wondering what I did wrong

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

First time on this forum ( didnt realize there even was a separate forum for these plants).

Anyway , I was given some adeniums by a very generous trader and went out and got all the " stuff" necessary to grow them . One by one they died .....and I am not sure what I did wrong . So very disappointing but there ya go.....maybe I have a black thumb. I am good with plants outside just not with inside ones I guess. I was so looking forward to seeing the pretty blooms on these plants too.

I dont believe I overwatered them but how do you know if you do ? I dont think I starved them of water but how do you know if you do as there isnt any soil to check to see if it is damp or anything . Just very frustrating . I have viewed videos and people seem to be able to cut these plants and graft them , just stick them in dirt and they grow ........waaaaaaah! Why cant I ?

Featured Answer

bragu_DSM 5

9 years ago

Welcome aboard. Don't give up.

Most of the store bought MG type soils do not drain fast enough. Using a cactus mix AND adding/cutting the mis with perlite is a good idea.

OR, you can go to the container gardening forum and look/search under gritty mix, or 5-1-1 mix, which is: a) pine bark (reptile mix [REPTIBARK] is expensive but very good), b) no. 2 cherry stone (also known as chicken grit) and c) turface, which is the clay-like pellets they use in FB stadiums with artificial turf (you can also use NAPA part no. 8822 [floor dry] as a surrogate for turface) … This is an excellent fast draining mix. You fertilize with half strength fertilizer every watering, and every fifth or sixth water use just plain water to rinse out the chemical buildup. They LOVE sun, so try it on the deck or the like if you have one.

Again, welcome … home.

dave

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Comments (7)

signet_gw(6b)
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is the stuff I was sold to to pot the adeniums in:

the last photo ......that stuff was on top the other two mixed together
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rcharles_gw (Canada)
9 years ago
The Perlite and Fir Bark would have to have something such as Granite Grit #2 (Cherrystone #2), Horticultural Pumic or Turface type mixed with it. This is the Mix that I have used for all of my yearling to adult plants for many years.

The Leca Clay pellets would be alright for a to dressing. Could mix into the mix if they where all of relatively the same size.

Water with this mix does take some getting used to, if you are accustom to watering pots with a Peat Moss based mix. Although, it is the best mix especially for a cooler climate.

Watering in the winter months is very little, maybe once a month or less and a very small amount. If in leaf, this does not mean they are not dormant and need to be treated the same as bare branched plants.

Usually a light squeeze of the caudex (thick trunk) is enough to let you know if they have dried back too much. Not necessary to let them get to this point, but a good benchmark for testing.

Rick
signet_gw(6b)
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Rick, Where do I need to go to find these products . Granite Grit #2 (Cherrystone #2), Horticultural Pumic or Turface t Do I go in and ask for these products by these names ? I will have to check with Ontario Growers Supply.

I hate to give up but if I cant find these products here I may have to . I think I will check online to see if there is somewhere to buy some seeds and try my hand at germinating them .
Agartta
9 years ago
Hi Dave, never give up. These plants are worth the effort. The blooms are impressive. I have lost a few in order to learn. Sooner or later you will have beautiful plants :-)
rcharles_gw (Canada)
9 years ago
I get the Cherrystone #2 at the Feedstore for Chickens, used as a grit. I believe Cherrystone replaced Granite grit for myself here.

There is a product called Growstones, you could ask for at the Growers supply. Cherrystone may be cheapest.

Don't give up with them, it is just a matter of becoming more familiar and they are wonderful plants. You know you can have some more of mine.

Rick
Halfway There
9 years ago
I got the chicken grit at walmart.com and chewy.com. Fir bark at pet stores.