicum 2

Adenium Hallucination

Adenium Funny Bunny

Friday, February 22, 2008

Vermiculite

Bruce ask:

The bulk of my soil is a prepared commercial mix from BWI called Metro Mix 300 Growing Medium. It is made up of 30 to 40 % horticultural grade vermiculite, Bark, Canadian sphaghum peat moss,horticurtural grade perlite,bark ,ash,dolomitic
limestone( for Ph adj)and a wetting agent. I added the following to the mix,( 10 % masson sand,10% coarse
vermiculite, 10% axis diatimacious clay) . It has been awhile but I nelieve this is pretty close to my soil mix. Plastic pots are used
As I have been watching this problem it seems to be associated with wet feet , some sort of a fungal,bacterial, viral, type of disease that tends to be in pots that don't drain as well or stay damp. the softness in the caudex moves up the plant until it melts.

I hope this info will help Thanks for the help!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!

Esteban's Answer:

Look,,,any place that can grow rice,Crawfish, Cayenne peppers and do Fíle Gumbo has to do Adeniums well
As all have commented ,Adeniums will take a great deal of water with full capacity drain in 10 min max or One is coveting problemsPithium and Phytophora(Damping off)Neither is cured...just stopped for the moment on the particular plant
As mentioned Vermiculite holds water so you don't want that I personally have heard every story the Ag sales persons give to sell their product and trust no commercial mix until I have tested it. I consider it like tobacco...Tobacco is great taste and aroma,but cigarettes are terrible as they are so little of tobacco.Tobacco is natural and cigarettes are man made ...even some of the socalled tobacco fill.OPne just doesn't knoiw what is in the mix...regardless what they tell you!!

I can seriously recommend to you to use 80% coarse river sand and 20% stable bottoms.With that mix ,one has a fantastic growing base for Good bacteria .as well as ...good worms that will aerate the soil and they especially excrete 64% N in their droppings.another bonus With Adeniums the problems are 90% pathological and 10% Plaga..so keep your plant pathologically well. Sick plants don't get better.either they die or the bad part is amputated... eliminated and then the good part willpossibly grow 10-20% of the time...never the same ,but can possibly regrow.I get 10% saved plants when we make mistakes.....If you have A.obesum seedlings ,you probably don't have a tremendous outlay and it might be better to set those aside in a sickarea if they aren't too many and start correctly.again As others have said many drainage holes in the pot are essential.Min 3 of
5/8" in a 7-8" pot.in case one gets clogged With the mix I use and recommend ,fill a 2 gal pot to 1 1/2" from the top with the mix...Flood to capacity and then fill to the top with water.If in 10 min you have dropped water level to below the soil level it’s a good mix better if in less time....
All plants just like animals respond to good food care and constant attention.Tread softly with Organic growing as it requires a greatnatural plant protection knowledge and attention to the plants.but then again brain sugery is easy foir a Brain surgeon,right! ! Most commercial growers won't risk not spraying and not doing things correctly as even so,their livelihood is still at risk due to the weather..and thieves.....

What I am saying is when One has an infection you don't beat a tambourine and pray...500mg of Antibiotic does wonders so get into the protection concept by reading and learning...You are learning right now with the results of a bad mix.In a plant habitat(where they live naturally) the best medicine is sunlight and rain...Nature seems to balance most problems except
when we begin to plant them in pots. I can go on and on and see that I am filling too much here... Bruce ,Contact me directly if you want to further discuss the problems. Growing plants is like a good marriage...there is no quick fix....

Atte,

Esteban McGrath
Loresco Tropical Plants
San Juan,Puerto Rico

Fly, Dragonfly and Arabicum

This is not a story of threesome or something like that :p
I was wake up earlier than this dudes and take their 'sleeping beauty' pictures. Apparently that my yard had become a home for some dipteras, ants, lizard, frogs, mites (hate these guys).

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Hijack

This cute hijacker came back this morning. She did morning 'adenium walking' and stop for a while to posed for me ;P

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Black Giant ain't that Giant at all

Reddish stem with short internode. Named as 'Black Giant' arabicum but I was shy with her outlook. I notice almost no difference since one year ago. Am I doing something wrong that this Giant doesn't become Giant at all?

