When I visited my mom today, I noticed her oldest adenium was in trouble: the center branch had root rot.

I asked her to let me 'operate' on it, hoping to save the plant, which in spite of the rot was full of flowers. It broke my heart to cut off those branches as well, but I thought it was best to just let the plant attempt to start anew.

I have no photos of the process, but I just took some, I'm hoping you guys can give me suggestions as to how to give it a chance for survival.








I took it home, and I now have it bare, on my inside patio, but I'm thinking of moving it to the garage. Would that be a good place? How long should I wait before potting it again? By the way, I did sprinkle cinnamon, just like Hetty suggests, on all the cuts.

By the way, doesn't it have a cool caudex? Please help me save it!

Very cool caudex.
looks like you cut it good,
did you cut roots at all? or just stems?

you want it dry so outside under roof is ok garage is ok if you can keep humidity down that is best.

if you cut just stems you dont have to wait very long 1 week would be good BUT cutting roots the bigger and more cuts the longer you should wait.
with a hard prune of roots and stems i suggest 4-6 weeks for sure. Find a fantastic pot for that great caudex that it can sit tall and proud.

the main thing is to let the cuts heal so it doesn't rot when potted

mike

while looking close at the plant the last picture the root on the left has black to it need to check it for rot if it is rot have to cut till you see good white green flesh i hate to say it might need more cutting dont know feel that root good

mike

I did have to cut some roots, at the center, but honestly, not as much as I expected when I first saw the plant.

I would leave it on the screened patio if it were not for the humidity. It's brutal this time of the year.

I just took a second look, Mike. I had to cut a good chunk on the other side of that. The spot, although it looks dark, it's firm.
So...you still think I should I cut even further?

Good luck, cool caudex... you make a good adenium doctor! My mom would of skinned me alive if i touched her plants



RobertB

what i should do is not cut it if it is firm but scratch it a little to see under neath and if it is black scratch a little deeper and see if its just discolored or rot i don't like to say just cut it i use a tooth pick or a sharp nail. then if looks good sprinkle with the mirical powder. in a week feel that spot again and then again in a week. REMEMBER difference between squishy rotten and soft due to dehydration in a few weeks.


i like to double check due to you have already gone this far and it will spread IF it is rot and that would be a shame

mike

I'll do that, Mike. The planter was totally wrong for adeniums. So basically, even in this weather, it was soaked.

And Robert, let's just say this was an exception, because mom didn't know what to do. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let me touch it.

AWESOME caudex. Good job on getting it out of its wet pot!!

Looks like you're doing fine with it.

I would find some different fertilizer for your Mom, the top bits look SO green. Too much nitrogen, the first number of the old 10-10-10 on the label, or as some stuff I saw the other day, 16-55-10. Wowee, that one is toooo unbalanced! Best for Adeniums is something in the 10-20-30 ratio, but that's not easy to find. Hydroponics folks use that ratio.

I would leave the plant 'hanging' for at least a month, and six weeks, like Mike says is fine. The smaller roots might turn brown and dry up, but that's OK. They heal, and you can pull off the dead parts easily with a little tug.

I don't know if too much humidity is bad (I live in 60% here--) but for sure, if there is any soil still stuck in the roots, that's real bad. It can cause rot, in my experience.

i just say about the humidity due to ours most the time runs around 80-90% most days after the rain hit the hot ground. i had 4 hanging and mold started to grow 3 times i cleaned with peroxide,used Cinnamon, antifungle spray and pure alcohol and i had to bring inside where the A/C was running but my plant room stays 85 degrees but the humidity is around 50% ....so when i say high i mean like 75-90% thats it.

I cant wait to see the progress of your project!!!

mike

Ok...hang it from where?

A high place. The point behind hanging is to not crush the roots. I rip strips of fabric, an old sheet, and gently tie around the caudex and maybe under a root or two so that the plant isn't strangled. Then I hang the plant, off a chair, from an open cabinet door(!!) or from a nail in the wall or just someplace.

Got it. Roots facing up or down?
Sorry if it's an obvious thing, but I've never done this before.

Well, roots down...

Check this thread...
The thread "Want to Hard Prune this Desert Rose" in Adeniums forum

Well, it's up.

Everything seems to be healing nicely, and I have not had to cut more, so far.

"It's up" ?? Does that mean you have the roots up. and the top down?? Or did you mean the plant is up--hanging? (where is it now?) Or did you read the whole thread? Adeniums are very senitive to up and down. Rarely does any plant grow the leaves and flowers down, and the roots up.

Except for those tomatoes in those wierdo topsy turvy planters.

I get SO confused!

The adenium is up on a stand, but the roots are down. Sorry I haven't posted photos yet!

Good morning!

I took this one a few minutes ago... I am checking it every day for signs of rot, and so far so good.



Since I tend to be a bit impatient, hmmm can I plant it in a week or so? Or should I wait.