Hello Irun5K,

Congratulations on some fine looking DR's!!!

I also keep my DR's in smaller pots depending on the size of the Caudex. Then when the need is there to repot, i will expose more of the Caudex and lift it so that it is higher then before in the container (even pulling away some of the soil level to gain more exposure of the beautiful Caudex)

Looks like you have been taking good care of them!!! I keep mine in a very fast draining mix, and prune them back in the spring. This will help them branch out more and stay more compact and healthy.

You might consider pruning yours back in spring, they will really benefit from a good pruning and will bounce back quickly. (I would cut them back by more than half..) Then after an hour, place some waterproof wood glue on the ends to seal them.) : )

Keep up the good work and let us see some more pics!!

I also like to keep my DR's in Terra Cotta.

If you would like to see some pics of my DR's before and after i prune, let me know!!!

My DR's are blooming right now upstairs under grow lights.

Take Care,

Hope this helps...

Laura

Hi Laura,

I saw the pictures you recently posted- you've got some great looking Adeniums indeed. I think you are right, I will probably cut them down hard. Especially the tall ones that currently have no branching- those are just going to look ridiculous when the branch out so high up.

When you cut yours back in spring, do you get blooms later that year?

What kind of soil mix do you use? I've been using cactus mix... probably not the best option but it seems like we can get away with quite a bit here in FL :) Still, I'm interested in switching to something better if it is something I can find and/or assemble easily...

Thanks,
Brian

Hi Brian,

You will be so happy when you cut them back. I was so nervous about cutting mine back the first time, but when i saw the difference that it made...I was ready to start to cut again!! : )

I did get blooms after i cut them back, it did take a few months to look like a full head of branches and leaves, but they all did bloom in the same season more than once!

They are still blooming under the lights that i have set upstairs. Its wonderful to see blooms this time of the year. My Plumies are not blooming tho.. : (

When i first started with my DR's, i used cactus mix too. But i found that it wasnt draining fast enough for me. I then switched to the Gritty Mix for the DR's and for the C & S as well as some of my Plumeria!!! They just love this mix and i especially like it in the summer when i can just water them without the worry of them getting to much water. Or the possibility of root rot!! Like the Plumeria, they dont like wet feet either!!! Then come winter time, i do cut back on the amount of water and give the ones that want to continue to grow about 1/4 of what i would give in the summer. Sometimes i do have DR's that go semi dormant, but they are all active still. Once they do go dormant, i will give them just a little water once a month. Almost like the PLumeria.

Below you will find a link that may help you... : )

Let me know if you need any help, I can always send you some Gritty Mix in the spring to get you started for those little DR's. It wouldnt take much to change them over to a fast draining mix. : )

Take Care,

Laura

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils and Your Plants Nutrition

Hi Laura,

Ah, Al's famous Gritty Mix... I will need to see if I can track down the ingredients locally. I did some preliminary searches and it looks like I might be able to find all that I need. If not I'll let you know, maybe there is something we can trade :)

That is great that you have a setup where you can keep them growing indoors during the coldest months. If you can't have blooms outdoors then indoors is the next best thing, right?

Thanks,
Brian

Hello Brian, I too grow DR's and post about them mainly on the cactus/succ forum as they seem to fit into that category also.
Wow, what a great deal you pulled off there, 50 seeds for 5$, my last lot cost me almost 1.5$ each!! Your plants growth rate is awesome too...but I guess you have a distinct advantage over me here in the UK in that respect! I have only ever seen one DR for sale here and seeds are only available from the internet. I have 11 plants from seed at various stages of growth, incl 4 arabicums. One of my obesums has budded twice but the buds all dropped before opening like yours did...do you know why this happens?
Gill form the UK.

Hi Gill,

Yes they do seem to love the sun and heat- they'll take about as much as you can give them from what I can tell.

I think bud drop is often just an effect of conditions not being quite as favorable as they could be. In my case I think evening temperatures were getting a little too low and less direct sun during the day. I have not seen or heard anything to make me believe it is insect/fungus/etc. related like with some plants, although I guess it could happen.

Do you keep yours in a window, or do you have grow lights set up?

Hi there Brian, during the winter I keep mine in the living room in a south facing window. They're on a tray that overhangs the cill a bit so they get a boost from some bottom heat off the radiator under the window. However I have to keep moving them come nightime when the curtains are drawn, much to the amusement of my long suffering hubby, lol!! My biggest will be 4 yrs old this coming spring, others are younger and none have ever gone dormant. They live in the g/h during the warmer months. I too think that it was the lack of heat/sun at that critical bud time in Sept that caused the same one plant to abort two years in a row...this year it didn't even bud for me but all have put on a lot of growth this year. I'll post you some pics of mine in a separate thread as I don't want to hi-jack this one for you.
Gill from the UK.

Hi Gill...

Nice to see you!!! :)

Hope all is well in the UK.

I would love to see some of your pics...

Have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Laura