for sharing this Kadie, what a beautiful story and I am so happy that this 31 year old desert rose survived!

And now you have quite a beautiful collection

I love that you named it! I think of my plants like pets too. Maybe one day ill have one of these plants, lovely.

@gigiplumeria
Thank you for your kind words and compliment, Gigi!

@scbuttercup
I named two of my seedlings as well: Trace and Chubbs. A word of caution regards acquiring an adenium...one may turn into two, then three...

KD, Love your Adenium survivor story! Great job rejuvenating that old Adenium, she is beauty as are all of those others you have propagated and accumulated .... looks like you could open your very own "KD's Desert Rose Emporium".

About 15 years ago I tried a Desert Rose for the very first time; it quickly rotted and died from being planted in a heavy soil and left out in the open during many weeks of heavy rains. I never gave them another thought ... until visiting my sister earlier this year. She had a huge specimen that a friend had given her and she loved it so much that she bought another one and every time I'd visit her I'd look at those beauties and think I really need one! I think she has three now. I wonder what it is about certain plants that we just can't say no when we see them?

Last March, my husband and I bought a house down the street from my sister and brother-in-law where we will retire next year and while cleaning and getting it ready for tenants my sister noticed a dead looking plant sitting on the ground and said "Hey, that looks like a Desert Rose" and indeed it was. The plant didn't have a single leaf and the branches were very soft and soggy in places. My sis thought I was going to throw it in the trash because she thought it was dead but I told her I was keeping it along with some little unknown rhizomes that I found in the bottom of a soil-less, empty clay pot. I had no idea what those things were but I figured I'd plant them and find out. Turns out the little rhizomes were Peacock Ginger and they grew and bloomed just like the rescued Desert Rose. I cut the rotted branches of the Adenium and sprinkled cinnamon on the cuts, re-potted her in a well draining potting medium and waited and she's recuperated just fine and even graced me with a couple of blooms this summer.

A couple of months later (early May) I was at Walmart and bought another small Desert Rose ... then in June I was at Home Depot and spotted a big beautiful Desert Rose plant for $19.95 and I just couldn't pass it up, then a couple of weeks after that I happened to be at Lowes and spotted a small Adenium with double blooms that just happened to jump in my cart! So, now I have four Desert Roses, which I'm pretty sure is my limit.

KD, I've learned a lot about these lovely plants from you and others here on ATP and I understand your word of caution that one may likely become two or three ... or more!!

Lin, I thoroughly enjoyed your story...thank you for sharing. I have seen your adenium flowers photos and they are lovely.

Thank you for your gift...you are so kind!

That is a beautiful plant and a beautiful story. A quick search shows it can be a house plant. Oh, I don't know... I may end up killing it and not on purpose. It sure is tempting though.

I have learned with natives, some do much better with neglect. I over watered a few things.

Thanks, Kim! Adeniums (older than seedlings) will definitely tolerate neglect. They perform best outdoors, but bring in before your climate goes below 60F. When planted in a soil-less medium that is very fast-draining, chances of overwatering is practically nil.

Thank you too for your gifts...very sweet!

Kadie

My husband bought me one last year. Then I convinced him to give me 2 more this year.

And I have 10 little babies growing now, but I might end up with more because the 4 huge seedpods opened while I was on vacation. So who knows the other seeds may be growing in my garden or in pots...got to look closely before I pull weeds.

Gigi, the seeds might also have blown into your neighbors' yards.
For the first time ever, Bilibong has produced a seed pod (missing one horn).
And just the other day, I noticed seed pods growing on a seedling. I'll take and post pictures later in the Adenium forum.
Kadie

Enjoyed your story! I also was loving mine to death, rotting it with too much water. I have learned and did eventually get some blossoms. Thanks for the info.

You are welcome, Linda! Glad you enjoyed my story!

One of mine had rotted also -- and it was full of ants -- a little snipping and a whole lot of cinnamon spread around the plant helped with that. It, too, survived and has been blooming like crazy this year. I believe I now have 12 Desert Roses (I'll have to check). Talk about addiction. I successfully propagated a few from cuttings and some had become leggy. I just noticed some pods on one of them today and will have to check out what to do with them. I love them, grow them, but am no expert.

If anyone wants to unload a seedling ....I will pay shipping or trade if I have anything you'd like. Send a tree mail.

@orchidgal
Sounds like you are growing your adeniums successfully. Would love to see pictures of your blooms.

I will make a point of taking some pictures tomorrow.

Great story. Kudos.

I only have one which I bought at the same time as I acquired a Plumeria and a Clivia. All were firsts for me and so far, I have not killed any of them.

Look foward to the day when the Adenium blooms. Well the other two as well. Given that I am in Zone 5 B and must over winter a lot indoors, I feel a sense of success that all 3 plants made it a year and look pretty good. The Adenium did though decide to drop a bunch of leves recently. Not sure why - otherwise it looks very healthy.

@DavidLMO
I meant to respond to your comment but got sidetracked. Forgive me. Glad your adeniums are looking good. Please post pictures when you can in the Adenium forum.

I have been reading your posts on the Tropicals forum...awesome that you "push the zone envelope."

I am brand new to this and I love all of these stories. I had no idea the variation and the complexities of the adeniums. I am hooked now too. I grew up in Maryland (east coast of U.S.). My mother was always trying to raise orchids, plumeria, and DESERT ROSES. She had one desert rose that had a huge caudex. It would flower every year. I admired it, but I was enamored by her orchid variety. I always thought adeniums only came in pink and red.

After I moved to Hawaii, I purchased my very first adenium seedling for $1 from a church about 3 years ago (?) I didn't do much with it other than repot it once. I have otherwise neglected it!!! It gave me blooms each year, but I will admit, I took it for granted.

I noticed last week that it was outgrowing its pot and it had mealybugs. Not knowing much, I chopped off the branches, sealed the cuts with candle wax. While I was googling ways to repot it, I found this site AND the photos posted by Rainbow Kadie and several other members!!! I saw the beautiful colors, varieties, thick caudexes. I started going on youtube and viewing the tutorials. I then decided to order a bunch of seeds because I got so excited. I hope I get what I ordered! I'm awaiting their arrival.

Thank you every one of you who posts pictures, questions, answers, stories, etc. I have been reading on this forum and going on Youtube day and night. My kids tell me I'm a little obsessed I am learning so much from all of you.