Adenium: description, types, home care

Adenium is a tree-like plant of the Kutrov family. Homeland - tropical regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula.

Its name translates as a desert rose.

Description of Adenium

This small tree or shrub is a succulent that stores nutrients and moisture in its lower part (caudex). The branching stem is strewn with inflorescences consisting of funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of 5-7 cm. Depending on the variety, they are pink, white, scarlet, red, two- and three-colored, simple and double.

The leaves are elongated or rounded, green, white, yellow. With a different surface: glossy, matte, with a light edge.

Flowering, which is observed in spring, summer and autumn, depends on the species. It comes only for 2 years of plant life, in some varieties later on 1-2 or six months earlier.

Plant juice is poisonous.

Types of Adeniums

Adeniums differ in growth, leaves, flowers and periods of rest.

Adenium care indoors

Adenium is a low-demanding plant. But some recommendations must be followed so as not to destroy him.

Location, temperature

Adenium prefers bright and warm places. Place it on the southern windows. It is important to ensure that in spring and summer the sun is at least 6 hours and the temperature is + 23 ... +28 ° C.

In autumn, the flower is moved to a cooler place (+ 12 ... +15 ° C). He has a rest (with the exception of some species: Samali, mini) in the autumn-winter period. It is necessary to protect the plant from drafts and temperature extremes.

In the warm summer put out on the balcony.

Watering, humidity

Water the adenium sparingly. As a rule, on hot days, once a week is enough. In other spring and summer months, only when the soil dries. When the flower drops its leaves, watering stops. Resume when new shoots appear.

Spray with fine spray so that water does not flow down the trunk and leaves. It is also impossible for moisture to fall on the flowers.

Fertilizers

During the growing season, special fertilizers for cacti are added to the water for irrigation once a month.

Transplant, soil, pot

The root system in adenium quickly develops in breadth, so they take a low, but wide capacity, better than a light shade. In dark pots, the roots of the plants overheat in the sun, which can destroy it. There must be drainage holes, and in sufficient quantities to avoid stagnation.

Young plants are transplanted every year, adults after 2, but with an annual replacement of the upper layer.

The soil is taken loose, with a slightly acid reaction. Composition:

• coarse sand, sheet, sod land (equal parts):
• charcoal (small amount).

Mandatory disinfection of the prepared soil is required (heating in the microwave or fungicidal treatment). You can take a ready-made substrate for cacti.

Formation

Adenium is cut off before the start of the growing season. Two days before this, the plant is watered.

The procedure is optional, but necessary if there are specific preferences in the decor. Depending on what they form, a tree or a bush, a different approach is required:

• tree - pruning a little less than one third;
• bush - a little more than one third.

Young plants only pinch.

Reproduction of adenium

Adenium is propagated in several ways:

• seed;
• cuttings;
• layering.

Seeds

Favorable time for germination is mid-spring-early autumn:

• The seeds will be mixed in warm water (you can add a growth stimulant), also mixed in a plastic bag, wrapped in a damp cloth - 2-4 hours. But now it is proved that preliminary soaking does not give a special advantage.
• Temperature - + 28 ... +35 ° C, humidity - 70-90%.
• The soil is taken the same as when planting cuttings.
• On the surface of the soil, in a sufficiently wide container, seeds are distributed, sprinkled a little. The less they are closed, the better the germination.
• Cover with cling film. Periodically ventilate.
• Maintain + 26 ... +32 ° C, protect from direct sunlight, drafts.
• When the first leaves appear, they are accustomed to the sun, with the 4th they are planted in different containers. At the age of 2-3 months, take 5-6 cm pots. In the first year, as a rule, they are transplanted 2-3 times.

Cuttings

Pretty simple method:

• Slices of branches obtained as a result of spring pruning (length 10-15 cm, diameter at least 1 cm) are treated with charcoal and dried. The lower leaves on the cuttings are removed, the upper leaves are left to activate life processes.
• Dip cut into the solution of the root-forming stimulant (Ribav-extra). Stand for several days.
• Take a medium-sized pot with soil: a mixture of perlite with vermiculite (2: 1) or perlite with peat, it is possible with sphagnum moss (3: 1).
• The prepared shank will be hindered there to a depth of 5 cm. The soil is kept moist, avoiding stagnation of moisture.
• Temperature - + 25 ... +35 ° C. Light is intense, but not direct sunlight. Approximate rooting from 15 days to 10 months.

Air lay

The most effective method:

• In late spring or early summer, during intensive growth, choose a shoot with a diameter of at least 2 cm.
• Shallow cut it in a circle. They wait for the juice to dry out.
• Lubricated with a root stimulant.
• Sphagnum is applied to the incision, wrapped in a dark film, fixed with thread, wire.
• As necessary, the moss is moistened.
• After 3-4 weeks, when the roots appear, the layering is separated and transplanted into the soil.

The flower grown in this way does not have such pronounced decorative qualities as that of the mother plant.

Mistakes in the care of adenium, diseases, pests

Most adenium suffers from excessive watering, but there are also a number of reasons that affect the health of the flower.

Mr. Summer resident warns: adenium is a poisonous plant

Care must be taken when caring for the flower.

It is possible to transplant and cut the plant only with gloves.

Wash hands thoroughly after handling it. It is not worth keeping it if there are small children and animals in the house.