Alyssa,

Welcome to the Adenium forum. There are many people here that will assist you when ever needed.

A number of questions which will assist us here.

- Where do you reside? (To give a better idea as to what temps. etc. you are dealing with).

Your plants for now should be fine in the plastic ones until the summer.

A gritty mix is preferred by many, but there are many using a mix of Cactus with a large amount of Perlite or growstones in it. This is important, as the Adeniums need to have a vary fast draining mix. They are prone to root rot, which will be more prevalent in the winter months (if you experience winter cold).

Your seedlings are fine in a mix such as you have, as seedlings require a more moist, but not wet soil. Always allow the top 1"-2" of soil dry back. If you are experiencing cold weather, keep them as warm as you can. Approximately 68-70F min. They can take a bit cooler, but if you can give them the above mentioned temps. or warmer, all the better.

Your plants being seedlings will most likely retain their leaves and grow slowly into the Spring, then start growing more. Seedlings are best kept growing for their first year atleast.

To answer you question about a shallow pot making a bigger caudex. This could be debated and both sides would have relevance. If your seedlings are predisposed by genetic traits to have a Big Caudex, they will. Hard growing (in a shallow pot, low fertilization, watering, etc.) can possibly make for a larger caudex. I do not believe in the end that it results in any difference.

I hope that this does not confuse and please feel free to ask away. Everyone here will give you very sound advice. Just do not get overwhelmed. Read it all, take it in and do your best. It will work out for you.

Rick

rcharles,

Thanks so much for your reply!

I live on the border between some 7a and 7b in southeastern pennsylvania. Outside temps are currently hovering in the 30-40's range with a few days up into the 50's and 60's even. I'm buying a heat mat today, will they benefit from sitting on top of it under a grow light?

Depends. Some species will go dormant, and Obesum is the default name they use when selling adeniums, so it's possible they're hybrids.

I've heard you can usually get away without a dormancy peroid the first year, but after that they'll just shut down if their species has a mandatory dormancy period.

Still, as long as they still have leaves, might as well try getting that extra bit of growth during winter.

Welcome, Alyssa! You're in good hands here. Congratulations on your new addition.

Older adenium can be allowed to go into dormancy, However, your seedlings are still babies and should not be allowed to / can't / don't have the reserves to go into dormancy. Grow lights are excellent for them, as are heating mats because they help mimic optimal growing summer conditions.

Judging by the pot sizes & plant heights, I would guess your babies to be about 4-6 months old. If you're not already doing so, I recommend feeding with a balanced fertilizer (15-15-15 or 20-20-20) for now, diluted to 1/4 strength on a weekly basis. You can adjust fertilization to the needs of the plants as they get older.

All the best to you! Please keep us updated.

Maria Elena

Maria,

Should I be watering weekly, since they are still quite young? I've read to treat them almost as tropicals when weather permits and plants aren't dormant.

^asking since you suggested fertilizing weekly

Alyssa,

Follow Rick's suggestion. They're in 2" starter pots. Allow the top 1" of soil to dry out before each watering. Use your finger to check the soil until you can come up with the correct watering schedule. Water needs will be determined directly by environment & soil type. Heating mats and lights will help soil dry out faster. In that case, you may need to water 2-3 x per week for such small pots. Only you can determine that by direct observation.

One of those waterings can be a weekly 1/4 strength fertilizer. Since you only have 2 babies, I recommend pouring fertilizer into a dish and allowing the seedlings to "drink" for 5 minutes, then removing them from the dish. Succulents should never be allowed to remain in standing water. For this reason, most of us rarely use saucers with our pots, except to protect surfaces and only after the pot has drained well.

All the best,

Maria Elena

Alyssa,

There you have it and good info from a great group of people. Never be afraid to ask any question. There are no stupid questions here. We can all learn from each other.

As Maria Elena mentions, so much will be determined by the conditions that you give. Most seedling, which is what I would call yours are best kept growing whether you use a Grow Light &/or Heat Mat.

My temperatures would be usually be about the same outside. Obviously, inside right now. I prefer to just Grow lights on my seedlings. Have found that with the ambient temperatures in the room they are in, does not need the heat from a mat. Just one extra thing to have plugged in and does not warrant it for me. All of mine receive natural sunlight through a South facing direction and seedlings artificial light at night for 9hrs.

I water my seedlings with a weak solution (1/4 strength) every time I water. Timing is really all dependent on how fast they dry back. Mine are all in a Soilless mix and I feel they need some nutrients.

Rick

Thanks so much for all the help! I recently purchased a 20-20-20 by accident, looks like i'll be needing it after all.

I went ahead and repotted them, as they weren't very stable in those 2" plastic ones. Now they're in 4" terra cotta pots that are 3" deep, labeled as an azalea pot if that helps. I mixed 40% Miracle Gro C&S mix, 20% rinsed perlite, 20% sand and 20% fir bark. They're sitting on the heat mat under the light (it's cold in my house--hovering around 63). Will these conditions suffice?

I agree with Rick ... You don't need both a heating mat & grow lights. For the eastern region, I would definitely go with grow lights. They provide all the light & heat your plants will need.

OK ... just watch to see if they dry out too quickly or for crispy leaf edges. Keep the lights high off the plants. Terra cotta pots are the best choice because they breathe. You've chosen a very good mix. The larger pots will give them room to grow. All the roots were white and healthy, right?

