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Cacti & Succulents

Adenium is Dropping it's Leaves

14 years ago

I purchase a Desert Rose at Walmart a month ago and when I got it home I noticed it had spider mites. The infestation didn't seem serious, and it only dropped 2 yellowed leaves, so I decided to keep the plant and see if I could cure it.

I sprayed the plant with Garden Safe Insect Spray and It looked better for awhile like the infestation had been nipped in the bud. Then I decided I wanted to re-pot it because a couple of the top roots weren't covered with soil.

I removed all the soil, and sprayed it again. I sprayed the root ball also because I did not want the mites to hide anywhere on the plant. Now it is dropping leaves again and it looks like all the leaves are starting to yellow.

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Comments (9)

cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Anne,

It's not uncommon for a plant such as an Adenium to do this when transplanted, depotted and generally shaken up. As it is the growing season, make sure that it's watered and kept warm - these are tropical plants. I'd guess that you'll see new leaves in a week or two.

We have here a Mr. Adenium who will be able to give you better advice.
angelonia_anne
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the reassurance, I put the plant outside in a sunny spot. I just hope it won't get spider mites again outside. I will check out "Mr Adenium" also.
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Has the pot got drainage holes in it? Commercially bought cactus and succ mix can often be the death knell for Adeniums, ideally, it needs to be mixed with at least 50% perlite. Many of us Adenium growers use it in far less quantities than that. Some of us grow our plants in totally inorganic mixes. The peat content of a c/s mix holds onto too much water. A mix of equal parts of either horticultural grit/aquarium gravel/chicken grit, perlite and cactus mix is what I use. With watering your plant every few days you may well have started root rot problems. Advise you unpot, inspect the rootball and repot in a better mix.....and also check out the wealth of info on the Adenium forum here on Houzz. Two pumps of fertiliser a week......not sure what this equates too, please explain. Sounds like too much fert being used, is it water based.....so there's even more water being added???? Gill UK
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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Spider mites go away with the blast of water - you shouldn't have to go through again all that you did.
rjj1
14 years ago
I wouldn't be too worried as long as you used a good mix and don't keep it real wet right now. I would Let it dry between drinks. Does it still have foliage?

randy
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Psst Anne - that man, with the oleander-coloured Oklahoma fedora - he's Mr. Adenium.
rjj1
14 years ago
Psst Jeffery - All this time I thought it was a desert cammo rag hat. Who knew?
angelonia_anne
Original Author
14 years ago
Desert cammo rag? I think Mr. Adenium and company might be indulging in a little too much fermented Agave juice. However, the advice about the Adenium seems sound. As far a spider mites go; I've had them in my Brugmansia plants this year and can't get rid of them. Will a spray of water really work to rid them from an Adenium?
rjj1
14 years ago
Hmmm....At least for me that will depend on the type of mite. The big red mites are pretty easy to control. I've washed those away with the hose.

I had an infestation of a very small mite that wouldn't go away this spring and ended up having to invest in a miticide.

Showers, soaps and oils just weren't getting them eradicated no matter how diligent I was with repeat treatments. After the third treatment with a miticide the infestation was gone.

randy
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
14 years ago
Anne,

I'm not shucking and jiving you - the spray of water blows them away, but all I've had to combat is RSM, none of those other icky things Randy has had to deal with.

I've often found that 409, applied to mealy/scale/whathaveyou infestations on a plant, will do the trick. You have to make sure you're out of the direct sun and you wash it off 10 minutes later. Maybe Windex will work, too.

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