Dense foliage issues

9 years ago

You would think that having a plant with dense foliage is a good thing to have? In some respects yes, more leaves=more photosynthesis=better growth etc etc, but for other reasons it can cause problems as I've just read Rick mentioning regarding the thick curly foliage on the Dorset Horns. Rick mentions that leaves can get missed amongst the thick curled growths and can potentially be a source of decay, plus pests are hard to spot and I wholly agree, but from a different angle.

I don't have any DH's, but have a similar problem as one of my plants has this dense foliage. It seems one of my originals that has for a reason best known to itself, gone on to grow a tight ball of branches. It has only ever been pinched out once in the early stages of growth when the apical growth was removed as a seedling. Since then it's decided to grow so many branches that this is what it looks like today. The second pic is awful I know as it's hard to hold the iPad in one hand and a treasured plant in a TC pot full of gritty mix in the other above my head for a pic! Plus, light levels are grim due to the gloom and rain so it's been tweaked to lighten it a bit....

Luckily, it's healthy and doesn't have any issues, but looking for them causes me to have to stand on my head to check what's going on up in the canopy!

Gill

Featured Answer

greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
Original Author

9 years ago

Thanks Tan. I'll do a post in a couple of days to show the growth that my small collection of plants have gained during this season. I have three obesums eleven arabicums from seed plus two gifted obesums, so not a huge amount! We need as many posts as possible to keep the interest going at this quiet time of the year don't we?

Gill

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Stuart( Paramaribo, Suriname) Hofwijks
9 years ago
It's a afro DR lol, maybe you should give it a very low nitrogen fertiliser?
ConnyNL (The Netherlands, 8b)
9 years ago
I understand your worries Gill, but I for sure wouldn't do anything about it: it looks fantastic!!!
Related Professionals
Sebring Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bartlesville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New Braunfels Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Gary Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wausau Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salisbury Accessory Dwelling Units · Vineland Accessory Dwelling Units · Memphis Accessory Dwelling Units · Barnstable Accessory Dwelling Units · San Luis Obispo Accessory Dwelling Units · Jonesboro Architects & Building Designers · Oklahoma City Architects & Building Designers · Coldwater Architects & Building Designers · Binghamton Architects & Building Designers · Everett Architects & Building Designers
rcharles_gw (Canada)
9 years ago
It is a gorgeous plant, Gill. I really like the full head of leaves. I think the combination of moisture and lack of air flow is what would cause issues more so on the curly and twisted leaves of DHA or some of the Mini's. These plants would be outside and getting wet or high humidity, I would imagine.

As Pagan had mentioned some time ago. The DHA plants/leaf form was similar to that of the "Indian Rope" Hoya leaf form. It definitely is much the same.

It is another one of those truly remarkable things with these Adeniums that we treasure. They are all so individual in their own way.

I like yourself, Gill started a bunch of seeds from Ko's "New Yellow" many years ago and kept the one plant. It has grown with tight branching of copious amounts and very thin, small leaves and Never been pinched or pruned. This is not typical for this obesum to grow this way. Even with pinching at a very early age, you would not think this would alter or change it's growth or leaf?

Rick
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Stuart, yes, an afro DR, very hip! Thanks for the suggestion of the low N fert, but after getting to grip with the merits of Chempak8 this season, my plants have all done the best they've ever achieved, so for the time being I'm going to stick with it. Thanks anyway:-)

Conny, hi there. I'm really taken by it, so all is good! As mentioned, they've all come through this year in good health with more growth...and I got the flowers on two plants as a double bonus, plus none had dreaded spider mites or anything else to battle with. Something must be right so hopefully it will continue!

Hello Rick. This plant is my favourite, the caudex is so sturdy. Growing these indoors as I do, my plants don't get subjected to the associated problems that high rain and humidity would cause with such dense foliage, so I do understand how it would be problematic in places such as Thailand for example.

I'm familiar with the Indian Rope Hoya from the Hoya forum I frequented a while ago. I sadly lost my lovely H carnosa that I grew from my Australian aunts cutting to the biggest ever mealie attack on the planet, it was gross.

Sure thing about these DR's all being so individual, a bit like us eh?

I have noticed this ones leaves are smaller than any of the others, and it is slightly smaller in stature than the others, but then it has the sturdiest caudex that is always rock hard :-)

It will be interesting to see who drops any leaves this winter...

Gill
tan808
9 years ago
Hi Gill, that's a nice healthy ade!