Yes, roots appeared healthy to me when I repotted. I wish I would've remembered to take a photo while they were out.

Here is the current (and temporary--I'm house sitting) setup. Directions on the lamp say to keep it 18" above plants. Is the general consensus to remove the heating pad? Lamp has been on for 3 hours and I can literally palm it without burning my hand, i.e. it isn't very warm. Maybe to a plant it is though. Suggestions?

I love the people on this forum. That is all. :)

I'm already considering trying seeds, haha. Read my mind!

P.S. Do you think I should move it? The box that the bulb came in recommended it be about 18 inches off

What kind of bulb is it? how many Watts?

32W Flourescent AgroBrite grow bulb

Says it has a 160W equivalent. 6400K, 1800 lumens

Is it LED? if so, the actual power draw is probably only about 20 Watts. At 6400 Kelvin, you should definitely put it closer. At 18 inches away, it won't be enough light to keep it compact. Put it at about 10 inches first for about a week.

It's compact flourescent:

https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/FLC32D

Oh! Duh. I just jump to the last post on my phone and didn't see the reply. In any case, it definitely needs to be closer than 18 inches. My adeniums are all under T5HOs, right up against the bulbs. But to prevent any sort of bulb burn, let them adjust for about a week at 10 inches. Then closer after that.

Thanks a bunch! I moved it down a few inches, I'll move it a bit each day until it's about 6 inches off. Will that still be too far?

Pagan, Alyssa also has a heat mat under her pots. Please address that as well.

Might not need it once i'm back home. The room i'm staying in to house sit for the week is hovering in the low 60's.

I have about six adeniums that are in my office which is unusually warm and even so, they're still on a heat mat. Since you have a mat already, they would definitely prefer that, especially since they are seedlings.

My current batch of seedlings are in a plant box kept at 30°C. Adeniums will tolerate cool temperatures but they are happier when it is not just warm but hot. Obesums, anyway. There are species that grow during cooler seasons.

Thanks, Pagan. Alyssa, adenium seedlings are happiest at about 85 degree temps. They can take brief overnight dips into the high 60s but it slows growth.

My seedlings are right there, right now: They live outdoors, currently with an average 85 degree daytime temps, falling to 68 degrees overnight with frequent cold overnight rains and 77% humidity. They are in fast draining soil and get lots of sun during the day to dry out. There was some initial yellowing of lower leaves at the change of weather but it has ceased and they are all still green with leaves. However, I can see that growth has slowed considerably. One of my older plants budded at several branches last month, then aborted all the buds. I'm just going to leave them out there and let nature do its thing. Hopefully, they'll be fine.

Maria Elena

You're lucky you have such warm termperatures! Sounds like i'll be leaving the heating pad on during the daytime, kind of scares me to have it on at night haha. Thanks so much for all the advice, i'll be sure to keep everyone updated!

First update!

I watered them for the first time this morning and the soil mixture they're in is amazingly fast draining compared to what I have my other plants in, even the C&S. Keeping an eye on them to see how quickly they dry out

Alyssa,

It's wonderful to share in your enthusiasm. A faster draining soil will create better aeration, allowing the roots to breathe and grow freely.

You may want to eventually change the substrate for all your C&S. They will benefit greatly from a faster draining mix than what is usually sold as "Cactus Soil."

When I 'discovered' perlite, I uprooted all my succulents, placed the soils together in a bag and mixed them well. Then I added 1/3 part perlite and mixed it all together. My plants are happier & live longer due to healthier root systems.

Maria Elena

That's a really good idea, and I might have to do that as well. The issue is my boyfriend and I plan to take most of the C&S to flea markets come spring, and we've stocked up about 75-80. Most are in regular C&S soil (eek!) or a sand+C&S mix. Hopefully we get around to it before the roots clog up too bad. At least I know my adeniums are in good soil!

Well, considering the season & your location, they very likely are either dormant or semi dormant right now. I trust you know to water them lightly and only once or twice a month, depending on the species.

I recommend NOT changing the soil (and disturbing their slumber) at this time, especially so since you plan on selling. Most buyers will opt for their own substrate anyway.

You can change the soil on those you plan to keep and place them with the adeniums under the gro light.

All the best to you.

Maria Elena

This is the mother plant of one of my seedlings (the second was a surprise gift), can anyone identify sp? Or is it some kind of hybrid?

Nice looking plant and bloom. Yours must be a seed grown plant of this?

Adeniums do not come true too parentage, Alyssa. So you may end up with something w similarities, but not the same. The best way to duplicate these is by Grafting, Air-Layering, cuttings, etc.

Nice single bloom, so lets hope that it is has characteristics alike.

Rick

Yes, both are seed grown. Little disappointed it won't look exactly like the mother, but it adds to the excitement not knowing what the blooms will look like! Hopefully it will have the nice deep reds.

Thanks Rick!

Resembles 1.8 KO_Apollo:

Oooh, indeed it does! Gorgeous

Alyssa,

Click on my userID to go to my profile page and send me a pvt message. I tried to message you to share some information but your messaging has not been activated.

To do so, click on your profile pic on the upper right, select EDIT PROFILE => ADVANCED SETTINGS (along left hand column). Scroll down towards the bottom to the area where you can indicate who can message you and select the appropriate box, SAVE.

KO_Bright Gem

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NoID from seed pod

Beautiful! Thanks again. Mermaid is my favorite, very very excited!!