Hi frank

do like judobatex9b said just keep warm and as much light as you can

roger

and the biggest CFL you can fit in a fixture won't hurt at all, and probably costs less than the plants.

look for 6500k or daylight CFLs (bigger is better) and you can probably find something like this at any hardware store for cheaper: example cheap fixture

They'll need to be on top of your radiator as well. To keep them growing through winter, they have to be warm. As in July in NYC warm.
Pagan

So what would the ideal temp be? My seedlings grew last winter at NYC winter indoor temps - about 70 F and probably lower at times in my house (heat is freaking expensive here). Maybe just because they were seedlings. I guess I may need to wrap my adenium shelf with mylar this year. I really like having them out though, watching them is half the fun.

Boy, am I glad that I asked!

So.... I will let them (the Adeniums) go limp (dehydrate) only long enough so I could braid the stems, pot them in a quick-draining, gritty mix, water sparingly, keep them in full sun, and grow warm. Use a CFL when dark and dreary. Got it.

Many thanks for the useful advise. Off to Home Depot tomorrow, for some light-bulb, and clip-on reflector, shopping.

Frank

70F (around 21C?) will keep them satisfied. I've had 6-month old seedlings survive 16C daytime temps and 8C night temps. But it takes all spring and part of the summer for them to recover from the slowdown.

To keep them growing in winter, they need intense light (T5HOs are your best investment but even T12s are good enough). But they also need to be warm. 26C is alright. If you have a T12 setup and place the plants within 2 inches of the bulbs, that will actually keep them warm enough to keep growing, albeit slowly. But 30C and above is optimal. If the seedlings are going to be braided, grafted or subjected to any other kind of disruption, they will definitely have to be at least 30C because cold temps make them slow down. If they are slowing down and trying to recover from shock at the same time, they might not win.

Bottom-heating is the best solution, this is why I suggested parking the seedling tray on a radiator. Put it on magazines if too hot, or on metal tray if not hot enough.Or get a heating mat.

Also, it takes at least a month out of the pot for seedlings to dehydrate enough to be bendy. Longer if it is larger and older.

Pagan

Pagan-

Just read through your new instructions. Will do. Bottom heat...will do, too.

Frank

bronx … all this, while you also need to stand on one foot, hopping, and pat your head while rubbing your belly too … hope you don't chew gum … *grin* best o' luck

Bragu-

Funny...but I think you are right. Growing a few Adenium is starting to already becoming problematic, and keeping them alive through NYC winters.... a PITA. All my planets, and stars had better be in alignment, too. But I will give it a try with the help of a high-wattage Daylight, CFL, and, some bottom heat.

Maybe/I hope.... I will still have an Adenium "tree" by next spring.

Frank

You'll do great this time, Frank. You have the technology!