Late Bloomers and Early Risers

Adenium obesum "Rik Ni Ran", grafted

As the weather turned from scorching to slightly less scorching in Zone 7, this is the time most of my adeniums decided to profusely bud. This is annoying. The plants themselves are ridiculously sturdy and tolerant of temperature swings that do not include freezing. But adenium buds are sensitive as shit. 

These tender threats will not tolerate temperature drops at night so they have to be sheltered indoors. I'm not sure why the blooms are late this year (someone probably forgot to fertilize them and then fertilized them late in the season), but in the end, this means early retreat into the basement to preserve the flower buds. 

And so, everyone bloomed indoors, under a 4-bulb fluorescent panel. In that setup, the temperature is stable at 31 degrees Celsius. The outdoor temperature was still ranging over 20C but night temperatures were erratically dipping below 16C so if you have that situation, bring the budding plants in and get some fierce lighting going on for at least 8 hours. Keep them hydrated, too.

A. obesum, "Fancy Girl", grafted; my last remaining adenium from Rinoa.

Adenium obesum x crispum (Dimmit), seed-grown. This is one of my reddest adeniums; one of about 8 seed-grown crosses by Mark Dimmit.

Adenium obesum x crispum (Dimmit), seed-grown

A. obesum, "White Flora"

A. obesum "Star of Black Night", seed-grown

Another Dimmit hybrid--A. obesum x crispum.

Other things are blooming at the moment as well. 

Echeveria minima; this one has been going on since August for some reason. The plant itself is quite a shock for its resilience, considering how little care it has been getting. 

Ophthalmophyllum triebneri ; the very idea that this mesemb is even still alive is mind-boggling enough. Then it bloomed. That flower is still going right now, more than a week after this photo was shot.

Ophthalmophyllum verrucosum MG

Conophytum pellucidum var neohallii

And some winter growers coming back to growth...

Tylecodon ventricosus, rooting successfully? Who knows. These caudiciforms pack so much energy in their fleshy trunks, you can slice off portions, stick them in pumice and they will look alive for months until the energy hoard finally runs out. They are the most annoying plants to root, requiring careful spraying for-fucking-ever. 

This is the parent plant that became etiolated after a season of neglect in, well, the dark. Unlike the nibs, though, it has not sprung back into growth yet.

Tylecodon reticulatus. It is quite possibly safely out of the woods now, four years after arriving with bubbly, stinky pink ooze squirting out of it. Pro tip: when rooting caudiciforms, you have to learn its habitat and give it its seasons. Read about its backstory here.