Adeniums - home care, growing from seeds, names and reviews

Flowers

Adenium, or Desert Rose, belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is native to tropical Africa. In the wild, it is a long-lived tree, reaching several meters in both height and width. It is a tree-like succulent and grows quite slowly. Indoor varieties of the plant, of course, have different sizes, but still replicate the fantastic shape of its relative.

The African climate has hardened adeniums and made them undemanding, so caring for them indoors is relatively easy. The plant requires pruning and crown shaping, which can create valuable green art objects. There are many varieties, each with distinct appearance and some growth habits.

Characteristics of adenium and names of species with descriptions

Typical characteristics of the plant include a thickened stem, dense leaves gathered in rosettes at the tips, and large flowers of varying colors, from white to deep red. As a succulent, Audenium is characterized by the presence of a caudex—a thickening of the stem in the shape of a ball, bottle, or column. This caudex is the main element by which this plant is classified.

Botanists, since the 18th century, have been unable to reach a consensus. Many believe that caudex shape depends not on the cultivar, but on the frequency and amount of watering. Other experts favor dividing adeniums according to trunk shape, branching patterns, size, origin, and vegetation characteristics. To understand the diversity of adenium species, it's worth examining photos with names and descriptions of their varieties.

Arabicum

Native to the Arabian Peninsula, from which the species takes its name, it has a squat, massive stem. In dry conditions, it grows as a shrub, while in wetter conditions, it develops minimal branches. The leaves are large, up to 20 cm long, pointed, and glossy in appearance, but feel downy when touched. The flowers are pinkish-red and first appear at 3-4 years of age. They have a pronounced dormant period.

Boehmianum

This species has a subtle caudex and thick branches, reaching 3 m in the wild. It grows upward rather than outward, and branching cannot be stimulated by pruning. The leaves have a grayish bloom, are 15 cm long, and are elongated-cordate.

The flowers are round and pink. They appear quite late in life. The growing season is short—3 months. During this time, a brief flowering period can be observed. The rest of the year, the plant even survives without leaves.

Multiflorum, or multi-flowered

This well-branched shrub from southeast Africa becomes a tree only under very favorable conditions. The caudex is visible only when young. Over the years, it changes shape, with branches growing from an underground rhizome.

The maturity period, also known as the flowering period, occurs at 4-5 years. As the name suggests, the plant blooms very profusely. The petals are light with a vibrant red border, and the flowers are 5-7 cm in size. The leaves are wide and large. Multi-flowered adenium requires a 4-month dormant period with cool, dry conditions.

Obesum, or Obese

Adenium obesum is one of the most common varieties, thanks to its relatively early flowering (at 1.5-2 years of age) and its undemanding nature. Its habitat encompasses central Africa. It has branches with pointed tips. The leaves are glossy, lanceolate, and dark green. It doesn't always shed them, only during cool winters.

New foliage emerges in the spring with the start of the growing season, but flowers often appear earlier. Obesum blooms from spring to fall, and in ideal conditions, even year-round. Flower shapes vary widely, from single to double. Colors range from white to red.

Oliefolium

This species of adenium, also known as the oil-leaved adenium, is a low-growing (maximum height: 60 cm) and slow-growing tree. In its native habitat, it thrived in rocky, poor soils and poor moisture.

The stem thickens only underground and reaches no more than 30 cm in diameter over many years. Adenium leaves are glaucous or olive, long and narrow, about 6-11 cm long and 0.5-1 cm wide. The flowers are also small, up to 5 cm maximum, white and pink, often with a yellow center.

Oliefolium is interesting because local residents make a medicine from its juice for snake and scorpion bites, and sometimes, on the contrary, lubricate arrows with it as an aid for hunting.

Svazikum

This adenium has a well-developed caudex, which develops into prominent branches and aerial roots with age. Its typical height is 30-35 cm, rarely reaching 65 cm. The leaves are light, narrow, and long, with their edges curled upward from the sun. The flowers are 6-7 cm in diameter, and their color is a solid pink in the wild; after selection, shades of light and dark have appeared.

Hardy, it can withstand cold winters and even minimal frosts. During dormancy, its leaves fall. In its native habitat, it is protected by the state due to the threat of extinction.

Socotranum (Socotran)

This plant is native to Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean. It closely resembles the baobab tree in appearance. It is hardy and grows in depleted soil among rocks. Its columnar caudex reaches 2.5 meters in diameter and 4 meters in height, including a small clump of branches. Transverse stripes run across the entire surface of the trunk.

The leaves are green with white veins. Adenium is dormant for most of the year, leafless. It blooms late in the spring, becoming leafy for several months by summer. The flowers are pale pink with a brighter hue at the edges. This species is currently protected by the state. Even its seeds are prohibited from export.

