Growing desert rose seedlings require patience. Many people purchase adenium seeds online and expect flowers in 12 months or less. Adenium plants, just like all desert plants, require patience and dedication. It takes time to fatten up the caudex and care when young to prevent rot.
First the Desert Rose Seedling Have Patience Part
If you want to give your desert rose seedlings the best start do not transplant them early. Many people tend to rush transplanting them. Over the years we have learned that it’s better to leave them in the growing liners longer. AdeniumRose Company / ExoticGrower Company waits until the seedling is busting out of the plastic of 1 inch liners. The liners are 1 inch wide by 2 inches deep.
When removed from the growing liner the caudex is a good 1″ wide and 1″ deep. The desert rose seedlings are placed in 3″ round or square nursery pots. At this point the adenium seedlings are approximately 8 months to 1 yr old. Yes, we do crop the seedlings about 2 months before the removal from the liners.
Once the adenium plants are in 3″ pots we then wait until they are busting out of those pots before we move them up to the next size. Remember, we are growing these outdoors under a shade cloth (70% sun). Yes, we have automatic watering and fertilization system in a very warm and humid environment (Tropical SE Florida). Your results may vary. Be patient.
Now the Desert Rose Seedlings Flowering Part
Contrary to many peoples opinions, adenium seedlings may flower within 1 yr. The trick is to use the right nutrients starting when the desert rose seedlings are about 8 months old. We use Dyna-Gro Bloom when we want to test a few seedlings for flower type. Now if you do this you will cause the plant to focus energy on blooming not growing.
When you buy a plant at big box stores (home improvement stores/nurseries) they force blooms this way. If the plants are not blooming they lose sales. We do not recommend using a bloom formula until the desert rose seedlings are 18 months old. Wait until they have a few branches and the caudex is at least 1″ wide.
Desert Rose Seedlings Pot Size
Ok – you now know how Adeniumrose Company grow adenium seedlings in liners. What pot size should you use for seedlings? This depends greatly on your growing environment. If you do not regularly tend the plants you may need to use larger pots so they retain some moisture longer. Desert rose seedlings require monitoring. If you do not want to monitor your plants or you are not automated (water/fertilizing) then do not buy seedlings.
Since you are not a nursery use pots that breathe. We use bonsai pots and Terra cotta type pots only when planting for clients. Yes – some are glazed but not on the bottom. The size of the pot for desert rose seedlings should not be more than 1/2″ – 3/4″ wider on each side of the plant. If the caudex is 1inch use a 2.5 to 3 inch pot. Desert rose seedlings could use a pot 2.5 to 3 inches deep.
Remember to use the right soil and give the plant plenty of water during the growing season. If you have questions please post them in the comment area below.
Have a great time growing your desert rose seedlings!
Thank you very much for this blog! Just the information I was looking for.
This is the first time I have had luck in planting any kind of seeds. I planted Adenium Rose seeds and they had 4 leaves on them and I separated the coconut mesh and planted the
Mesh with the seed in a potting mix. My question is I’ve had very good luck with these after transferring the above to pots in the greenhouse. My question is their not seem to be growing. I am doing everything the same but they are only approximately 11/2 to 2 inch tall. Is this normal that they are just slow growers. Should I fertilized them with a liquid fertilizer now or what do you suggest.
What do you consider slow growing? Adenium seedlings need plenty of water and sun. Over potting tend to make them grow slower (do not move to large pots until they are busting at the seems. Soil nutrients are very important too.
You mentioned that you crop the seedlings before removing from liner. I want to try this with some of my seedlings in the future. But how much do I cut?
We crop them and them wait until they show new growth before transplanting them. How and which ones we crop depend upon the side of the seedling.
Hi, I live in Washington DC. My 20 year old AdeniumRose finally produced seed pods last summer which began opening this winter; the last ones opened in March. I’ve tried to germinate the seeds and finally found that with a heat pad and grow light I had some to sprout in a damp sand germination tray. My problem is that I’ve now got 4 seeds in the process of sprouting, but they seem to be stuck for the last 2 days, not growing very fast or at all. Should I go ahead and put them in full sun? should I let them dry a bit? Is it too soon to move them to seedling pots? How moist do they need to be Thanks for any advice! (I’ve got pictures if that would help.)
Welcome to the world of succulents and cactus. They are very slow growing plants. Depending upon your growing environment it could take 6-8 months before they are 1/2 thick. Wait at least 6 months before putting them in pots.
Thank you so much for the excellent advice. Here it is 4 months later, and three of four seedling did not progress but the 4th one is looking good. It’s about 1.75 inches tall and maybe 1/3 inch in diameter. But the leaves are not deep green, they are uniformly yellow-green and I am sure it needs fertilizer. It’s still in the sand where it germinated. What do you recommend? I don’t have Dyna Gro here. (can I order it from you?)
We do not germinate desert roses in sand. We use a propagation mix because it has the nutrients it needs for the first 6-8 months of growth. Are season stock is running low o Dyna-Gro products http://www.adeniumrose.com