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Adenium obesum

Desert Rose

A dry deciduous or evergreen, succulent shrub to about 3 m tall, widely distributed in dry regions from subsaharan Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. It forms a thick, swollen, smooth trunk with only a few branches, each of which holds a terminal tuft of small simple leaves and a few very pretty, bright red or pink flowers. A stunning plant for cultivation in the drier tropics and a popular subject for pots and bonsai training.

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germination comments by our visitors
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Seeds from this species ...

... are very easy to germinate and need up to 1 month to sprout.
The Adenium obesum is a species very easy to sow. if the seeds are fresh, can sprout after a few days. It may help to pre soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. germination occurs at temperatures between 25 and 30 ° C. The substrate must be rich but loose, with a part of soil or peat acid, and a portion of inerts, such as perlite, or lava grit. You can sow it in pots or trays in, remembering that grow faster if you have lots of space for the roots. After about 3-4 weeks from sprouting, the moisture can be reduced, and the seedlings can be transplanted after one year.
Submitted on 12/12/2012 by Gabriele Simone

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plant cultivation comments by our visitors
Also see germination commnets above.

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If you wish to read more on palm cultivation, we highly recommend Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow, available in our bookshop.

Ratings and comments reflect individual experiences and the views of our visitors. They do not necessarily describe the most appropriate methods, nor are they necessarily valid for all seeds or plants of this species. Germination and plant cultivation success depends on many different factors; nevertheless, these experiences will hopefully aid you in your effort to get the best germination results from our seeds and the best growth results from your plants.

We recommend:

The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
by Robert Lee Riffle, Paul Craft, Scott Zona

2nd edition
Completely revised and updated
Hardcover - 528 pages
11 x 8.5 inches

Our rating:

Suitable for: all

The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms is the definitive account of all palms that can be grown for ornamental and economic use. Palms are often underutilized as a result of their unfamiliarity—even to tropical gardeners. To help introduce these valuable plants to a new audience, the authors have exhaustively documented every genus in the palm family.
825 species are described in detail, including cold hardiness, water needs, height, and any special requirements. Generously illustrated with more than 900 photos, including photos of several palm species that have never before appeared in a general encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms is as valuable as an identification guide as it is a practical handbook. Interesting snippets of history, ethnobotany, and biology inform the text and make this a lively catalog of these remarkable plants.

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