Multi Branches Arabicum

Squat caudex, multi branches, lots of flowers. The leaves are hairy,thick and rounded like coin.

Mini Adenium

For those who love the saying 'small is beautifull' then he/she must love this mini adenium. Small leaves, stiff, yellowish in colour. Lot of branches. Very slow growing.

Mike Tyson

I called it 'Tyson' because the character of this arabicum is like the 'iron neck' Tyson.

Illegal Imigrant


Wanted!!! Illegal imigrant last seen on an adenium. Hehehe this guy fear none, infact he just stand there and posed.

Cristate or Crest

Cristate forms, or crests, occur when the cells of the growing point of a plant begin to multiply erratically, elongating the growing tip to form "fans", rather than the usual single growing point. This can occur as a result of genetics, or from mechanical damage to the growing tip in the form of sudden cold, insect damage or other causes. When a plant is crested, it develops a form which often is far more attractive and interesting than the normal plant from which it has come."

"The plant showing this abnormal growth are indicated as "forma cristata" or "f. cristata" following the name of the species."

Below is an opinion from Mark Dimmit regarding crest phenomena:
In most of the plant kingdom, the cause of cristation is unknown, but it is usually not a genetic character. Seeds from crested plants rarely produce crested offspring. The garden flower coxcomb (a crested cultivar of celosia) and a couple of succulent Euphorbias are notable exceptions. Crests seem to result from a physical injury to the growing point, perhaps frost, an infection, or insect damage. Crests are often unstable; they can revert to normal growth in time.

Mark A. Dimmitt
Tucson , Arizona ( USA )

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Bicolour Leafs

I grafted my 'Kirin' to this obesum bottom caudex. I was succeded in one branch but failed on the other branch. The result is this weird bicolour leafs adenium. Can't wait to see both of the branch produce its flowers, red and white on each side.

First Collection

Both of this adenium is my first and oldest collection. As I recalled, it was 4 years ago I started collecting adenium. I found this two adenium in a plant's seller in Cengkareng. One has a hairy leaf and big red flower. The other one I used as a bottom caudex for grafting of 'funny bunny' cultivar. When I repotted them, I found out that the roots was swollen and a bit looks like one in a meditation posture. 'Funny Bunny' is an offspring of the famous 'Harry Potter' cultivar. The one with distinct strip and red border. 'Funny Bunny' has a more soft colour. White flower with thin red strip which made it cute and elegant. I'll posted the flower's photo when it bloom. Love this exotic and cute adenium.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Adenium Thai Socotranum

This is one of my favorite. I bought it in a plant's show in Metropolis a year ago. Quiet expensive for me at that time and a rarity of its kind. It has 9 branches directly from its caudex. Very slow grower. Leafs are oval shaped, thick and shiny. To my surprise that in this rainy season, it show the flowers for the first time. Gladly I put the pollen into my 'Kirin' mother plant in hope to get a variegated white flower thai socotranum. The stem's colour is mild brown and shinny. To me, it's one of my precious treasure. Rather difficult for me to find this type of arabicum again and sure if i found one, it'll cost me much.

Probably a Cross of Thai Soco x RCN

This seedling of arabicum is fascinating me. Despite of its slow growt, with its still young age, its already have so many branches and start to give a lot of flowers even directy from its stem. The leafs almost resemblance of my other thai socotranum, long slender with shinny thick dark green coloured. I suspect this is a cross between a thai socotranum x RCN because it has so many branches and floriferous which is a RCN's characters while the leafs and caudex much resemblance a thai socotranum. I'll post another pictures during its flowers blooming. See whether the flowers will resemblance which one.

My Bluish Green Arabicum

This is one varian of arabicum which I'm still uncertain about the name. The leafs rather bluish green and hairy to touch. I have never seen this one flowering. Rather slow grower and the leafs prone to rot if exposed to rain water. Once, it was almost die due to rotten of its caudex. I pull it out of its media and clean and drying it, before planted it again on the media. It survive but left 2 holes in its caudex which finally make it looks older and unique.

