I'm interested in hearing from the members as well as this is my first year with my plant. I've heard in my area they can stay out all winter and on the nights of a freeze just protect them or bring them inside.

Depends on the size, how small do you mean? Also what temp do you get down too, will they get wet? Best to ask on the Adenium forum.

Gill

Ah, meant to post on that forum. They are about a year old, but still pretty small. Not sure how cold it will be below the bulkhead.

Mine have always been a problem to put to complete dormancy without water because our winters are way to long. I lost everyone of them doing the keep dry method until growth resumes in spring and then if I did water them at all, they would rot...

What I do is keep mine on a sunny window sill and make sure the temps never drop below 60...They must be kept warm to be healthy with lots of sunlight all winter.

Or, you could use a simple florescent light or any grow light kept very close to your plants and kept very warm. the lights must be on for 8 hours or more.

Keep in mind they will continue to grow all winter, so treat for pest every month whether you see them or not. Make sure to water as usual and you will get flowers a lot sooner than you think come a lot sooner than you think at such around age.

Mike

Hmm, interesting. Thanks Mike. I did what you suggest this past winter, and they did not grow noticeably. I have limited window-sill space, but I'm considering hanging 1-3 utility clamp lights with LED bulbs in the basement for plants that won't fit in a good window position.

I have one desert rose that I like: it is a "runt" with a lot of ramification and small leaves. I have that in a window sill, and two others under my storm doors. I tried to sell the others on Craigslist this summer, and I don't really care if they die, so let's experiment!

Next, I have to do the same with my Ficus Carica, Crepe Myrtle and Crasula Ovata potted plants. The Crasula will go in my window, the others will go dormant somehwere.

For my Adenium large and small I used to leave them in the garage all winter just like the plumeria but I was getting too many soft spots / soft tips / rotten roots - I think it was too cold. I now leave them inside the house and don't worry about them being under lights or in windows, I just set them anywhere.

When they lose their leaves they have decided to go dormant. Otherwise I try to water sparingly or when they seem like they're drying out.

I would not leave Adenium outside under about 55-60 degrees like mikerno says, they do not appreciate cold weather and especially if wet.

I think I left mine out maybe longer than I should have this year. They seem fine. How do you coax them into going dormant, though, when in a warm house? Is it a certain temperature range or less light? I just don't want etiolated growth.

Elucas101:

you mean they do not need to occupy the premium southern window at all? That's good to hear. Mine always drops leaves and does nothing in the winter even it is in front of a south window anyway. I might just put it somewhere with less light to free up the spot for other plants. Thanks

To try to coax them into going dormant I think less light triggers them as well as temps that are lower than other times of the year. As rockdale says sometimes they will lose their leaves even if you keep them in a bright window (anything less than full grow lights) because they respond to shorter days.

I don't worry about etiolation as much with Adenium because the branches can and usually will be pruned later on if they get too long, whereas the caudex doesn't really etiolate.

So yes, I would consider freeing up your premium window for something else and letting the Adenium rest if possible.

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful.