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. 

Autumn Portraits

Sedum hernandezii

The Dimmit Pedigree

I have zero interest in sowing any more adenium seeds. Those things always turn into plants that I have to shelter in winter and no one I know wants them when I am done experimenting. But then, I somehow ended up with 20 seeds that originated from Mark Dimmit's legendary hands. 

In case you don't know, Dimmit is to growing adeniums what Steven Brack and Steven Hammer are to growing mesembs. If you do not know any of these guys, then think Henry Gray as in Gray's Anatomy.  Together with Gene Joseph and David Palzkill, Dimmit also wrote the book on adeniums called--well-- "Adenium", with a long subtitle. It's ridiculously expensive so I've never read it. But Dimmit has this site which had been my starting point when I first met adeniums.

So you can imagine when offered these seeds, you're an idiot to refuse. So here they are, no special treatment, no leaf-holding, plant whispering or any kind of woowoo. Just plain, great seeds.

Sown in February, on a heat mat, under T5HOs 14 hours a day. They were fresh seeds so they germinated quickly.