Adenium Rooting Cuttings

I've had great success in rooting cuttings. The reason I do it is I hate to throw anything away. And I always know people who are excited to have a beauitful blooming Desert Rose plant !

I use a mixture of Jungle Growth and 50 percent perlite. I just take the fresh cutting stick it into the center of a pot with good drainage holes . I water threw then let drain and sit it in a warm sunny area. If it is cold I give it bottom heat.

I mostly just do this when I am prunning to shape my plants. I use a good size cutting about 4-7 inches. I do not use any rooting hormone. I like to prune after flowering is finished on a stem in order to get new growth for more flowers ! I only stick the stem in an inch or two at the most.

I root them like I do Plumeiras. I use to let Plumeiras dry before rooting . But then I fount I was putting the Plumeira cutting into dormant stage and then asking it to come out again made for a slow rotting process and longer time before it bloomed again sometimes two years.

Now I take the fresh Plumeria, Adenium cutting and put it into soil right away ! They root faster and bloom faster. Sometimes within a month my cuttings are blooming ! Pluemria and Adeniums are in the same family.

I keep it evenly moist . Before I know it the cutting has rooted and growing !

I had pictures of one I started small , it was warm summer best time to do it . It rooted and grew fast then I gave it to one of my nurses as a very good size plant ! She was thrilled ! I will see if I still have those photos.

The other day I trimmed two cuttings off stems that had stopped blooming as I keep mine blooming year round. Well I did not have time to fix pots for them so I stuck them in pot with Mom plant until I get to them . Their very happy !

I do not use any rooting hormones or do anything special.

Allison

Cutting vs Seed-grown Adenium

I do not agree with a universal statement that cutting and seed-grown adeniums are dramatically different. It depends on the species and the growing conditions. I label all of my plants because I usually cannot distinguish among them after several years. (And perfect grafts are also undetectable in time.) I have attached images of several of my plants below. See if you can tell which are seedlings and which are cuttings BEFORE you look at the answers at the bottom of the page.

The easiest species in which to distinguish cuttings from seedlings are the ones with the most dramatic caudexes - Adenium arabicum and socotranum. But there are exceptions among these too. I have some cuttings of arabicum that, at 4 years of age, are developing beautiful tall-conical caudexes. (I wanted to propagate it because the clone is everblooming. ) The parent has a squat caudex. I suspect that I will not be able to tell that they are cuttings in a few more years. I have a 7 year old cutting of socotranum that is now indistinguishable from the parent plant when it was the same age (the parent was a rather skinny specimen though). Adenium somalense grows very fast, and cuttings from my plants look just like their parents in about 5 years, only smaller of course.

The bottom line:
1. Cuttings of adeniums will often grow true to the parental form, but they usually take a few years longer than seedlings to develop a respectable caudex. In some cases cuttings develop a mass of thick roots instead of a proper caudex and thus remain more or less distinguishable (but some seedlings do the same thing). In other cases the caudex will be of a different shape than the parent's.
2. The main reason for growing from cuttings (aside from the aesthetic bias against grafts that some people have) is that it is much less labor intensive than grafting. However, some clones are very difficult to root.

Mark Dimmit

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Insecticide for Adenium's Pest

Imadicloprid is a chemical with several trade names…Merit and others…It doesn’t matter the trade name as long as its Imadicloprid. It is a Systemic insectyicide and takes about 2 weeks to work for 100% elimination of sucking insects,such as Aphids,White Fly,Thrips. and Meliococcus( Mealybug) I use at the rate of 1.5 oz/100 gal H2O so you see a little bit goes a long way.It is best used as a soil(pot) complete saturation.Mix only 20-=20-20 w/micros in the drench..

For knock-down ,One can easily use Acephate(Orthene) ,Sulfur and always combine it with Neem Oil and Vel dishwashing soap(2 Oz/gallon)

The soap serrtveds as a suffocant if the insects are hit….As you can attest,your plaga is on the underside of the leaves and in the “joints.Apply with a sprayer under the foliage and don’t be “ Maceta”(Stingy)

Non systemic insecticides have to be routinely applied soas to catch the instars as insects are produciung continually

On Adeniums and Plumeria in Flood ,I use Imadicloprid and Cygon(Demethoate) as both are systemic…

The combination may give defoliation, but I only find infected leaves to burn and fall…so in a way this is good….