Somalense (Somali)

The plant's name also hints at its origin. Depending on the location, the trunk height ranges from 1.5 to 5 meters, and its form ranges from a shrub to a tree with a caudex thickening toward the bottom. It grows quickly and blooms profusely with striking pink flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. It is very sensitive to cold.

Variegated species

This group is not a single species, but rather includes representatives of different varieties. They are united by variegation—the presence of mutant cells in the leaves that are incapable of producing chlorophyll. This results in uneven leaf coloration, with white spots and stripes.

Such plants are less resistant to difficult climatic conditions; spotting may disappear with changes in lighting, fertilizer, and temperature.

Miniature hybrids

Another generalized group of adeniums, created by crossing different species, resulted in dwarf-sized plants. These are primarily Socotranum, Arabicum, and Obesum. Interesting "lamb" varieties have been developed, named for the resemblance of their curled leaves to the curly wool of sheep.

Caring for adenium at home

Adeniums have grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, and the secret to this lies in their undemanding nature and simple care, accessible to novice gardeners without special skills.

Lighting

Adenium's sun-loving nature is determined by its location, so a south-facing window is perfectly suitable. In summer, it can be moved to balconies and terraces, where it will receive more light. However, it's still recommended to shade it from the scorching rays, as this can cause trunk burns.

Please note!

Insufficient light will affect the crown density, trunk thickness, and flowering intensity. To ensure your exotic plant receives 14 hours of daylight, you can purchase special phytolamps.

Temperature and humidity

Our summer temperatures, ranging from 25-35°C, are ideal for succulents; many species will tolerate even hotter conditions. In winter, it's logical to lower the temperature, as light levels decrease, and these two factors are closely related. 10-15°C is quite appropriate.

Interestingly, adenium reacts to uncomfortable temperature increases and decreases in temperature in the same way: it stops growing, and if these conditions do not change or worsen, it sheds its leaves completely.

Humidity is also directly proportional to temperature and lighting. When humidity is high, it should also be high, and vice versa: as the weather gets colder, the need for drier air arises, as it does in nature.

Watering and fertilizing

During the summer, water as the soil dries out, and during the winter dormant period, reduce the frequency of watering. Watering can be stopped completely if the habitat reaches the correct temperature—no higher than 15°C.

Adeniums aren't blessed with nutrient-rich soil in the wild. However, since their growth can be accelerated indoors, cactus fertilizer can be used monthly during the growing season.

Pruning and pinching

Adeniums are a good subject for artistic shaping, such as creating bonsai. This is accomplished by trimming excess branches with a sharp tool (for quick and precise movements to minimize damage to the plant), which is always wiped with disinfectant after each cut.

Advice!

When a flower requires minimal correction, pinching can be used: in this case, the tip is pinched off up to 1 cm with your fingers.

Both procedures are performed at the beginning of the growing season, sometimes throughout the entire period, but not during the dormant period. A day or two before pruning, the plant should be watered to ensure good tissue turgor. A portion of the branch is removed, leaving the bud and a few millimeters of shoot above it.

Diseases, pests and methods of control

If insect pests enter the home along with a diseased plant or contaminated soil, the succulent adenium will likely become the target. These include scale insects and aphids; sometimes, overly dry air can lead to spider mites, while overwatering can encourage mealybugs. In addition to mandatory quarantine, you should collect the pests by hand or with sticky traps, and then treat the plant with an insecticide.

In the wild, adeniums are susceptible to viral diseases. This can also happen indoors if the plant is grown from cuttings imported from Asia and America, where they were infected and carry the virus. The plant doesn't die immediately; it deteriorates over several years, changing its appearance. To protect other plants, it should be destroyed.

Transfer

Adeniums don't need to be repotted according to a schedule, but rather when there are specific reasons. These may include:

the flower arrived to you with poor quality soil - this could be due to transport or poorly selected soil mixture, dense and clayey;
disease associated with soil or roots - it is advisable to replace the affected soil with fresh, calcined soil;
a pot of the wrong size – the plant will do poorly in either a cramped or a too spacious container.

The soil should be loose: a mixture of sand, peat, and turf, with some brick chips and charcoal added. If you can't make your own, you can buy ready-made soil labeled "for cacti" at a gardening store.

When replanting a seedling, there's no need to remove the soil. Simply transfer it from a smaller pot to a larger one, complete with the root ball, and top it up with fresh soil. A different approach is possible with larger plants. Typically, with each subsequent planting, the roots are exposed further, raised above the soil for decorative purposes. Therefore, it's a good idea to wash them before planting.

