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libbyalfonso

Need help with roots

My adenium is in a big pot it is 4 years old and I would like to know if I can take it out of that pot cut sum of the roots and use a more shallow pot and also I want to know what is the best medium for the adeniums please help

Comments (26)

  • 9 years ago

    Libby, if you have not repot the plant in awhile, then yes it can be repot. As long as you can provide a well drain mix, it really doesn't matter what mix you are using. Most of us use perlite, grits, or small rocks to allow the water to drain quickly. I am not sure how shallow of a pot you are talking about. Just remember to slowly move it back out to full Sun or cover the newly exposed roots for a few days so they wouldn't get sun burn.

    Libby 9a/10 Alfonso thanked Shang FL09
  • 9 years ago

    Oh my gosh I just now read your answer today is June 3rd I was about to change everything tomorrow because I've had it in soil for the four years that I've had it and it keeps on losing a root here or there but I'm talking about part of the caudex. So I wondered what I should do I love when I pull it out of the soil how beautiful the roots are all tangled and looking like bodies. So I wanted to show it off a little bit more but I need to change the soil I live in Tampa Florida and they get at least 6 hours of Sun a day when it rains too much like two days in a row or three I put their ponchos on so that they don't get wet. I'm very interested in what medium they should be in.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hi Libby, I hope your plants will be ok. Knowing that you are in Tampa, Florida will be helpful to these experts. It would still be a good idea to update your profile with that information.

    Regarding your question about medium, you may have missed LatinLady's answer in her post, above?:

    A good and easy start is 1 part potting soil, 1 part pine bark, 1 part perlite.

    Good luck!

    Carol

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, Carol!

    Libby, the idea is to use whatever soil amendments you can find locally to create a very super fast draining substrate. When you water, it should drain straight through immediately, without pooling in the pot. Peat is a no-no because it stays wet too long and causes root rot on succulents, which is what a desert rose is. Most potting soils are laden with peat and are for water loving plants.

    You want good air circulation to the roots. The pot should dry out within 2-3 days. If it doesn't, add pea gravel, tiny rocks, etc. ... keep everything about the same size ... until you've created a fast-draining mix.

    If you've had that plant in the same soil for 4 years, it is definitely time to change it. Normally, potted adeniums need a repot & root inspection once every 1-2 years. You have been very lucky with this plant. For future reference, a good sign something is going on below ground is consistently yellowing or browning leaves with dropping of buds. It doesn't hurt the plant to be uprooted.

    Once you've changed out the soil, it's OK and actually very good for them to get rained on 2-3 x a week during warm weather. There is no need to protect them from rain unless it's excessive. Mine are outdoors 24/7 and sometimes get rained on 4 days in a row. Of course, climate is a major factor ... They dry out fast under our hot sun.

    One last thought ... Treat adeniums as tropical plants during active growing season (water, feed, provide lots of sun) and as a cactus during winter dormancy (reduced to no water, no fertilizers). During the cooler months, it's normal for it to lose all its leaves and go to sleep as the temps go below 50ºF.

    All the best to you!

    Maria Elena

  • 9 years ago

    Maria Elena I just realized how to answer you.. Libby little garden... that is my channel which I will get it together and make it a real thing Once I write down all the names of my plants how long they've been growing what I use on them so on and so forth PS I did pull up my adenium 2 years ago and repotted her in the same thing I should have taken a picture which I did but not on this channel of them " naked"

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you everyone for your caring answers my adenium zarnow potted in the correct medium I did lift them up about an inch and a half and right now they are under umbrellas because it has been pouring down rain and it will be pouring down rain all week which I don't want them to get that wet I ordered clear umbrellas so that when we have our rainy season here in Tampa 9 B I will be able to cover them up but they can still get UV rays

  • 9 years ago

    I can't wait until they get here. Right now they're under regular umbrellas so the UV which shines through clouds can't get to them

  • 9 years ago

    We want to see a picture of your adeniums, Libby!

  • 9 years ago

    I took the picture now how do I send it

  • 9 years ago

    I did it before and now I'm all kinds of Lost hold on Maria I will get it maybe not today but I promise you you'll see her under my Smiley umbrella

  • 9 years ago

    I have pictures of it and I even took one now and I took one of it and it's nakedness but I for the life of me cannot put it on here for you to see it. If you go to my YouTube you will see my Smiley umbrella covering up at that time was a begonia whose name is Killian yes I name my plants some of them there you will see my lady and my Gentleman if you go two Libby little garden those three words put them in a YouTube search and as I walk you through my garden you'll see my to adenium before I uprooted them. You don't have to like you don't have to subscribe it's I believe the third one of mine I only have 4 out there so it's not like you have to go through a whole bunch of them in order to get to the right one

  • 9 years ago

    Gracias, Carol!!

    Libby, I think the "longer, dark things" on your "Hairy Pencil" are seed pods. I can't really tell but "Fireworks" may actually be Marginata. Please google that.

  • 9 years ago
    my adenium
  • 9 years ago
    need I'd please
  • 9 years ago
    ponytail bulb was the size of a baseball when I got it
  • 9 years ago
    baby Vanda in bird feeder
  • 9 years ago
    yes Latin lady my fireworks is a darcaenea.
  • 9 years ago

    Dracaena marginata. There are many varieties of Dracaenas. Yours is specifically marginata. I have it in both dark green with the reddish outer stripe and in a variegated light green & yellow. Both are lovely but you have to cut it down periodically to keep it tame.

    I'm curious where you got the name "fireworks." Is that something you just made up? I have a lily bulb Scadoxus multiflorus, "Fireball / Bola de Fuego" ... It's literally a 6" red ball and looks spectacular! You may be interested in this one:

    Other Plants & Flowers · More Info

    Your adeniums look really fantastic. Keep up the great work. What's the "blankie" on the bottom for? Is that to prevent sunburn?

    Maria Elena

  • 9 years ago

    Libby! So nice to get to see your adeniums. They look really good! I feel you and we've chatted on Facebook I think about all this rain we've been having. It was almost two weeks straight that it poured and poured here. I know you are all still getting rain down there but the sun finally came out up here. I am hopeful you'll get a break too.

  • 9 years ago
    Latin lady your fireball is so beautiful!!! I would love to own a plant like that one.
    yes fireworks is the name that I gave my plant. a lot of my old or just close to my heart have a name. Like my ponytail her name is Elizabeth because she is the queen of my little yard.
    I'm going to be changing my little yard around because a girlfriend is giving me a table so I'm just going to move things around a little and I'll probably be getting rid of my Green Bamboo sofa. by the way I love the fact that you did come into my little garden and you even saw my little girls running around here in there.
  • 9 years ago
    HYN Patty, I do not get on Facebook I am just learning how to get on this forum and I still don't know how to navigate it properly. I have 4 short videos on YouTube if you look for Libby little garden, I walk you through my tiny yard and, I show my orchid rescues. I am looking forward to learn how to navigate on this forum so that I can send someone a message to them or so that I can answer about a certain something or if I want to ask something which I've done before but now I can't find where it's at anymore anyway I can go on and on but I will learn
  • 9 years ago

    Ah, then there is someone else in your area also using clear umbrellas to shelter their adenium plants in Florida who had been posting on Facebook. Seeing your post here I thought you were the same person. No matter, it seems to be working for both of you. ;)

  • 9 years ago
    here I thought I was being original. well your right during our rainy season we take care of our adenium anyway we can.