About this time of the year in GH work in the colder areas,One can as well find other insect pressure…such as Mites and Snails here.For the mites(ácaros) I use Kelthane as well called Decofol…as it’s the best buy…There are others 100-200 times more expensive and probably even a more perfect solution as well.But this works for me…

Don’t let anybody tell you that water solves an insect problem…that’s BS……Aphids are a vector for many pathological problems and raising the humidity can jumpstart a Pathological problem..Hope Lumis of Sunshine Gardens on E-Bay sells excellent insecticides and if you run the numbers she has the best prices per concentrated oz of product.Look up Merit insecticide…and go to Sunshine Gardens.She sells less expensive IMDCP than Merit,but they are all equal and work well.

Get the right product for the job….Always…
Cíao

Esteban McGrath

Loresco Tropical Plants

San Juan,Puerto Rico

Adenium Hybridization part 2

I don't disgree with any of your comments. I wasn't trying to be critical of those of the creative process by any means. I'm an Artisain who has made my living creating all the time. But, when I create , I ask myself to define, what I am creating, how it will function and why, as well as I also think about the effect of my creations . Certainly our advancement has been because we have the ability to create and achieve our goals. But , in the procees many species of animals, birds and plant life have become extinct, landscapes have dissapeared, diseases have be spread , all I'm asking are questions. If you don't ask questions , you don't get answers.
Creating beautiful flowers and forms is wonderful, a mink coat is soft and beautiful ? Regan, said "once you seen one Redwood , you've seen them all, it was Grant who said , "the only good Indian ,is a dead Indian. I'm asking "US" the people attracted to beautiful plants, flowers and nature to think!! and be responsible and conscious of our actions , however innocent.
There have been many attempts to hybridize many species of plants and many failures. Why ? were the failures rejected? why did they fail. Maybe their growth was irregular, poor flowering ability, poor fruiting.
Our Corn, Maize comes from hybridization but, it is basically only from two species.If these species were to become attacked by a virus or disease corn as we know it would be wipe off the face of the earth.This could happen to wheat and other food crops.That is why there is a seed bank vault to protect and maintain our food sources from threats. I'm sorry I got too off the Adenium track. But there are plant lovers world wide and we are now communicating more easily than ever via the web and should be AWARE! A rose is a rose , is a rose, Peace, Stephen

Adenium Hybridization

The Adenium species origin is semi-arid or desert climate. It is now being propagated and hybridized in many Asian and other Tropical climates in tremendous quanities. Is there any threat of the species modifying their genotype to the extent that their physical and cultural charateristics will change from their point of origin.

2nd, with the amount of propagation being done and if in fact we are changing the characteristics by our selection process are we weakening the Adenium species.
I know that our selection process is to improve ,flower, caudex form, roots and other culutural aspects but, in the process are we creating any other problems? more susceptable to viruses, weakened structure ??

A thought ! plants and animals in their natural environment are subject to the whims of nature for survival. They adapt and change to survive,an evolutionary process. Mans intervention interrupts the natural forces and process.However well intended this interruption has both positive and negative results.Don' t get me wrong here. I have been raising plants and animals for many years and love our planet.Amatuer and Professionals alike in many fields have made major contributions toward conservation and presevation and rightly so, because we are the more experienced guardians . I guess the point that I'm trying to make here is that how far do we go in striving for the most beautiful flower? is it just about the flower? the most exspensive plant? When the sky is the limit ,will there be any sky left? WE are responsible !!
Stephen, Quakertown, Pa.

Adenium's Pest: Aphid

The insects you have are aphids. They like humid conditions in a warm greenhouse. They also transmit a number of viruses. Aphids are easily contolled with many insecticides - one I have used is available at Home Depot and many other outlets. It's a pre-mixed product (small bottles with squeeze sprayer) containing pyrethrum which works well. Malathion and many other insectices also work well. It is sometimes recommended to simply spray aphids away with a strong hit of water from your hose - I wouldn't recommend this inside a greenhouse since it doesn't kill the aphids and will likely only spread them to other plants.

