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Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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Posted by alisonOZ SEQLD Aust (My Page) on Mon, Jul 25, 05 at 3:22
| I have about 8, which are kept with my little succulent and african bulb collection, just so I can (usually) control watering. But we had the big winter dump and some got very wet from splash-up and overflowing gutterings. Some are OK, most of the babies are gonners. A couple of larger ones have gone green and gooey from the top down. I've sliced off the rotting part, there were no lower leaves or branches, just trunk. Is there any prospect I can stop this going right down to the roots and losing the plants? Is there anything I can use to dry off the cut trunks other than just letting them dry out naturally? They are planted in a cactus/succulent mix so the root area is now no longer a problem. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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| Pray tell, how has it turned out? You are now the expert on this predicament. |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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Well, CJ- thanks for asking. The problem one hardened off after I amputated & treated the rotting section, and is still "there".
Looking .... firm but...docked & bare. Waiting to see if any new growth this season. |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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| Adeniums hate wet roots. I lost one by planting it too deeply. Apparently in their natural state they virtually sit on top of crushed rock sending their roots into the soil. I now plant mine in bonsai pots with only an inch of the base inserted into the soil and pile soil into a mound around the stem. I hold the soil in place with crushed white stones, then ring the edge of the pots with small cacti, This stops soil runoff until the massive aerial root system develops (about 12 months). They have to be watered sparingly. I have a red and a white now 14 inches tall covered with over 20 blooms each and which look stunning. You can save the specimen with base rot by cutting off any good branches and re-striking them in 50% coarse sand/potting mix. It will not develop the same bulbous base as a seed-raised one, but the seeds from the pods that it will produce after 2 years or so, can be sown so it’s not a complete loss. Just cutting off the rotted base will not save the plant. They like full sun but when flowering the white gets sun-burn and needs to be placed in dappled shade. If you don’t wet the flowers, each bloom will last 2 weeks. You can cross pollinate using an artist brush and get some interesting variations. The red ones are considered very lucky by the Chinese and are given as wedding presents and will cost about $US 1,000 in Taiwan for a 12 inch specimen. |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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Thanks Gecko, I knew about the wetness problem but your general cultural notes and comments very useful and interesting.
Just as of the last few days, my be-headed plant, has begun sending out side-shoots from the trunk, so fingers crossed. |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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Hi Alison,
Have emailed a couple of pics as requested. These were taken a month ago, and the plants now have many more flowers. They're strange things because if they decide to go flush with blooms they often lose ALL their leaves in order to put everything into flowering. The red now is covered in blooms but has NO leaves at all! I'll also send you a site address about the plant that I googled and a pic from the net about the Chinese belief that it brings luck (although I havn't won lotto yet LOL, but still trying) Regs, |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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| My very old Adenium got root rot this winter. I read somewhere that you should cut off the bad/mushy part and hang them upside down until the plant heals itself. I've done that, but it still feels flabby and soft: can't remember how long it is supposed to hang upside down. Can this plant survive? |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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Sondra, I've not heard of that sort of treatment, I would think each plant and problem was individual so really no rules.
If the top of the plant heeled over would be a good sign but if the rot continues down, I think you will have to cut again deeper.
It's your growing season now, right, so maybe things will improve.
Try cutting and immediately dusting with fungicide powder - I even bought some cinnamon powder from the grocers as I read that can have some antibacterial benefits.
My original post was 5 years ago,I guess some of mine made it then, but there have been various disasters since.
Good luck with your plants though |
RE: Is Adenium rot stoppable?
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| I lost my oldest plant last year so I was extra careful this year. I got new Adenium pots and soil. Stopped watering them and brought them in for the winter. I thought I had beaten the rot and put them back outside in the sun, but when I checked yesterday 2 of them had it again! I threw one away and have one left to dry out. The third one is fine. My question is: after I re-pot it, should I water it? Or should I just let it be dry until I see some growth? |
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