If a root is damaged during manipulation, sprinkle it with charcoal or activated charcoal to help the wound dry. Water the adenium before, not after, planting.

Technology of growing adeniums from seeds

Propagating adeniums from seed at home has its drawbacks, for example, there's no 100% guarantee that the parent variety will grow. However, the owner has the opportunity to shape the caudex as desired, starting from a very early age.

Preparation of planting material

At the beginning of the process, the seeds undergo treatment. This weeds out any dead seeds, and the rest are "awakened" to grow. The preparation process looks like this:

Soak the plant for half an hour in a fungicide or potassium permanganate solution.
Dilute the growth stimulator and soak the seeds in it for 2 hours.
Collect and discard all floating seeds.
Seed preparation

Sometimes gardeners germinate seeds to ensure a successful outcome. To do this, they place the seeds on a cotton pad or cloth, moisten them, and keep them on a windowsill until a small root is visible. Sometimes they even keep them there until the first leaves appear.

How to sow seeds correctly

The soil for planting is the same as for replanting mature adeniums, but with a higher percentage of peat and sand to ensure looseness. Perlite is also helpful. The following procedure is needed:

spread the substrate into containers and place the seeds horizontally on top;
sprinkle them with a 1 cm layer;
moisten the top layer with a spray bottle;
Cover the crops with a transparent lid or film, creating a greenhouse with a microclimate.

Caring for crops, replanting

The containers should be kept warm—at 25-30°C—and ventilated, removing the covering. Seedlings should appear in no more than two weeks. Then, remove the covering and provide diffused light, initially, and then, after two leaves have emerged, full sunlight, as for a mature adenium.

Once the leaves appear and the adenium reaches 1-2 months of age, you can help it with mineral fertilizers diluted with water. At 3-4 months, the seedlings can be transplanted into larger containers, filling them halfway with drainage material and then topping them with soil.

The most common mistakes

There's nothing superfluous in this simple growing sequence. Missing any of the suggested steps could result in lost plants. For example, failing to discard floating seeds will increase the amount of unnecessary work, as some seedlings will fail to germinate. Failure to soak the adenium in a fungicide can destroy the tiny adenium in its first days of life.

The same consequences can occur without ventilation; excessive humidity will cause mold growth. Even dusting the seeds has its uses: a thin layer won't hold the seed coat in place long enough for the sprout to break free. In this case, you'll have to use your hands and tweezers—it's delicate work, and there's a risk of damaging the plant.

Reviews of Adenium Care

Often, reviews from real people help determine the right plant and variety. Growing experience can help avoid care mistakes:

Anna M.: "My friends gave me this. I wasn't particularly hopeful it would survive; my flowers never lasted long. But this one has been alive and blooming for two years now, which is amazing. So, to thank it, I reread all the care instructions, and it turns out it's truly easy to care for."

Vadim S.: "After a tour of the botanical garden's greenhouses, I was inspired to grow them. I ordered seeds after thoroughly researching the subject. Now I have six-month-old seedlings, none of which have died, and they're growing and bringing joy to the whole family. It's interesting that even these little ones are shaped like adults, with a thick, columnar trunk."

Olga R.: "My apartment is very humid, on the first floor, with north-facing windows. I bought an adenium, and it's still alive, but it looks bad, like it's sick. I don't know, I checked the soil, I'm keeping an eye on the watering, but apparently humidity and good lighting are more important for it."

Frequently asked questions about growing

How to spray a flower correctly?

If it's summer and the hygrometer shows below 50%, raise the humidity with a spray bottle and filtered water. When spraying, use a fine mist nozzle and spray water around the adenium, creating a mist cloud. It's important to avoid any droplets falling on the petals.

Is it normal for adenium leaves to turn yellow and fall off in autumn?

Yes, most of these plants enter a dormant period in winter, and vegetation ceases. This is how adeniums react to lower temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Ensure a balance of these factors so that all parameters correspond to winter dormancy.

Is the flower poisonous?

Yes, adenium contains sap, substances whose effects varying degrees when ingested or consumed on the skin. Some species have venom that alters behavior, affects the psyche, and is lethal. Some African tribes coated their arrows with this sap as a deadly weapon.

When and how often should adenium be repotted?

Repotting should be done in spring or summer, during the growing season. The frequency depends on the plant's growth rate, as it's important to ensure its roots are neither too crowded nor too loose. A rough guideline is once a year, but this isn't universal.

Adenium is an unusual, exotic plant that is easy to care for. It attracts attention with its vibrant flowers and unusually shaped stem, which can store water. It is suitable for both experienced and novice gardeners.