The ugly somalense decided to flower:

Oh btw, the container is about to burst. I really should repot the poor thing. ;-)

Martin,

I like your ugly Somalense. Love the shape of it's base. Interesting color to the petals as well.

As for how many seedlings will I keep? That is the on going dilemma. Probably only 3 or 4 of the two different ones that I started.. This is when it would be nice to be able to share w all. Just is not that way.

Rick

Nice seedling, Tracy.

It is funny that you posted this. I have been thinking about posting a note to ask/mention to yourself and Martin about the Somalense growth. I have started a few many years ago, but I remember w Martin and yourself showing photo's of them just how much growth there was.

I seedling that I started from seed are growing so much and it amazes me how big they are getting in comparison to many of the obesum hybrids.

Do you find this usual? I was thinking that maybe I was over fertilizing or something. All getting the same attention, so figured I will just go with it. Trying to decide which one I want to keep and which ones to let go.

I also wanted to ask you about your mix (soil)? Are you using a different mix w you adult plants as opposed to the 1yr.+ plants?

Rick

Rick am convinced that A. somalense is a super fast grower. I also noticed that my A. somalense seem to have crazy growth spurts with no explanation. This is one of the reasons I wanted to do another batch. Also I am hoping for a more wild type of A. somalense with the triangular shaped base like Martin's. My hybrids were more rounded.

For media I am using the same mix with my seeds that I use for my older plants but adding in some fine coir to the very top layer where the seeds are sown. I have replaced perlite in my recipe currently with large grade pumice. 50% coir pieces 25% pumice 25% Growstone GS2.

Tracy

Tracy. I have noticed that your soil is more fine then mine. Growstone GS2 must be small then the one I am using.

With the Somalense you are growing to they have an average flower like above? I have seen some really nice colored blooms, maybe these are hybrids?

Yes those are hybrids Marica. I grew a batch of Somalense hybrids and they came out with red blooms, some were doubles. I love those blooms but I was wanting a single A. somalense with a conical shape for my collection. The flower isn't as important to me as the shape of the caudex. I really love the single pick wild flower types.

As for my soil, probably the coir pieces that is different. I have only found 1 manufacturer that makes the size that I use. I tried to find another because I was having problems with sand being included in the bundles. Nobody makes this piece-size. It's either fine coir or chips. Would love to find another supplier that would allow me to buy the pieces by the cubic foot or yard.

Tracy

I bought a block from HD many years ago. It was about 14" x 14" x 4" thick and you soaked it in a wheelbarrow w water. Was amazing and they stopped carrying it here in Canada. It was called Plantsbest Coconut Husk Chunks and was cheap, but wonderful. I did see it back then still available online in the U.S., not sure now.

Rick

Any updates on your trees/seedlings?

My oldest somalense (grown from a seed back in 2005 if I recall correctly) awoke a few months ago after a leafless dormant period. The tree has grown out of shape but I am glad that I did not prune it. It has now decided to flower for the very first time. Well, it has buds and hopefully they will mature sometime in late September (or in October).

Progress photos will follow... ;-)

5 inch caudex? D**n, that's a fat cow. ;-) My oldest is perhaps 5 inches wide...

2016-05-04:

Tracy, that's a beauty - and so many branches! Imagine every branch (or just a few) topped with flowers flushed in pink. It would be a stunning show. :-)

I will update when the flowers mature. Keep 'em fingers crossed for more wildtype'ish flowers with many stripes. ;-)

I love my one and only somalense!

Thanks, Tracy!

Pagan

So I would like your input on this first A somalense hybrid. I am considering trimming the leaves back on the top of the plant so the basal branches can fatten up. I just really love the foliage so I've been delaying. Any thoughts?

Tracy

Tracy, yes, I like the foilage, too, but sooner or later you should remove it from the tent and let it go dormant. It is a bad idea to force adeniums with a built-in dormancy (e.g. arabicums and somalenses) to remain active year round. By doing so, you run the risk of causing rot and flowering may be suppressed.