Dave Palzkill

Adenium Fairytale
















I bought this plant as a very small seedling a few years ago. At that time I was hoping that I will get a new cultivar. My hope was elevated when I saw it grow with different kind of leaf compared to usual obesum. It has a long and slender leaf with few branches. In the end, it's a true beauty that I got. Check them out, guys!

Adenium Boehmianum

Adenium boehmianum is the most western species, coming from northwestern Namibia and southern Angola. This is also a slow-growing species, and must be several years old before flowering. The flowers are usually of a uniform pale pinkish-purple. This is also available, but not frequently grown.

Adenium Pepito

The flowers much resemblance to adenium 'my country' but this one has a bigger flower and more floriferous. Always a center of attention.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Adenium Cultivation

Adeniums are relatively easy to care for as long as you think of your plant as actually being two quite different plants with different requirements at different times of the year. In summer while in full growth, they should be treated as a tropical plant, watered abundantly and frequently, and fertilized rather generously. In the winter time they need a dry rest, and should be treated like a cactus, with only light occasional waterings during warm bright days.

Like most all succulents, adeniums, especially when dormant, are susceptible to root rot (which can rapidly kill the entire plant) caused by prolonged, overly wet soils. Therefore, they should be potted in a well-drained soil mix. Any light commercial mix can start as a base, but should be augmented with about 1/3 to ½ drainage material such as coarse (screened and washed) sand, clean poultry grit, gravel, or sponge rock (such as Perlite). If you use a peat-based mix, you should repot into fresh soil about every two years. Any type of pot (clay, plastic, or ceramic) is acceptable, but must have good drainage (be sure the saucer doesn’t retain water). The pot should only be a bit larger than the size of the root mass; significant overpotting can result in soil moisture retention and root rot. However, these plants are easily potbound, which restricts overall growth. So every year or two increase the pot size until the plant achieves the desired size. Another point to remember is that these plants can make MASSIVE roots. They are capable of breaking through the sides of plastic and even thin-walled ceramic pots. Many growers use a relatively shallow, bowl-like pot somewhat larger than the root system would dictate. The shallow nature of the pot allows for more rapid drying of the soil mass, while allowing room for root expansion.

Again, like most succulent plants, adeniums need bright light for normal growth and flowering. Spring growth in Wisconsin normally starts in February as soon as the days begin to lengthen. After all threat of frost, established plants thrive outdoors in the Wisconsin summer. They love our summer thunderstorms and full, day-long sunlight is ideal. If kept too shaded during the growing season, adeniums will develop unnatural, weak growth and will not bloom. All adeniums are very sensitive to frost and cool weather. As evenings begin to cool in the fall, plants should be brought back indoors and placed in a bright location where the temperature will stay above 50°F. Full sun is not necessary for dormant plants. For those folks with greenhouses, adeniums will thrive under greenhouse conditions throughout the year, but seem to enjoy at least a few good warm, soaking summer rains. But remember, these are drought-adapted plants and it’s not necessary to hire a plant-sitter to water them while you are away on your two-week summer vacation.

Provide ample water during the growing season. If your soil is well drained and the weather is warm and sunny, the roots rapidly absorb soil moisture which is lost through normal transpiration. In well drained soils during active growth in the heat of midsummer, plants can literally be watered daily. Adeniums are becoming favorite landscape plants in tropical parts of the world such as Asia and southern Florida, where rains can be heavy and almost daily through the summer; the plants thrive under these conditions.

Restrict water a bit during cooler, cloudy periods, and cut back on watering as fall approaches. Adenium obesum can be kept in leaf almost throughout the year, especially under ideal conditions such as in a warm greenhouse. In this case, light watering is acceptable, especially on warmer days, perhaps every week or two throughout the winter. But in many cases all the leaves will fall off your plant in the early winter. Some species, such as the fairly common A. multiflorum, have an obligate deciduous period for 3-4 months in winter. Be particularly careful when watering leafless plants; a monthly watering from October through February is adequate. Some adenium specialists believe that there is better flowering after a totally dry dormant period. Adeniums can be fertilized weekly during the growing season, using any good quality balanced houseplant fertilizer, but only at half the recommended label rate.

