Conny,

I would think that if you have them under lights (not too hot) and reduce the temperatures down over a few days that they will survive. You may notice some leaf drop, but in a greater skeem of things, it would not hurt them. Just set them back slightly. No water with high temperatures would definitely mean loses.

I have mine in a room with the ambient temperatures at about 17C-18C and under my HO T5 Flourescents and would not be watering them anymore than what you are suggesting. They are fine, they have been in this situation since Nov., but I do not believe that you would lose them.

Just my thoughts.

Rick

Thanks Rick, that's reassuring.

Seedlings? Well how old? ;-) Adeniums, even small seedlings, say, past the "green skin age" (and hence have turned more greyish with 1-1.5 inch caudices) can easily survive months without a single drop of water. After some time their once plump caudices will shrink dangerously and their feeder roots will dry out completely but this won't kill them. What normally kills them is when you try to "restart" their growth by watering too much, too soon in a leafless state.

That is so true, over watering prior to new growth and anxious to get growing. True with all of them.

Rick

Hi Conny. I had the same dilemma a few years ago....before you joined the forum. My solution....take them on holiday with me! Admittedly it was to my daughters for several days and I only had a small tray of about ten seedlings! Knowing how many plants you have these days, I'm struggling to visualise you and d/h doing this, but it did make me chuckle:-))) I hope they will be ok for you.

Gill

Martin, they are 3-7 months old, and the majority is still in green skin phase...

Gill: taking 800+ seedlings to Thailand... hm, I bet they'd love the beach on Koh Samui as well, but I foresee a logistical problem... (not to mention customs, lol)

Conny, in that case, I would do as Rick suggested. Simply lower the temperature to, say, 19-20C to slow down growth and hence the water uptake.

800+ seedlings?? Do tell what you plan to do with that army. Are you planning to start hybridizing and sell plants to the European Market? ;-)

I got totally carried away and didn't think things through properly when I started all this, Martin...

I know I will keep the nicest plants, but have let go of the idea to first see the blooms of all plants before passing them on (selling/giving away).

Thanks Gill :-)

A little secret: I have another 300 seeds waiting to be sowed when I get back.... but that will be all this year! (Unless I come across something really special lol)

Conny, if I was to travel to Thailand, I would fill my "cabin bagage" with adeniums (washed and bare root) when returning home. ;-) If I recall correctly, this is legal under European Law. As a tourist, I think that you can import 10 plants (max 1 kg in total). But of course, no endangered species under CITES or banned crops and fruits.

Martin! That's like both of us dangling a succulent carrot on front of a very hungry donkey, double temptation! If it wasn't for the fact I have another two baby grandsons due in March, I'd hop on a plane and baby sit the adeniums myself, whilst bringing along my knitting bag of course! Ha ha!

Gill

I intend to travel with hand luggage only anyway Martin: no need for much stuff for a Thai beach holiday. I already did some research, but from what I've been told there aren't many nurseries to speak of on Koh Samui. Unfortunately....

Gill, early congratulations on the exciting arrivals ahead! You're always more than welcome though (it's nice and warm in the grow tents lol).