Phil, the chunky A. obesum plants that I have are a cross-section of the many varieties that I am growing. So basically the more you sow, the greater the opportunity is that you get a fatty in the bunch. Trust me, I have hundreds of seedlings! I have noticed more of these fat compact seedlings with Mr. Ko's seed than I have with other breeders. But I have only been raising seedlings of Adenium for a little over a year, so keep that in mind.

I did read on Martin's post the other day that he felt that the variety of Kesorn's seed Adenium arabicum RCN was genetically predisposed to compact growth. I believe he ordered 100 more of this variety. I will let him clarify if I am recalling correctly.

Tracy

Ooh. Compact growth--my speciality lol Meaning, I have 2.5-year old seedlings no more than 4 inches tall, including foliage, as shown in a previous thread.

Any variety, in my experience, will grow this way if warmed, intensely lit and underfed. I've only ever sown in winter (it just kept happening that way)--if you are able to keep them warm (never below 20C at night) and well lit, they'll do great. If fertilized heavily, seedlings will need really really strong light or they will etiolate. I don't fertilize seedlings until their tips start yellowing and it's different for every plant. Some start demanding food around 4 months, others are fine until they're a year old.

Hundreds, Tracy? Hundreds?

Pagan

Thanks pagan that's good to know and useful info for me :)

Just a few words about compact growth: ;-)

Yes, compact growth can be achieved by exposing seedlings to high light intensity. Generous watering and nutrients does not lead to etiolated growth per se. You can push Adeniums to grow extremely fast and compact if the light exposure is sufficient (=intense) and the trait is encoded in the genetic makeup.

Some cultivars are genetically predisposed to, say, extraordinary compact growth or ramnification. And why not? This is no different from for instance breeding dogs. ;-) Some phenotypic traits (expressed genes), like the degree of "fatness", is something you can select by breedning.

Adenium arabicum "RCN" is a well-known cultivar not only sold by Kesorn in Thailand but by many Adenium growers.

- Martin

Agreed, Martin. And although I think humans should stop breeding dogs for freakiness, should anyone here decide to experiment with pollination in a clean room, I'd be more than willing to field test your seeds lol

Pagan

Thanks for the info team.

Rick, how much pruning did that plant get, it still looks young but already many branches which looks good. I chopped q couple of mine this morning and not sure if I was too eager or drastic,but I prefer to learn of young plants rather than ruin older ones.

Yes hundreds. :) Doesn't everyone here have this many?

RIck, that's a stunner. The trunk is darker in person, I bet? And of course you already know how much I like that banana-like plant behind it. Are those heliotrope on the right?

Not yet, Tracy. I am getting better adapted to winter though and the sunniest room in the house is going to be semi-vacated this autumn...lol

Pagan

Phil, this tree has never been pruned. This particular one has growth like this from the start. Of course becoming fatter as it grows.

Pagan, the trunk is a bit darker. These photo's sometimes alter colors. I love our Abyssinian Banana trees. They are so georgeous, their color and the way the leaves reach for the stars. Create our own tropical paradise on the deck. Bananas, Brugmansia's, bougainvillea, tropical Hibiscus.

Yes that is Heliotrope. Actually, I just found out that Heliotrope can be leathal to pets. Did not know that?

My friend told me this, but I cannot be too worried, as so many plants in the garden and in pots all could be an issue if they where to ingest them.

Rick

when you grow under lights, the plants have to be 2-3 inches below the lights. i use cheapie T8s and there is no heat from the bulbs.

Rcharles - no pruning, it's just naturally beautiful then :) always a bonus

Bragu - so I guess it would be tricky growing saofa mix of young plants and larger ones with the size difference, so assume the smaller ones would grow leggy then?

Phil, IMHO plants should have their own individual containers. ;-)

To solve the light problem, remember that mature plants and seedlings have different light requirements. But have a look at the T5HO's (High Output) bulbs. They have no bulky fixtures. You can easily fasten the bulbs on some sort of dome/parabolic shaped lid and put mylar plastic to enhance the reflection. The largest seedlings should be in the middle of the lightbox, then. My lightbox has a slightly dome-shaped lid.

Or simply raise each container accordingly to get them as close to the bulbs.

I can highly recommend Sun Blaster T5HO bulbs.

Are we talking t5 bulbs inside the tent Martin? I was thinking of the blue and red led tiles inside the tent or will I need say a t5 ho bulb and a blue and red led tile in the same grow tent?

Phil, are you satisfied with the LED tiles and their grow potential? How many LED's per tile? How many watts? In the near future, are you planning to take the step up and buy LED panels or T5HO's?

Martin, the light I have is 14 watt with 225 led lights, 60 blue at 465 nanometer wavelength and 165 red lights and 630 nanometer wavelength. I have no clue about these wavelengths. There is a link to this light on your other thread, with a bit more info but claims to be full spectrum lighting for growing and flowering plants.

I just want to get it right so that the plants get want they need and grow well but also don't want to buy things if it's the wrong thing for them or if I need to upgrade in the future as these mega expensive lights I see dotted about I simply can't afford....Sadly lol

I know it's not all about having the best or most expensive equipment when cheaper stuff can work just as well, it's just a matter of finding something decent the works for a good price - blimey do I sound like a tight wad lol?

A power consumption of 14W is not much. I doubt that the tiles can emit sufficient light to cover an area of, say, 60 cm x 60 cm in a grow tent - and grow compact Adeniums, that is. Before spending more money, I would test the tiles in your current self-made lightbox. How long have you been growing Adeniums in there? With or without a heat mat? Using LED's, a heat mat is a must buy. Seedlings respond really well to bottom heat. Generally Adeniums thrive at temperatures of 30-35 C (possibly up to 40 C). Less is acceptable but growth slows down under 25 C. To keep the soil moist, use plastic containers. And Adeniums like being cooked. ;-) In the growth season, treat them as tropicals. When dormant as delicate cacti.

Ok Martin thanks, I only had it rigged up a week or two max to be honest, but I need to buy a stat before I set it going again. If the tiles do work well they are cheap enough to buy a second one so I have two in the same tent to illuminate a greater area?

Wait with the tent, then. You should test the tiles more in your current lightbox - and use a heat mat as well. Buy an on/off termostat, light up the box and fry some Adeniums. ;-) In your case, you might have to put them pretty close to the LED's. 30 cm should be safe, but at that distance the light might not be sufficient. Hard to tell now. So there is no way around the "trial and error"-approach.

Until I turned off the light box the other day I had the 20w heat mat running along with the LED tile. The light was literally 3-5cm away from the plant's and they seemed fine to be honest. I dont have mylar so just used tin foil. I just found a hydroponic store about 15 mins drive from where I live, they sell the bud box tent for about £68 which is 75cm x 75cm x 100cm, which could be worth a look at at some point?

I guess I need to order my mat stat asap then :)

this one

http://www.thehydrostore.co.uk/budbox-pro-grow-tent-75cm-x-75cm-x-100cm-5823-p.asp#ln-5

wonder if this is worth looking into or just a marketing gimmick if pearlite/grit does the same job?

http://www.thehydrostore.co.uk/growstone-gs-2-soil-aerator-42-litres-5184-p.asp#ln-4

phil

You put a book or something under the small plant to raise them up. I use the plastic food containers. stack em with lids on and place another food container w/ plants on top … i have three sets of lights around the house, much to the angst of my DW … in the closet [top shelf], in the pantry [top shelf] and in the front room [in front of God and everyone]. She is embarrassed, I say it is my addiction, and most everyone understands. Except the prudes and cleanliness freaks. But even those, when gifted with a plant … will come to understand.

bwahaha