There are a few pests that attack adeniums. Spider mites and mealybugs are the worst problems but are readily treated with normal remedies. These pests are more of a problem if plants are grown indoors or in a greenhouse than if grown outdoors where natural controls (predators, rain) are so important. Mites can be particularly bad on some species and cultivars, building up very rapidly and resulting in total leaf drop. Affected plants will rapidly re-leaf once the mites are controlled. Plants grown outdoors during the summer can occasionally get colonies of large yellow aphids with black legs. This is the same aphid that commonly attacks wild and garden milkweeds. Interestingly, plant taxonomists have recently concluded that milkweeds are so closely related to the periwinkle family that they are now all classified together in one group; seems like the aphids were trying to tell us something!

The Rose that Isn't

For one thing, it has no thorns. But beyond that, it is totally unrelated to the rose family and doesn’t really even look like one. So much for common names. The desert rose is scientifically known as Adenium obesum, or the fat adenium, referring to its grossly thickened trunk. It is in the Apocynaceae, or periwinkle family, which, besides the common garden periwinkle, includes oleander (frequently used as floriferous landscape shrubs in mild climates such as Florida and southern California), the spiny Madagascar palm (which, or course, isn’t a palm at all), and the fragrant frangipani, or Plumeria which is grown worldwide in tropical climates.

Adenium is a small group of plants known from dry climates in sub-Saharan Africa and the very southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Scientists debate how many wild species there are of Adenium. The most conservative view is that there is only one species and a handful of subspecies or varieties. But wild adeniums vary dramatically from location to location, from short fat trees that resemble a small baobab to quite small shrubs arising from huge tuberous roots. One thing that they all have in common is that they live in relatively dry climates (or at least areas that have extended annual dry seasons) and therefore they have adopted the succulent way of life. That is, they store water in their soft, swollen roots and stems to allow them to survive through periods of drought. Another contingent of taxonomic experts conclude that the subspecies warrant species status, and further subdivide these into additional named varieties. A complete list can be found below; all are in cultivation and available through nurseries that specialize in cacti and other succulent plants.

But the most commonly available forms of the desert rose are Adenium obesum (using the name in its narrow sense) and its various cultivars and hybrids. These are showing up in garden centers and also in large chain hardware and discount stores here in Wisconsin and throughout the country. The most commonly available plants currently are grown from seed and are very similar to the true species found in nature. Young plants have an inflated trunk, sometimes called the caudex. From this fattened caudex arise several slender but soft and succulent stems which are sparsely branched in youth. Even young plants 2-3 years old and 6-8 inches tall can put on a beautiful floral display, with the pink to red flowers arising from the tips of the stems.

There has been considerable work done in selecting horticultural cultivars, primarily for flowering characteristics. Other cultivars have been developed through hybridization, using other species to cross with A. obesum. These named cultivars must be propagated from cuttings, which do not have a caudex, but which do eventually form thickened roots and trunk. Flower colors range through various shades of pink and red, to bicolor flowers with white, and, recently, pure white forms. Some have yellow throats. True Adenium obesum normally blooms in spring and summer continuously for many weeks. Improved cultivars bloom almost continuously if given proper care.

In nature, Adenium obesum is quite variable but can form a small, thick-trunked tree or large shrub. However, its size can be restricted by pot culture, and 20-year-old plants can be quite happy in a 10" pot, being only a foot or two tall. Because their size can be restricted, and because of the unusual shapes, they are becoming increasingly popular subjects for tropical or succulent bonsai. Given the right conditions, they can be fast-growing and rewarding houseplants in most any climate.

Adenium Swazicum

Adenium swazicum is commonly available from specialist nurseries. It comes from Swaziland and adjacent areas in eastern South Africa and Mozambique. It is of easy cultivation but is very susceptible to spider mites. The flowers are uniform in color, varying from pale to deep pink to pinkish purple. Blooming is normally for a few months in late summer and fall, but the cultivar Perpetual Pink has a longer blooming period. The stems tend to droop, especially in plants that are too shaded. Larger plants have massive roots and thick trunks.

