Hi,
I planted some adenium seeds in peat pellets last month and they are growing well. Yesterday, I went out to check on them and noticed a few have wrinkles and their trunks look thinner, almost like someone was trying to squeeze them flat. They used to be round and fat. Is that because of too much water? Too little water? Too little light? Too cold?
I'm in the NE region of the U.S. and it's been hot lately.

Thank you,
Tin

Hi @tinng321 Welcome!

The peat pellets look dry. Adenium seedlings need to have consistent and constant moisture. I recommend that the netting be pulled off and seedlings transplanted into individual 4" pots with a potting mix that allows for retention of moisture but well aerated and water drains fast.

Were are you located? I have had to water a splash everyday with my heat and lack of humidity. Once we know the weather conditions we can also suggest more. I would move them into partial shade for now.

I live in New Jersey, USA. I thought you're not supposed to transplant them until they have 3 sets of leaves.
I am new at this.
Thank you,
Tin

Tin, I've heard to transplant when 5 or 6 true leaves and I do this with my seed grown in community trays, not peat pellets. But in this case with the peat pellets, the young roots will not suffer too much as they are contained. I recommended only removing the netting from the root ball and placing the whole thing intact into a 4" pot.

If you are still unsure...then leave them as is in the peat pellets until they have more leaves but keep the pellets moist.

Hi rainbow,
What kind of mix should I use? Is there a formula? Or what would you recommend?

It all depends on your preferred mix, what's available, and what's your climate. If you would give us your location it would really be helpful. I'm sure other members will be more helpful and reply once you give more detail as to your growing conditions. I live in a wet tropical zone and not sure whether my advise, other than keeping seedlings hydrated, might be what your adeniums need for your climate.

Hi Tinn I would leave the soil and just take the netting off. I would water the seedling first to keep the soil intact. You can you a quick draining soil mix. I think you are hot and humid but are you getting the rains the east are getting? or are these plants covered or under a light? The reason I would leave the soil for now is to not to disturb the small new roots. Some in your area like to use a cactus mix with 50% perlite added. I use a gritty mix with core added. So it depends on what you have around and your weather. You will have to bring these into the house for winter in your area.

I leave them outside. They do get a good among of sun every day. I bring them in when it rains because the tray I have them in doesn't have any drain holes. Yes, I will have to bring them in when the temperature starts to drop. I also have a mature adenium that I purchased from BJs several years ago. Haven't flower yet. I'll take some more pictures tomorrow.

You guys are right. They needed water. I watered them yesterday and came out this morning to check on them, they are round and fat again.

I have them under the big tent in the photo. The sun only hit them after 5ish pm. Should I bring them out to full sun or leave them as it?








Planted more seeds



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This is the one I purchased from BJs several years ago. Still waiting for the first bloom.


This is a cutting from the plant above.

The left bracket [ was missing on the bb code so I copied to here and put in the [.


Nice caudex!

Should I leave those seedlings under the tent or put them out into the sun?

Rainbow said:The left bracket [ was missing on the bb code so I copied to here and put in the [.


Nice caudex!

Thank you.

Here's an update.






It was too dried. After watering, it's now fat and chubby like before. It even has two new leaves.

They're so nice and plump now! Do keep the peat moss pellets moist. Gradually expose them to full sun. To begin...place the table with the seedlings at the edge of your canopy that faces East where they will get a few hours of morning sun every day for a week. They will be shaded by the canopy when the sun goes overhead. Then move them out a little further to get more sunlight for several days. Continue to move and expose them in this way so that eventually they will be in full sun.

Thank you Rainbow.
Coincidently, one of the seedlings is Rainbow.

Your seedlings look fat and plump. Remember that those peat pots will dry faster then most. They have their second set of leaves so you could re pot them. What soil did you decide on?
What are the extra sticks used for in your older tree? Looks like you cut off a branch, Is that what the dark spot on the caudex?
I love your rooting it is tiny and cute. How long did it that to root?
What fertilizer are you using. That and a pattern of watering can help the older one bloom.

We had a couples of storms 2 weeks ago. The sticks helped keep it in its place. 2 of my okra plants snapped in half before I decided to put sticks around the rest of them. I don't use any fertilizer. I water every other day. Yes, I did cut off a branch and planted it in the black pot in the background. It took about 3 years to get those roots.

I went to Home Depot today and bought a bag of gravel, a bag of top soil, a big bag of perlite and a bag of orchid mix. I think I will use the same mix I used for the adult plant.
15% soil, 70% perlite, 5% gravel, 10% orchid mix (charcoal & bark).
I also bought miracle-gro water soluble fertilizer 10-30-10. I will use it on the mature plant to see if I will get any blooms.

Adeniums like less Nitrogen to bloom. A popular 9-3-6 is what most use. Use about a 1/4 of the recommended amount. I just switched to Dyna gro. Takes only a tsp for a gallon.

If it likes less nitrogen then shouldn't the first number be less than the middle?