Several people have requested more information on how to grow wider caudex which is the exposed root system that makes adenium plants special. There are several steps and methods to create wider caudexes and create great desert rose plants. First, you need to use the right type of pot, soil and provide the proper nutrients for your adenium plant.
The Pot and soil
There are several articles in this blog concerning the soil. Instead of rewriting articles for the correct desert rose soil please use the top search and insert the keyword soil. Needless to say, if you do not use the right soil and nutrients, the adenium plant will suffer. Make sure you fertilize on a regular basis to prevent shock.
In order to grow your adenium caudex wide you need to use a shallow pot if at all possible. If your pot is deep you can fill the bottom of the pot with rocks except for the top 3…5 inches depending upon the size of your adenium plant. Our jumbo plants are grown in 12” to 18” wide pots that are 5” to 8” deep. In the deeper pots we fill the first 3 inches with rocks and then put weed block/Gardner cloth above the rocks. Then we plant the adenium above the cloth. The cloth helps retain the soil. If you use this method you will need to repot every year because the cloth will decompose.
Wide caudex – Spread out the roots
When you pot your desert rose plant spread out the roots. Yes you can use bonsai wire to assist. Be careful not break the roots. If you do break roots or cut the roots let the plant set out for 7 days before planting for the cuts to heal. If you have a nice ball of roots put a large rock or ball (ping pong ball?) in the pot and then arrange the adenium plant roots around the ball to force the roots outwards.
Nonporous rocks work great too. In 6 months repot the desert rose plant and use a larger rock or ball. The advantage to using rocks it that you can find different shapes to sculpture the roots in particular arrangement. Remember the roots below the soil now will be exposed to the air in the future as you grow your caudex larger.
I used my dog’s fetch ball instead of a ping pong ball, should I replace it and find a rock instead? I’m just wondering if I’d be able to take the ball out when ready to replace it with a bigger one after 6 months.
Thank you.
Just as long as it will NOT retain water! Many dog toys once wet retains water. I woudl use a non-porous rock instead.