Adenium Somalense

Adenium somalense is another variable species. It occurs from Somalia south into Kenya and Tanzania. In Somalia and adjacent areas of Kenya this plant becomes a small tree, to 15 feet tall, with a massively swollen trunk. In other areas, it is more shrubby and similar to A. obesum. The flowers are a bit smaller but otherwise similar to A. obesum. There is a beautiful miniature form of this, A. somalense var. crispum (see photo). It forms a very large thickened underground caudex, from which grow a few slender stems, usually no more than 1 ft. tall. The flowers are smaller than most other adeniums, but with beautiful red and white striping. It makes a desirable bonsai subject. A few succulent nurseries carry this form.

Adenium Socotranum

Adenium socotranum is currently the rarity of the group. It originates only from the isolated island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean south of the Arabian peninsula and east of the Horn of Africa. This is the giant of the group, with massive trunks up to 10 ft tall and 8 ft in diameter! For many years Socotra hosted a Soviet naval port and was off limits to most everyone, restricting the availability of plants and seeds. In recent years it is accessible, but the authorities are very protective of the natural resources and it is illegal to collect plant material of any type. Adenium socotranum occurs by the thousands in nature, but relatively few plants exist in cultivation. Occasionally seed becomes available from the few plants that are in cultivation, and nurseries and botanic gardens are starting to propagate this desirable rarity. But when the few plants do come on the market, they are expensive!

Adenium Oleifolium

Adenium oleifolium is another smaller species, with an underground caudex and a few stems to two feet tall. It comes from the Kalahari Desert of southern Botswana, and northern Namibia and South Africa. It is a slow growing species with relatively small flowers. It is available in the nursery trade but not often cultivated.

Adenium Obesum

Adenium obesum is widespread and variable in its natural habitat. It occurs in a broad band across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Sudan and Kenya. Its variability in nature is reflected by its variability in cultivation. It has a relatively long summer blooming period and can be kept in growth through winter in a warm and bright location. It is the most widely available species in cultivation and has been used as one of the parents in many of the hybrids. The flowers are variable in size, but generally about 2 inches in diameter. The margins of the petals vary from pink to deep red, and gradually fade to white near the throat. Young plants from seed have a distinctly fattened caudex and the plant eventually develops a very stout trunk. This is a highly desirable species.

Adenium Multiflorum

Adenium multiflorum is often listed as a variety of A. obesum, but is quite different in many ways. It is probably the second most commonly available form. It generally has a more slender trunk than A. obesum, and it has an obligatory, deciduous, winter dormancy. It generally blooms for 3-4 months in winter, while leafless. The flowers are abundant and possibly the most striking of the entire group. The petals are edged in a bright red band of varying widths which is sharply delimited from the white inner parts.

Adenium Arabicum

Adenium arabicum, as its name suggests, comes from the Arabian Peninsula, especially Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This is somewhat variable and it is possible that there are actually two different plants coming from this area. One form, from Saudi Arabia, is quite tall, up to 12 feet, and somewhat similar to A. somalense. The other form is low, with somewhat reclining stems branching from a spherical basal caudex that can be as much as 3 ft. in diameter!

Adenium Plowmanii

I found that this adenium is interesting. Neat appearance with stripped pink coloured flower and nice wavy leafs. It's much a resemblance to anthurium plowmanii's leaf. That's why i called it adenium wave of love or adenium gelombang cinta (Gel-Cin) due to it's ruffles leaf. The leafs are thick, glossy and dark green in colour. I suspect that this cultivar is one of the progeny of adenium somalense var crispum knowledgeably from it's small stripped flowers.

Adenium Compacta
















This adenium grow very slowly but it's appearance is breath taking. Look like an old plant with a close internode which make it look like a banyan tree or an umbrella. The leaves are very glossy. Quite floriferous even though small in physical appearance. My all time favorite.

