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Cacti in Oz
alisonoz_gw

Is Adenium rot stoppable?

20 years ago

I have about 8, which are kept with my little succulent and african bulb collection, just so I can (usually) control watering. But we had the big winter dump and some got very wet from splash-up and overflowing gutterings. Some are OK, most of the babies are gonners. A couple of larger ones have gone green and gooey from the top down. I've sliced off the rotting part, there were no lower leaves or branches, just trunk. Is there any prospect I can stop this going right down to the roots and losing the plants? Is there anything I can use to dry off the cut trunks other than just letting them dry out naturally? They are planted in a cactus/succulent mix so the root area is now no longer a problem.

Featured Answer
  • 20 years ago

    Adeniums hate wet roots. I lost one by planting it too deeply. Apparently in their natural state they virtually sit on top of crushed rock sending their roots into the soil. I now plant mine in bonsai pots with only an inch of the base inserted into the soil and pile soil into a mound around the stem. I hold the soil in place with crushed white stones, then ring the edge of the pots with small cacti, This stops soil runoff until the massive aerial root system develops (about 12 months). They have to be watered sparingly. I have a red and a white now 14 inches tall covered with over 20 blooms each and which look stunning. You can save the specimen with base rot by cutting off any good branches and re-striking them in 50% coarse sand/potting mix. It will not develop the same bulbous base as a seed-raised one, but the seeds from the pods that it will produce after 2 years or so, can be sown so itÂs not a complete loss. Just cutting off the rotted base will not save the plant. They like full sun but when flowering the white gets sun-burn and needs to be placed in dappled shade. If you donÂt wet the flowers, each bloom will last 2 weeks. You can cross pollinate using an artist brush and get some interesting variations.

    The red ones are considered very lucky by the Chinese and are given as wedding presents and will cost about $US 1,000 in Taiwan for a 12 inch specimen.

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