This was only done as I had my light and grow tent in place otherwise I wouldn't have done it, but I new there was a good growing environment for it, so the next pics (next year) you see of it I hope to show it in flower, just not sure now if it needs a slightly larger pot?

Top shot shiny leaves

Both trees quite happy now after a hard prune, the next task as they develop is to get them to flower, fingers crossed. I think the one of the right resembles a mini palm tree lol

Looking good there Phil. I am always nervous about pruning my adeniums (and any of my jade collection, but they do grow faster), I think so much of them I would positively hate to lose one now. They all seem to respond OK though so I do wonder why I worry!! Guess with just owning a few, I have 8, they are all the more precious. The 6 from seed have great sentimental value. Luckily, they grow in such a manner, i.e. very slowly, the need for pruning doesn't happen that often! The other two that were a gift from a fellow GWeb member, were rather tall so I did lop them down. They both responded very well and one in particular sent out a whole bunch of side shoots and is now VERY branchy.

I am still desperately awaiting my first flower to open, its taking an age to pop. Every morning I think 'today will be THE day' but it aint 'appened yet! The weather has gone really chilly hasn't it? It's not helping my buds to burst at all. Hauled a load of palms into the g/h tonight, but will have to take them out again to get the bubble wrap on, hey-ho.

Am also like a mother hen checking several times per day for my socos to sprout. Mmmmmmh, we'll see about them. I can usually get DR's sprouted in 2-3 days.

Gill UK

Cheers Gill, Yep it's certainly getting autumnal now with the drop in temps, although I was on a dog psychology course the weekend just gone in Essex and I stayed at a guesthouse is Southend on Sea and the weather was really nice. Check out the agaves growing on the seafront, you cant really get the size perspective from the rubbish pic but they were bummin massive lol

Phil don't you love the sheen of brand new leaves? They are so shiny. I agree that the one on the right does resemble a palm tree. Both are looking nice.

Hi trace, yeah they look like polished leaves lol but check the different shape of the leaves between the two plants, one has quite large glossy leaves whereas the other are more slender and pointy. If I can get flowers I will be well happy but I guess I will have to wait until next year to see if that happens?

Phil, just checked out your Southend pic above....was it taken near to Pier Hill on the Westcliff side? Am very familiar with the Southend area, spent many holidays there with our rellies in my childhood, also with our 3 and still visit now. Have great affection for it.

Gill UK

Hi Gill not sure what the area is called buy it's near the pier and the really high viewpoint thing you can go stand ontop of and see the view across the sea. There was larger specimens of these agaves too, very impressive. Never been to Southend before bit found a cracking guesthouse there to stay whilst I was on my dog course, back there this Sunday aswell for an overnight stay too but this time wife and kids coming too as a treat.

Couldn't see the size of those Agaves enough to appreciate them on my mobile phone. Good grief! They are huge. Are they hardy in this part of the country? Or must they pull them up every year?

I will try and get more pics on Sunday to show size better they had a massive one at the top of the hill bed.

I like the sound of year round flowering trace ;-)

Thought I recognised the area Phil, happy days.

Gill UK

Decided to Re pot the larger tree that averil sent me and raised it slightly to expose a bit more root. I take a rubbish pic with my phone as it looks much better in the flesh as it were but I think it's looking pretty sweet



Then this one I grew from seed ,dazzling light, just does not want to stand up lol it finds its way to keep laying down, bit it's appears happy and growing fine so I might just leave it be and let it grow however it wants to



That's one very laid back plant Phil, does it take after it's owner, lol?

Gill UK

Ha ha Gill, I used to be very laid back, still am a bit but I am turning into a worrier as I get older lol

PS - could not lift the kids over the wall in Southend to reflect the size of some of the agaves but I got this shot, as you see there are plenty of them and there are some adults walking down the steps not far from them so as you see they are a decent size

Are these Agaves in a more southern part of the country where it doesn't get as cold?

Thanks for the pic Phil, yes it was taken where I thought it was!

Tracy, yes, Southend is on the north coast of the Thames estuary heading upstream towards London. It's in Essex which is notably the driest county in England, not sure about the warmest, it could well be, but it's definitely warmer than where I live!

Gill UK

Love the way you have this tree staged, looks great! I would do the same with the leaning seedling, let it do its thing and see how it responds. Are these kept in the tent Phil?

Tracy

Yes tracy all my Adeniums are living the life of luxury in the tent :-)