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ljameshi

Potting mix???

10 years ago

Hello everyone. One of my plants seemed to be growing fine. It had new little branches starting at the top and by the caudex but it felt soft and I saw a dark spot on it. I pulled it out and half the caudex was black. The cause grew a lot though. It was like 4 inches down from the surface. So I cut off the black and now I have it hanging. Apparently the soil was wet but looked dry at the top and was pretty dry when I felt it. Can you please help me on what I should use as potting mix? Whenever I go online to look I get about 10 different answers. Also can you give me tips on the hanging thing too? Thank you I appreciate it.

Comments (6)

  • 10 years ago

    Hi LJ, I am afraid its bad news!! Root rot is the biggest killer of these plants. I tried gravel,lost three, changed over to coco coir, lost three more, and have now switched over to hydrotone also called LECA. If you are in the US you may try growstones/non clumping cat litter etc. These plants need water in vapour form only and hate wet feet and any media which retains water including coir. My medium looks like clay balls but aside a few local adenium seedlings all my grafted plants and seedlings are now in LECA.


    Hoping your plant recovers soon. Don't get put down by these set backs eventually you will get it right. I think one reason we end up having so many is the fact that one never knows when any of these might die out on us!!

    James (HI) thanked Sinha
  • 10 years ago

    I may not be of any help here. I use either 100% Miracle-Gro potting soil, or about a 3:1 mixture of potting soil and pine bark. I keep mine VERY wet. I leave them 24/7 in drip trays that hold up to an inch of water. In my environment, I have yet to have any problems with rot. (I shouldn't have said that..)

    These things are always true with my use of this medium and watering:

    1) The plants are always @ 72F+

    2) They are actively growing.

    It sounds like your plants may need something more freely draining like the "gritty mix" that a majority here use.

    I am sure that someone will drop in and will be able to assist with that.

    Best of luck!

    James (HI) thanked jedobaTX9b
  • 10 years ago

    you live in hawaii same as i do, i use tons of cinders, and organic compost,

    James (HI) thanked Jericson Pastor
  • 10 years ago

    Thank you everyone for helping me. I really appreciate it. Especially since was so fast you guys went respond. I think the brand of soil I bought held too much water that's why had root rot. It would drain but I guess not enough. So I think I'm going buy perlite or some cinder. My grandpa get vermaculite already but would that work too? Thanks

    Sinha thank you for the information. But how do you give adenium vapor air. Also I saw another article on the internet about the clay balls but I never know if they was good. Can you explain what they do?

    Jedoba- It blows my mind how you keep your adenium. How do you do it? Most of the things you do I read should kill adenium lol. That's cool but


    Jericson- thanks for the advice on the potting mix. I probably going try follow your video. Where you buy your stuff from and how much they cost? Also I saw your update pictures and how did you get the causes so wide? I was tripping out. Thanks again

  • 10 years ago

    I tend to use any seed starting mix, generally they have no nutrients but I am always checking my plants every week as long as I have my heat mat and my humidity up they flourish.

    James (HI) thanked Bryan