My Pachypodium saundersii grown on my full-sun, zone 10a Florida patio.
Slow growth the first few years as I treated it like a cactus. Now I treat it like a tropical plant. It was replanted in loose, free-draining but moisture -retentive soil in a significantly larger pot. It now gets frequent water during the dry season (the soil is kept moist as long as the plant is not dormant), and full exposure to Florida rains during the rainy season.
The plant had scarcely grown during the first few years, then started growing like crazy after being re-potted. It has easily tripled in size over the past three years. The only protection it has gotten from Florida weather is when a frost or freeze was predicted.
Two years ago I repotted into the pot you see in the second photo, at the time looking way over-potted for the size of the plant. It now needs lifted and soil replenished, but is no longer dwarfed by the pot.
First pic, when first acquired, as a cute tender-skinned baby:
Now, as a gnarly old man:
I have photos of him in bloom somewhere, but unfortunately can't find them at the moment.
Good luck with yours!
