Wonderful Radial Root Treatment of an Adenium Plant

dot basecamp . mad man`s gardening : The video shows the wonderful radial root treatment of an Adenium plant .The roots are trained and positioned for a fantastic root structure . The natural look of an Adenium is always beautiful. The radial roots coupled with fatty caudex add to this beauty a new dimension . Even a novice gardener can do it easily following this video . Only he has to follow some rules of thumb and some growing tips.
( i) Leave the plant hanging in shade for some days (depends on the weather and health of the plant ) before repotting. During this period the plant will have been going thru fasting and it will feel a strong appetite for nutrient. Then as soon as the plant is soiled, it first starts to store nutrient in the caudex out of the fear of another fasting period.
(ii) During fasting the plant dehydrates and its branches and roots become soft and flexible. So we can bend them to the shape and position we want.
(iii) Expose the horizontal portion of the roots on the surface of the medium and allow the root tips go into the medium to feed the plant .
(iv ) Remember that shallow circular pots aesthetically go with radial roots .
10 General Growing Tips :
1. Adeniums can be easily grown in pots . Pots must have several drainage holes. Terracotta or clay containers can be used. The size of the pots depends on the volume of the plant .
2. Both soil based and soilless mediums can be used . I always do with both .
3. Adeniums prefer full sun, 6-8 hour a day. Scarcity of sunlight results in spindly growth and less vibrant blooming .
4. Winter is the dormant period for adeniums .It requires minimum water. Better water the plant once / twice a month and no fertilizer, no pruning, no grafting, no repotting, no training during this period .
5. Young plants require more nutrient than old mature plants. Growing plants need to be repotted roughly once a year .
6. Pruning is must for (a) better shape, more branches and more flowers , (b) removing unwanted / diseased branches .
7. Ideal time for repotting, adding fertilizer, pruning , starting a new project is anytime except winter , but most ideal time spring .
8. Adeniums can be propagated by (a) seeds, (b) cutting and (c) grafting.
(i) for rapid growth , fatty caudex and more plants for training and experiments I use seed propagation .
(ii) I use grafting for desirable varieties.
(iii) for identical plants cutting propagation is ideal .
9. Common problem with Adeniums is root rot .So try to avoid water logging , over watering and fungal attack .
10. The sap of some adeniums (boehmianum , multiflorum and obesum ) is toxic . So let it not touch the skin.