My 15-year old adeniium

10 years ago

I love this plant. It's been through so much. I grew it from a seed and it's now 15 years old. It was grown in partial shade (morning sun) for years, because I didn't know any better. When I moved, it was left out in the sun too long and got sunburned, in fact, it's had that happen twice now, so it's trunk is all scarred and scabby, but I've learned not to worry about it and accept it as part of its character. It still has a yellow spot on one of its' roots that is from too much water and too much sun, but I caught it in time and saved it. I just think of it as having character. Right now, it still has some winter-damaged leaves from being inside the hot house for so long, but it's full of buds and happy in its new spot, so I'm happy for it. I grew several from seed. One turned out to be pink, several for the regular white with dark pink edge, and this was the only red. I kept it because it was different. It needs a name, but one has never struck me for it.

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User
Original Author

10 years ago

Seems to me it would just scab back over, but I'm no expert. Like I said, I like mine's battle scars. Shows all it has survived.

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Comments (14)

jedobaTX9b
10 years ago
Very nice plant!
Marica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
10 years ago
Such character. Nice shape
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User
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you. It will never win any prizes, because it is too battle-worn, but it's hung in there through 5 moves in 5 years, and seems very, very happy here where I intend to stay for a long time.
Harry Ortiz
10 years ago
Great looking Adenium. I actually like the scarred and scabby trunk and the yellow color on the root.
User
Original Author
10 years ago
@Harry - Thanks. Me too.
Stuart( Paramaribo, Suriname) Hofwijks
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Nice plant and caudex.

Harry. What about using http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPreserving%20Deadwood.html

on the plant?
User
Original Author
10 years ago
@Stuart I don't understand. That is about wood. Adeniums aren't wood.
Marica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
10 years ago
They call adenium tree's We keep little versions to the original trees,

I think Stuart is thinking that you should keep an eye on your scars and scabs. They might be prone to rot. Then the article would tell you what to do or the people here could help. No worries if the area's are firm and not dark. They do take a lot of change and abuse.
Stuart( Paramaribo, Suriname) Hofwijks
10 years ago
Marica got me right. A screen shot from the link.
Maybe it can help if you don't want to look at the scars and scabs?
Harry Ortiz
10 years ago
Stuart, I don't think wood hardener would work on Adeniums. Although sometimes used on species of soft wood trees, wood hardener is used in Bonsai to preserve dead branches (called Jin) or long scars on the trunk (shari) of mostly Conifers. This gives the tree an ancient appearance. Because they are succulents, any dead branch on an Adenium would simply dry out and fall off relatively quickly. As Marcia points out if the scars on the trunk are firm there should be no concern with rot.
Stuart( Paramaribo, Suriname) Hofwijks
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Harry. Not rotted adenium parts. I mean for the scabs and the caudex to painting them with the stuff so that it becomes one color.

I scraped some of the scabs and sun burn off to see if it will turn to normal.
before scraping
Marica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
10 years ago
Interesting Stuart. Show us later what this looks like after it's healed Thanks
Harry Ortiz
10 years ago
Stuart, interesting idea. I really don't know what the wood hardener would do in this situation. One problem that might happen is that because the trunk on the Adenium is still alive it remains moist underneath (remember wood hardener is for dead wood) this in time might cause the hardener to eventually become loose and fall off. But really I don't know. If you try it let us know what happens. I do, however agree with dirtygardener, the scars make it look like an ancient tree that has been through a lot of hard times but is still going strong.