I couldn't wait and I hope I didn't kill it but I did my big adenium today. I was going to go ahead and plant it but I had to cut some roots below the dirt line so I'm letting it dry for a week and then plant... let me know if that is to long....



The original, has been in this pot for many years.



What is under the dirt? You guys got me interested.


I done did it!!!... It was a fight but it finally came out of its old home.



What is under there????







Test run to see how it would set in its new home before trimming roots.

Secret ingredient (Thank you Hetty)



It will set up a bit more when I put the mix in.


TADA!!! I hope it makes it!! Thanks everyone for the tips and inspiration!!

It didn't feel right cutting any part of this plant... and it took me a while to actually start cutting it. I think I'm in more shock than the plant.
It felt a bit like I was cutting my own fingers off...

RobertB

Look at that BEAUTIFUL caudex! You did good, Robert! And a beautiful bowl for it too.

What a great caudex! Fun to see the before and after too. Good work!

i agree totally worth the risk and it was like a suspense movie of what do you have!!!!

LOVE the new bowl

depending on where you are letting it heal at and the size of the roots you might want to give it longer then what you think....keep dry and not humid!!!

i have had the people in India say 3 weeks for large root cutting but i think thats to long just watch it and feel if it feels like it has crusted...

truly a great plant not that your selling but i bet value after planting would be 200.00 or MORE that caudex is out of this world.

Great pics was like we where right there with you

keep us updated

Mike

Thanks y'all! I would not have had a clue if not for the great information you guys all share...
The pot was on sale at Lowes for 26.00 they have a couple more like it , think I might go back and get them, good pots are hard to find!

Agreed on the pots! They are hard to find. Make sure it has holes!!

Hi Robert, I think you did a great job, hope it grows well. I have a very similar one in my back yard and am constantly saying I'm going to do what you did, then, like you, I get to feeling bad about possibly killing it. You've given me hope, I'm going to try and get to it very soon, but in my case I think I'll also cut the branches low and getting it to look more symmetrical, How many drain holes does your pot have?

Jim

Hi Jim,
Thanks, I am pleased with the results so far. I've never tried anything like this and I really don't have the green thumb that many here have. So if i can do it..... you can too!!!
I'm going to see how it develops from here but I plan on trimming it back some in the future just depends on what it looks like once I have the dirt in and I've had a chance to really look at it. It is exciting waiting to see what transpires. I did my other big adenium today and the caudex looks like a giant braid but it is soft, so it is not near as healthy as this one. Fingers crossed on both.
I love this pot, it has three quarter size holes on the bottom. I also picked up three terracotta feet that the pot can rest on and be an inch off the ground so that will help with draining also.




RobertB

Robert great to here you thought about the feet to keep off the ground/patio so many people dont think about that bravo!!

I love that caudex!

Yes, keeping the pot off a flat surface will be very helpful. I have some of the terracotta feet but they are not cheap, and I use small pebbles or even small pieces of sticks for the same effect. Actually, I am going to submit this as a tip now...

Fantastic!! Thanks for all the photos. You looked like you were having so much fun, and to find that wonderful caudex!!

When yo do put in the new potting mix/soil, I might suggeat watering very very sparingly for a month or two, to keep the mix moist but not wet at all, to give the feeder roots time to fill the soil.

I overwatered my big favorite plant, and it was just sitting there. This pot has one nice hole, and I thought all was well. For reasons unbeknownst to me, I picked the plant up. You can see that the bowl-shape of the pot won't hold the roots at all. The poor plant was sitting in tons of water that had simply not drained out!! Once the plant had filled the space with roots, it could drink up the water, because it was actively growing leaves. I water only early in the morning.

To see the pot, you must click on the photo. Home Depot for $13 pot.

I love Adeniums so much because they make me smile and laugh. No other plant has ever done that for me.

Hi.

My adeniums are planted in large terracota pots that rest on a concrete slab. I use 3 equidistant pieces of ceramic tiles around the bottom edge of my adeniums' pots. That raises the pot off the slab, allows better drainage and air circulation between the slab and the pots. I checked out theready-made pot feet at HD. They are stilish, but broken tiles are almost free. Watch out for sharp glazed edges on ceramic tiles, though.

Take care,
Sylvain.

What beautiful blooms! Must be a double of some sorts. Good idea about not watering right away... the mix is moist a bit as is so I will wait a while before I start watering once it finishes healing.
Good Idea about the tiles Sylvain. You can tell I'm new at adeniums 'cause I'm buying all the toys!

RobertB

OK now i have to go to Home depot and lowes for pots ....thanks you for the tip BUT thanks i can afford them but my plants say they need them

I have used just about everything to lift my pots until i cut myself with sharp edges that is when i decided the sides need to have holes. i have a cement drill bit so i can drill holes on the sides of my big pots and then started with orchid pots but now i have some that i love the caudex i need to get the shallow round or square ones that the plant sits up WITH out having a ton of soil under them

Melissa love that plant also and again that pot is great

thanks
mike

Robert. your plant is going to do great.

I just love that CAUDEX.
I keep trying to grow these Adeniums over here, and I just manage to kill them when they are about 2-3 years old.
I never learn my lesson about watering.

Remember they do better without water as to having too much.

Hi, fixpix! Where do you live?

Watering is fine when the plants are actively growing leaves. The rest of the time, to the dry side is best.

A little up date....





I need a proper table for it.

some other ones I've been playing with...









RobertB
Thanks for all the tips and support... it made it fun to do.. and I am an adenium addict!!