Bong, That is great and at such a young age. Cannot wait to see it open. Has quite a nice deep red/pink tone.

Just a queary. In your photo when I first looked. I saw a web going across on right side of bud to leaf top and upon further viewing. It looks like a group of webs formed on the underside of the leaf on the left (top left leaf)?

If it is spider mites it will damage the bloom and it will be deformed. Hope you do not mind me mentioning.

May not be. Maybe my eyes.

Rick

Rick,

I am glad I photo'd it real close up. I am not familiar with spider mites--I thought the flecks and stuff were dirt residue, and did not see the fine web thread until you pointed it out. I did a quick check on the internet and you are probably right. Oh boy! First oleander aphids, then rhino larvae, then mealy bugs, now spider mites.

It is 2:50 a.m. right now so at first daylight I will round up all those seedlings that exhibit the same problem and quarantine them. If you know of remedies I could try, I would very much welcome your input.

-bong

I saw something else alarming--a yellow flat oval something on the big bud. I further blew up the picture in my pictures program, but you could also see it on the above photo. Yikes!

Well, it is 7:`15 a.m., June 4, over here. I checked my collection and found another seedling that has tiny buds showing. This one, too, has a thread that I did not see at first until I rotated it in the sunlight.

Thanks, Rick, for spotting the vermin. And thanks, Pagan, for the quick fix. Can hardly wait for the buds to bloom.

-bong

Congrats on your bloom bong! I too have some seedlings about the same age. Seeing yours gives me hope that I might see some blooms on my Adenium seedlings very soon. I am looking forward to seeing your first bloom open.

Hopefully the treatment will knock out them buggers swiftly. Of course keep us posted. I am curious about what type of bug this is? Does anyone know?

Also I would like to know the answer to your original question about fertilizing while in bloom. If anyone has some insight I'd like to hear. Thanks!

Tracy

Bong, glad to be of some help. I have dealt with these many times. What Pagan has told you will definitely do the trick and multiple applications, definitely good idea.

I fertilize mine once in full growth in spring with 1/2 the recommended strength every week and if watering in between this. I water through with plain water.

I saw the yellow circular mark on bud. Thought it could be damage from mites, but would be worth checking it out. See if it is part of the tissue of petals or something attached. Gently see if it will come off and discard in garbage.

Rick

Wow good eye on that web strand find! Beautiful boom Bong!

Bud finally opened--9 days later. Smallish flower I think, but it looks good on the small plant. Flower looks large in pic because closer to camera.

Click on this link to see plant two months prior: Adenium Leaves Curled Under.

What a difference a little time has made! Still eight months old and producing gorgeous blooms. Today when I got home from work I found one of my tiny seedlings with some growth coming in on the tip that could be buds. Fingers crossed. Thanks for giving us the update Bong! Always happy to see what you are sharing.

Cheers, Tracy

Tracy,

Ahh--you noticed the error in age. When I first posted, I thought this one was from one of the first seeds I planted on Aug. 1--not--it was from second batch I planted Sep. 21. So--less than 7 months old! Believe it or not. Yes, year-round warm temps, high humidity, lots of rain, tropical breezes, humus soil, community living, and fertilizer will do it. And notice that the caudex is not fat--did not cut the roots, which would have delayed flowering.

-bong

Bong, That is one very beautiful bloom. I love the way the dark pink edges of petals bleed back into the white and I have always been a fan of the stripes in the throat of bloom. Like the Crispum or Somalense.

Rick

Bong, that is so beautiful and so fresh looking bloom. Great shape too.

Marie

Thank you Rick. I think, even though it appears to be a common flower color (I have seen it on some sites), that it is beautiful. Sometimes though, when I look down its throat (for want of a better word), I feel like I am invading the flower's privacy. (LOL)

-bong

Thank you, Marie.

very interesting Bong,
thanks for the post, it makes me rethink my next plan for planting....

Jane & Horrie,

You have me intrigued . . . keep us posted please.

-bong