Monday, November 4, 2019

Aptly Named "Joyful"


Day 22: Adenium obesum "Joyful" is living up to its name. It is an intermittent bloomer (i.e., it blooms when it feels like it, as opposed to being on a seasonal schedule) and in the year I've owned it, it has put on three abundant flushes of trumpet-shaped flowers fully two inches in diameter or more. The flowers are borne atop sturdy stems which arise from a thickened trunk known as a caudex. Many of the Adenium hybrids available commercially will have been grafted onto a well-formed, mature caudex to increase market appeal. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, Adeniums like it hot and dry. Overwatering will cause root rot. While they are undemanding with respect to watering, they should be monitored frequently for evidence of pests, in particular red-spider and scale. "Joyful" has proven so rewarding for me that I will undoubtedly be adding more Adeniums to my collection in the future.

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