Adenium arabicum Care

[DesertRose]

I couldn’t pass up this adenium at the local HD. The flowers were quite stunning. Was considering grounding it in my yard with some light shade, would they be able to survive in the ground here in Phoenix?

[Melt in the Sun]

I have never tried one in the ground (tucson) - my belief is that the winter rains will kill it. But I could be wrong! They definitely don't take any frost, so depending on where in greater Phoenix you are, it's worth noting.

I think it's practically impossible to give these plants too much sun.

If I were to try it, I'd plant it on a slope and water a ton during summer, stopping completely November - March.

[RCDS66]

Never heard of Adenium Arabica but if we are talking about Adenium arabicum here than I have over a dozen planted in open in full sun locations? I was told that they won't be able to take any frost but I decided to try. Planted them on slopes in a very well draining medium on full sun locations. They all took the winter rains and some frost in Jan (for two nights, temperatures dropped to 30*F but mostly stayed in the range of 33 to 37*F the lowest).

Most of them didn't drop leaves during winters and some of them even bloomed which is actually quite un-usual. This one is blooming in mid Feb.

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This one bloomed in mid Dec and did not drop leaves.

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So Adenium arabicum have a reasonable cold hardiness, can take temperature below freezing for few odd nights and can easily take temperatures between 35 to 45*F during winters. Of course I did not water them during winters but they did survive 3-4 days of rain in Dec and Jan. However, if it is some cultivar of Adenium obesum than it may not be able to take any frost.

[Melt in the Sun]

Wow - looks like I need to try!

[DesertRose]

Thanks for the correction RCDS66, I’ve updated the post title. Beautiful plants you’ve got in the ground! What sort of watering schedule do you have these on? Is it like weekly? Or daily during summer? I’m going to give it a try with a few in the ground

[RCDS66]

Thanks for the correction RCDS66, I’ve updated the post title. Beautiful plants you’ve got in the ground! What sort of watering schedule do you have these on? Is it like weekly? Or daily during summer? I’m going to give it a try with a few in the ground

DesertRose, they don't need much water but respond well to watering during summers if the drainage is good. In their habitat they get few but infrequent rains and therefore develop swollen stems to store water. I usually water them once in a week to 10 days during normal summer and generally after 3 days during hottest part of the summers. They respond very well to monsoon rains if the drainage is good but can rot quickly if the roots stay wet.

[Stan]

My experience with them is that younger ones can survive a few winters but as they get some size they become more sensitive to cold..then collapse.

[Melt in the Sun]

My experience with them is that younger ones can survive a few winters but as they get some size they become more sensitive to cold..then collapse.

Ha, I am undeterred! Pretty disparate climatic conditions between low desert AZ and coastal california...

[Geneaz]

I have several large ones I've grown in containers in full north Scottsdale sun on southern exposure with 3x weekly waterings and they bloom constantly from now to November. They love the full excruciating heat and sun and monthly fertilizer. Never tried in the ground because I move them to a greenhouse for winter in October through March. Mine are about 10 years old now and just coming out of dormancy due to our early hot spring. Never had any sunburn or distress as long as they're hydrated.

[RCDS66]

My experience with them is that younger ones can survive a few winters but as they get some size they become more sensitive to cold..then collapse.

What could be the scientific reason for this Stan? Technically speaking, older plants that have spent more time in a particular environment should be tougher than the younger ones. I am assuming that we are talking about those A. arabicum plants only that have been planted in ground in a full sun location.

I have several large ones I've grown in containers in full north Scottsdale sun on southern exposure with 3x weekly waterings and they bloom constantly from now to November. They love the full excruciating heat and sun and monthly fertilizer. Never tried in the ground because I move them to a greenhouse for winter in October through March. Mine are about 10 years old now and just coming out of dormancy due to our early hot spring. Never had any sunburn or distress as long as they're hydrated.

Thanks for the details Geneaz. Would love to see the pics of your A. arabicum.
IMO, heat and sun is not a problem for A. arabicum and for arabicum alone (other Adeniums might be cold sensitive), even slight cold is also not a problem. In their habitat they grow at places where the temperature crosses 115*F in routine. May like to try one odd plant in the ground in a south facing full sun location and see how it performs?

[Geneaz]

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On the left is my largest Arabicum, not yet sputtering to life; soon to get a bigger pot. On the right is an older juvenile I repotted last year.

This one is forming a massive caudex with short stubby branches. I do prune this one to keep it short. It's also getting a bigger pot soon.

[RCDS66]

Wow..... these are wonderful plants. And two of them sure need bigger pots. Would you like to put one of them in ground, in a slightly raised and prominent location in your garden? I guess they should be able to take the winters in Scottsdale AZ. Such a nicely grown plant with a beautiful caudex may look great in the landscape.

[Geneaz]

They do like tight shoes in order to get the fat caudex. In nature they grow on rocky outcroppings which duplicate the tight pot strategy.

Mine won't be going in the ground. Even when I repot, it's only an inch or two wider and hopefully not deeper. These plants will lift themselves up over time in containers.

[Geneaz]

Did a repot on one of them.

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