Gorgeous caudex and blooms! Is the caudex typical of the NOID?

Eeyore, thank you.

The multibranched above-ground fat caudex is a characteristic of the wildtype Adenium arabicum but some have a more conical tree-like caudex.

I don't know the parents of my arabicum. Hence NOID (= "no id"). I just bought some seeds labelled "Adenium arabicum".

Tyler, a fair guess would be 2-3 months if the growing conditions are good (high temps and light intensity etc.). That being said, genetics must be a factor and hence variation is to be expected. I can already see a difference between the seed pods on my arabicum compared to the ones on my obesum. The obesum pods are fattening up quickly and I expect them to reach gigant/lower arm size within the next month. ;-)

Btw, the arabicum pods have each reached 6.3 inches/16 cm in length. I had to rearrange my adeniums in the tent. More photos on Sunday. ;-)

Very cool, Martin. Can't wait to see!

Thank you,

Tyler

tyler, thank you for thanking martin for more pictures. we all thank you.

Update

After 5 weeks, pollination #1 (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW'):

One pod is now measuring 7.5 inches/19.0 cm, the other pod 6.9 inches/17.5 cm.

Pollination #2 on the same plant (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium obesum NOID):

It seems that the plant is channeling most of its energy into seed pod growth. The caudex hasn't grown the past month and there has been virtually no stem elongation.

Quite the handlebar mustache going on there!

So, Martin, your plants grow so much you can actually notice a difference from one month to the next? Do you measure them or just eyeball it?

Thanks for the great pics!

Tyler

Well, I measure and take a lot of photos for comparison and documentation. ;-) I would say that the caudices of the majority of my arabicums in my tent have grown about 0.2 inches/0.5 cm (width) each month on average. I expect 1.6-2 inch/4-5 cm caudices within the first year. ;-)

I have 3 adeniums with caudices (excluding roots) up to 5.1 inches/13 cm all grown in 20-21 months (including a few months of dormancy). They probably could have been bigger, if I hadn't pruned and pinched them several times.

So, under good growing conditions, arabicums, somalenses and obesums grow super fast within the first years.

22-11-2015 (4 inch container):

About 10 months later:

01-10-2016 (12 inch pot):

Wow! Impressive!

Eeyore94, thank you. :-)

And of course, the first few months seedlings don't increase their "girths" by 0.2 inches each month. ;-) But in my experience after, say, 4-6 months they take off.

WOW! That plant is stout!!

Rob

Update

After 5 weeks, pollination #1 (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW'):

After about 7.5 weeks (today):

The pod growth (elongation) has slowed down. The largest pod has increased its length from 7.5 inches/19.0 cm to 9.3 inches/23.5 cm.

Martin,

How long it to pop?

I am guessing in 2-4 weeks, based on the fact that the pods have almost ceased to grow (lengthwise).

Wow that is quick. only few month to fet seed pot to burst? Plumeria takes 9 to a year.

Seed pod will turn yellow/orange just before opening, plant seeds asap for 100% germ rate...bdw...beautiful Arabicum, nicely planted...ever though about trimming/branching ?

Marcin, thank you. That is good to know.

I probably won't prune this arabicum, maybe pinching. I want it to grow a more "natural look" with a massive caudex and multiple, long branches.

Great idea !!!! I would not even pinch it...Wonder how many seeds arabicum give...pods look huge, 50-60 seeds each pod i’m guessing? Have you ever had pods on this plant? my 15 arabicum, hope they will look as great as yours !

Hey Martin, any update on seed pods please??? How’s plant doing? hope all is fine !!!

Marcin, thanks!

Update

The seed pods haven't grown the past 4 weeks (week 11). They still measure about 9 inches/23 cm. But they look healthy...

Martin,

Good to hear that. how long will take to mature and pop the seed pods?

I haven't had seed pods before but Marcin said it'll take up to 3 months. Maybe more. Mine have been 11 weeks on the way...

Martin, your going to put alot of top grade producers out of business:) Your adeniums are stunning!

any pics of the pods please???? they may take longer, I have no experience with Arabicum...

Hi, Martin!!

I've been silently lurking here and enjoying the documenting of your first pod. I certainly hope you get many more than 1-2 viable seeds. Any day now, right? Congratulations, Papa!

BTW, I loooove your NOID Arabicum ... Great form.

Maria Elena

Thanks for commenting!

