I did a seed trade with someone on a different adenium forum. She sent me 10 seeds from a generic pink adenium she'd found a seed pod on. I just wanted some since I enjoy growing things from seeds and wanted to see how these seedlings would grow and develop characteristics. Maybe for some root stock to try my hand at grafting since I only have an adult generic pink, and 2 different red/black edges named adeniums. One is a double and one is a triple that I do plan on trying my hand at cross pollinating. I did order some seeds from Thailand that never arrived and I'd like to think that they got lost in quarantine due to hurricane Sandy. At least I got my money back. I'd love to eventually get other seeds of other varieties but guess that'll be later in the future. Anyway, enough rambling. Here's some pics of the seedlings that I managed to sprout. Enjoy!

Kirk

Got seeds on Nov.19th, planted that day and on 22nd had first sprouts.


Nov 23rd.


Nov 24th.


Dec 2nd.

Babies!!! We love them so much!! I have some just sprouting now, but I think they are too cold. They could be doing better.

Say, I have a friend that lives near the old part of Houston, and she wants an Adenium. Could you recommend a good place to buy them?

great job!!

Thanks!

Coconut - define old part of Houston. That covers a few areas. I did see a few at the Home Depot on South 45/Woodridge the other day. They weren't blooming but had good size caudex and are probably generic pink. Your friend might want rescue one of them since they more likely will not be protected when the temp drops to about 33F Monday. I only found out about other color/multi petal blooms around this mid summer and was even more hooked on these plants. So I stumbled on this forum, the adenium forum on gardenweb and a yahoo group and lurked for a bit reading every thread I could. Then decided to join them all a month or so back.

A lady in Houston on the gardenweb forum emailed me a list of a few nurseries in Houston that get multiple varieties and usually in spring time. If you send me a private message I'll reply with those places. That lady is also supposed to send me a catalog one of the nursery owners sends her before he places his order so she can pick out a few she wants him to order for her (from Thailand I believe) and she picks them up at his nursery.

Right now I'm having to add to my collection on the cheap (via seeds) since I've had a few unexpected expenditures this year, unfortunately.

Kirk

I'm really so impressed! I suck at seed growing but I refuse to give up. I got one plant out of 60 seeds and I am happy to have her. She is one spoiled baby!

Wow, how did you manage only one of 60? That's quite an unaccomplishment!

I'm beginning to think that to start seeds, use plain peatmoss, and just press the seeds in, so that they are surrounded, but visible. And then keep them very wet, just about soaking wet. Once they're up, then let them go to just moist. They send down the first root in about five days, maybe four, maybe six or seven. Scientific here, hey?

How about that, everyone? Covered too deep is a killer with any kind of seeds.

Cheryl, your baby looks real good!

That one seedling is looking great, ShadyGreen! Sorry about the loss of all the others. I'd be a very sad person if I lost that many too.

Coconut, I used a cactus mix. Barely covered the seeds. Devised a very cheap setup. Used yogurt cups with the tops cut off (they had square lips that stuck out where they were connected together) with holes cut in bottom for drainage and placed inside a used potato salad container with a few air holes cut in top. First few days I left it sitting on my computer router for bottom heat (warm but not hot) until sprouted and then moved to my East facing window in mornings, then moved to West facing window in evenings. Can't get any easier nor fancier for me, I say.

Here's a couple updated photos after 16 days from first sprout.





Kirk

Using the router is genius and resourceful. Great to idea for bottom warmth ! I must try that on day.

I had thought about putting it on top of my DirecTV receiver but there's not enough height space between it and the shelf above it to allow for a comfortable fit unfortunately. Unless I go with a bit more of a shallow tray/pan setup next time.

Kirk

I call them "Classic Pink"

Day 29







Kirk

They look great!

Do you have four-inch pots lined up for them? Should be potted up when they have six pairs of leaves.

Thanks. I'll be getting some pots pretty soon. Just have had a pretty busy holiday season with lots of road trips all over Texas. LOL

Kirk

One thing I do to make for more interesting roots/caudex is to pinch off the tap root. Our not-posting-much-any-more Wilfred planted seeds in a hanging plant pot, a very round sided pot. The little plants he sent me had one long curved tap root. I have some seedlings about the same size as youre that will be getting their next-larger pots soon. I will get some grass clippings to twirl around inside the pots with the hope that the roots will go round and round, following the grass. ??? I need a photo, I guess.

Ah, the quiet after the holidays is to my liking.

Is Doris under a lot of snow? Yoo hoo, Doris?

Yes I am Melissa.

WAA!!!

yikes!!

And we got 4" again last night.

It's 55F out here in South Florida right now. Yesterday, I got an email from Big Lots advertising a snow shovel sale (among other things). Hello,,, this is South Florida! We haven't seen snow for 35 years; a freak weather phenom in Miami. I'll hold out on the frivolous purchases in the snow shovel department as of yet, if nobody minds.

Sylvain.

Cheryl that seedling looks pretty healthy I lost some of the ones I did when I went on vacation and the power went out and it got cold.Luckily thats all I lost. I still have a few and the ones I had in the house are hanging in there. We ran into some snow in the Mountains on our way to Virginia but not as much as Doris. At first we were all happy to see the snow then it snowed harder and harder and then it wasn't fun anymore it was scary so we went to a motel and it was fine in the morning. Snow on the ground but the roads were clear. Now I remember why I moved to the south.