Adenium Peach Mutated 2

This is the picture of an adenium the peach grafted on an old adenium obesum. After the grafting, odd thing happen which is discoloration of the flower colour. Sometimes this add to uniqueness as stated by Mark Dimmit, but sometime the flower become not perfectly bloomed. Hope it will thrive.

Adenium Kirin
















This is a very beautiful adenium. Rarely that a variegated adenium has a clear white flower. As an addition, it's floriferous.

Adenium Prominent

Beautiful dark red flower.

Lupa nama Adeniumnya, ada yang inget ga?

I forget about the name of this adenium, if someone recognise it, please inform me. This adenium has a white flower with pink border, in time it will turn into pink flower. You can see several flowers with different colour in one plant.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Mark Dimmit Comment on the The Peach

This is an expression from an adenium expert, Mark Dimmit, regarding discoloration phenomena of adenium the peach:

In my opinion, the grafting stock has a significant influence on the vigor of the graft, but very little on flower size and color. However, young grafts are often starved for nutrients, in which case flowers and foliage can be severely affected until the whole plant becomes more vigorous. I suspect that next year's flowers will be normal. If they continue to be different, you may have found an extremely rare mutation.

Mark A. Dimmit

Is Adenium Sap Dangerous?

Adenium sap contains many toxins. One of them is a class of chemicals called cardiac glycosides; these paralyze heart muscle. They must get into the blood stream to be effective. The Khoisan and other peoples of southern Africa use adenium sap as an arrow poison and to kill fish (which game is nonetheless then safe to eat).

Poisoning by eating is extremely unlikely because the sap tastes horrible. After a day of grafting or pruning, I scrub my hands three times with pumice soap (Lava), and I still can't eat a sandwich because my fingers still taste bitter. I have worked with adeniums when I had cuts on my hands, and experienced no symptoms, so it isn't a big worry. But be aware that infants have no sense of taste; that's why they will eat anything within reach. (Mothers: when do babies start spitting out foods they don't like?)

My friends with adenium collections have cats and dogs, and there has never been a problem.

Apparently not all adeniums are toxic. In some parts of Africa animals, including exotic cattle, will feed on some adeniums but not others. In other places not even goats will eat them.

Mark A. Dimmit

Adenium The Peach Mutated

This is a flower of adenium the peach which is apparently looks different than the usual adenium the peach. The colour is absract and no certain pattern, sometimes look like a dalmatian pattern. Some said it is a mutation, some said it is infected by virus, other said it is seems not a mutation nor virus attack, but it is looks like phytoplasmas infection. Adenium diseases associated with the presence of phytoplasmas typically exhibit a number of symptoms, include:
1. Virescence, loss of normal flower colour, green flowers
2. Phyllody, development of floral parts into leaf-like structures
3. Witches broom, proliferation of auxilary shoots
Etc, etc.

The phytoplasmas will move from infected plants into healthy plant by grafting (from rootstock or scion), but not by grafting tools.

It may well be that the plants with 'witches broom' growth and phyllody are phytoplasma infection symptoms. Maybe the color break in 'Peach' and Jade Peony are too- we just don't know.

Its my experience that the symptoms are variable- they will go on and off in the same plant and seem at least partly related to growing conditions. I feel growth and blooming are definitely affected, especially when the symptoms are severe.

Adenium the Peach

This is a normal Adenium the Peach. Beautiful flower and very floriferous. One of my all time favorite, especially when they're first bloomer.

Do you Adenium?

Adenium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, containing a single species, Adenium obesum, also known as Sabi Star, Kudu or Desert-rose. It is native to tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.

It is an evergreen succulent shrub in tropical climates and semi-deciduous to deciduous in colder climates, is also dependant on the particular species. Growing to 1-3 m in height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, 5-15 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with the outer portion 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.

Several regional subspecies occur:
Adenium obesum subsp. boehmianum. Namibia, Angola.
Adenium obesum subsp. obesum. Arabia.
Adenium obesum subsp. oleifolium. South Africa, Botswana.
Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum. Socotra.
Adenium obesum subsp. somalense. Eastern Africa.
Adenium obesum subsp. swazicum. Eastern South Africa.
These subspecies are often considered proper species.