Update

2 weeks since the last update (week 13 today). There's nothing to report. :-( The arabicum NOID pods still measure about 9 inches/23 cm.

BUT here's my pollination success #3 (Adenium obesum NOID X Adenium arabicum NOID):

If I recall correctly, I pollinated it sometime during the first two weeks in January.

Healthy looking pods ! Wonder how many seeds you will harvest. Good luck !

Update

After about 7.5 weeks (pollination #1: Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW'):

After about 4 months (today), the left seed pod has changed colour, almost orange (= ripe):

Update

- 1 seed pod has fully openend (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW')

- 3 pods on the way (1 Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW' and 2 Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium obesum NOID)

Tomorrow I will count seeds and sow some. ;-)

WHOOO, HOOOO! Congratulations, Martin!! I know you're super excited!

Thanks, Maria Elena!

Update

I harvested seeds from 2 pods on the arabicum today (2 more to go):

One pod (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW') with 28 seeds:

The seeds are big as expected. 27 of them look viable.

In comparison with 62 seeds on the right from the second pod (Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium obesum NOID):

Only 2 of the 62 seeds look viable. This is to be expected from a cross-pollination with an arabicum as the pollen receiver.

grats bro!

don't throw the seeds you don't think are viable … send a couple of them my way ….

Hope the wind will blow them to Aussie lol

Thanks!

I expect that the 27-28 Adenium arabicum X Adenium arabicum-seeds will germinate but the interspecific crosses, Adenium arabicum X Adenium obesum (and vice versa), probably won't. I won't discard any seeds before I'm absolutely sure that they won't germinate. I sowed a few today, so we'll see within the next week.

Cheers,
Martin

Success. After only two days, 1 of 2 Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW' seeds have germinated. I havested a total 52 seeds from the 2 seed pods, so I have plenty to start my own production. ;-)

But, alas, so far none of the Adenium arabicum X Adenium obesum (and vice versa) seeds have germinated...

Thats great news to hear you have your first babies from you seed pod congratulations. Martin, John

Thank you, John!

And to my surprise, 1 of 2 Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium obesum NOID seeds has germinated. A real treat. Arabicums are supposed to be difficult to pollinate with pollen from other species.

The remaining smaller seeds (60) look like empty shells; hence I doubt that they will germinate.

Since the baby has both gense in it, I am wondering how difficult it will be to pollinate it from either species. When it getting bigger please update us with photo.

Update

Seedlings from the same arabicum motherplant. To the right, Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW', and the cross to the left, Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium obesum NOID:

I hope sumptuous good growth for your seedlings

Congratulations on your successful crosses. That's exciting for you to have been able to accomplish something difficult, rare or extraordinary. You should be proud of yourself.

Tyler

Congrats. I would soak in warm water those “skinny” looking seeds, most of the time they wont germinate as they did not develop properly or they did dry out quickly...Hope you planted all seeds asap...germination rates go down...keep seeds in the fridge, better to keep seed pods in the fridge, it’s like keeping fruit fresh a bit longer...

Update (germination percentage vs. storage)

Monday afternoon this week, I planted 18 seeds (from my Adenium arabicum NOID X Adenium arabicum 'PNW' cross), which I harvested 7 months ago.

Update today: So far, 15 of the 18 seeds have germinated, but I expect that the remaining 3 seeds will germinate. The majority germinated within 3-4 days.

I think, that's a fairly good germination percentage after 7 months with the seeds stored in a small zipper back and left on the office table. I expected a much lower percentage!

Oh btw, this a photo from back in August this year. Motherplant and offspring: ;-)

Hi Martin and All. I am new on this forum. Have a passion for African Violets, but LOVE succulents!!! Had Desert Rose long time ago back in LA, but now live in Columbus, OH and thought I can't have on because of the lack of the cold weather, but I see you keep your plants inside, so I can try. The problem is I need not more than two plants, but I have to buy 50 and up seeds that I don't need. I'll try to buy the plants the next summer. If I'll get the seed, how should I pinch the seed for planting? Somebody suggested it above. Thanks!

Polina.

Polina, if you buy seeds, the seeds usually come without the tuft of fine hair (photos somewhere in this thread). Otherwise carefully pinch the hair from both ends of the seeds. And that's it. I don't even soak the seeds before sowing.

Thank you, Martin!

2018-02-28:

Effective on you ..., to fertilize the seeds and grow them, you can use (bio 20 gold omex compani and fulzym plus ssp...

Your work is commendable Mr. Martin..