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How do I get my caudexe to get bigger?

11 years ago

When I first got my beautiful Adenium it was about 2 foot, I have had it now for about 2 years and never cut it back. I had no idea about cutting them back until now. As you can see in the picture it's pretty leggy, but my boyfriend likes it that way. Is there anything I can do to get my caudexe bigger without cutting it back. I think I would cry if I had to cut it. It just recovered from a spider mite infestation. I had noticed the leaves turning yellow and brown so i went out to check on it and noticed the underside of the leaves covered in a white film, which I later found out was spider mites. Almost all the leaves & Flowers were gone so I sprayed the whole plant with H2O2 water (food grade peroxide) and cleaned as much of the white stuff off as I could. The next morning all the leaves were gone, it was only stem showing. It took about 3 days and I started getting new leaves and am now starting to get buds again.

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shorty31071
Original Author

11 years ago

This is the caudexe on my Adenium

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Comments (7)

karyn1
11 years ago
It will enlarge as it ages. I would raise the caudex a couple inches the next time you repot it. That will expose more of the caudex and it will appear bigger.
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rcharles_gw (Canada)
11 years ago
You do not have to prune to get a big caudex. Your Adenium looks as though it will have a very good size caudex when it is lifted slightly.
As you live in Florida you could probably do this most any time as apposed to in a colder climate. Better not to do when it is flowering.
You could lift it up a couple inches and use new soil. When lifted make sure that you do not expose the caudex to direct sun. Condition it slowly so you do not burn the caudex.
Itran, has some beautiful plants with gorgeous caudex's.
I am sure that she or Karyn will respond.
Marie Tran
11 years ago
Shorty, the caudex look okay now, but if you raise it up, you will see the big different right away.
I know you love the plant very much, but with each cut, (prune) you will have 3-4 branches come out and the plant will look fuller. Also the prune will help the caudex to get bigger. More bloom too.
Only my idea of prune, because I do hard prune in March each and every year.

Marie
shorty31071
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you so much for the information. When I raise the caudex do I need to put it in a different pot or can I use the same pot? I transplanted from the original pot to this one and have kept it there. I have done nothing to my Adendium since I re-potted it to this pot about a year ago. I used Miracle Grow soil (regular not for cactus) and it seems to be doing good, except for the spider mites. If I were to prune it back what stems should I cut and where ? I seen that I should not prune while its flowering, where I'm at in Florida it blooms almost all the time so what is your suggestion?
karyn1
11 years ago
As long as the pot is a few inches in diameter larger then the widest point of the caudex it's fine. You usually raise them when the plant requires repotting but in your case I would do it now. You can keep it in the same pot. You can prune it while it's in bloom. You want to prune it during the growth period. That's why those of us in the colder climates wait until spring to prune when growth resumes. I prefer shorter branches but it's subjective. You can prune it so it pleases you or you don't have to prune it at all. Remember that more branches means you'll get more blooms.
Marie Tran
11 years ago
Shorty, Karyn give you very good advice.....
Marie

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