I let my adeniums go dormant, some even go dormant in the tent. My biggest somalense (the one above) stopped growing in the tent. After putting the tree on a windowsill, it dropped almost all its leaves. It was dormant from May to the end of August. Then I put it back in the tent and it started growing buds.

My Somalense hybrid bloomed for the first time today!

Nice flower, Dain. Very intense colors.

Rick

Awesome Dain, love the darkness of the bloom and the flower shape. Congratulations to you.

Tracy

I switched my coco coir chips to the Plant It brand now. Wonder if this is the same stuff Rick you referred to? The manufacturer of the coir product I've been using (Sunleaves) is obviously having some quality control issues that I have reported. Undersized blocks and the coir is just riddled with sand.

Tracy

Dain, looking good. Nice intense pink colour.

I pulled a random one up to show roots, etc. This one sown 7/3/15

Tracy, the Plant-it brand looks the same as when I from Homedepot. Wish I could still get it, was the best I have used. Equal size pieces through.

Will see if they offer the one you are get.

Rick

Jedoba,

Nice looking seedling. Love the base of this one.

Rick

This seedling is almost 1 year old. I think it need a bigger pot and some fresh soil.

This is probably my favorite one as far as leaf shape. 7/3/15

All natural branching.

One more.

The plant centipeded it's own roots. I did not trim these.

Another

Looking great Stuart! Jedoba I am loving the caudex and shape on your randomly pulled Somalense. Interesting roots on this group of plants!

Rick I can't believe how much better the quality is on this Plant It brand. I wish I would have tried it long ago. You are right, the pieces are a more consistent size. And there is no sand in it! The bundles are cheaper, and they expand to make much more product than what I was using. They are a fairly big company so I am guessing they have the quality control measures in place to prevent decline on the product, unlike Sunleaves.

Good to hear, Tracy. I need to research it and see if I can get it here? When I was getting the "PlantsBest" product that HD carried for awhile, I should have bought 10 packages. Had I known my venture would have taken me into a realm of Adenium Madness :). Make sure you stock up, Tracy. Seems sometimes when we find a good thing, it goes.

With the PB product at HD. It was not available for a short bit and was told that the company was being sued because someone's Dog ate it and became ill?. Then it came back for a short time.

Hey Tracy, just checked. Is yours the "Plant!t" brand and is it coir or husks?

Just found this one which looks like what I was using. Not sure if old Ad or what?

The Plant It brand I am using is the coco husk chips. I love the size of it! Here is a link to the product where I bought it. Had two cases delivered! Also they have a really nice coco crouton product that I use to top dress. Hard to find these if you are searching on key words.

Whats the difference between the chips and the croutons?

Dain the croutons are a little bit bigger in size than the chips. Not by much though. Its a lovely top dressing I have discovered, really nice looking. It cost a bit more than the chips.

I've taken a few photos to compare. Photo 1 is the coir chips and is more fiberous. Photo 2 is the coir croutons and is more evenly sized squares.

Ok, Tracy. Because I'm a nerd, I shopped around for that product. I found it on jet.com for $18.37 with free shipping. I'm not sure how high your source is for your location and shipping, but they were much higher than that for me. Walmart even had it cheaper for me, but no free ship to store.

Thanks for sharing this product. I think I'll give it a try.

Jedoba my source is Greenhouse Megastore for $10.95. Shipping isn't free but your order up to $100 ships for only $10. So I can buy 8 or 9 bundles and ship them for a little over $1 apiece. There is tax incurred but not much. The free shipping is also a pretty good deal. I am loving this product. One bundle has lasted much longer than I ever anticipated.

Tracy

That's strange! I followed your link, and they showed me $16.95

Then, I estimated shipping on only one bag, but it was $8.99.

I have purchased the croutons from Amazon, Amazon / Croutons

for $18 and change with free shipping but I am an Amazon Prime member......

Yes, I am referring to the croutons from the link you posted.

This is the part where I smack my forehead. I was talking about the stuff you mix with water to expand. Nice find with free shipping!

I'm wondering if I could use the croutons in my mix to replace bark. Would it degrade quickly?

The somalense is getting shorter?

Today.

Novembe 2, 2016