Adenium care in 9 simple tips: soil, light, water and caudex shape
Top Tropicals just posted a care guide for Adenium (desert rose, impala lily) and its main message is reassuring: most problems come from too much water, not enough light, or the wrong soil.
For soil, the guide wants a very fast-draining, airy mix and warns against heavy peat blends. Their formula is a potting mix with coarse construction sand at 50/50, and lava rock or charcoal can be added. Because adenium likes slightly alkaline soil, shells on top can help raise pH. Use shallow, unglazed clay pots close to the root ball size.
Light should be full sun, though in very hot climates bright filtered light protects leaves and keeps flowers longer. Water deeply, then let the soil dry completely, and keep plants out of excess rain. Feed lightly during active growth with a high-phosphorus bloom fertilizer, avoid the caudex itself, and do not fertilize in winter dormancy.
The caudex tip I liked most: raise the plant slightly at each repotting so the caudex sits a little higher. The guide also notes that seed-grown plants take 2-3 years to bloom and often do not come true, while grafted plants give predictable flowers on a developed caudex.
I appreciate guides that reduce adenium to three checks (water, light, soil) before anything else.
Source: Top Tropicals Garden Blog
For soil, the guide wants a very fast-draining, airy mix and warns against heavy peat blends. Their formula is a potting mix with coarse construction sand at 50/50, and lava rock or charcoal can be added. Because adenium likes slightly alkaline soil, shells on top can help raise pH. Use shallow, unglazed clay pots close to the root ball size.
Light should be full sun, though in very hot climates bright filtered light protects leaves and keeps flowers longer. Water deeply, then let the soil dry completely, and keep plants out of excess rain. Feed lightly during active growth with a high-phosphorus bloom fertilizer, avoid the caudex itself, and do not fertilize in winter dormancy.
The caudex tip I liked most: raise the plant slightly at each repotting so the caudex sits a little higher. The guide also notes that seed-grown plants take 2-3 years to bloom and often do not come true, while grafted plants give predictable flowers on a developed caudex.
I appreciate guides that reduce adenium to three checks (water, light, soil) before anything else.
Source: Top Tropicals Garden Blog
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