Desert Rose Fans?

[Silas_Sancona]

13 hours ago, palmsOrl said:

Simply gorgeous both Silas and Umbrae! 

As a result, I feel that Adeniums (along with tree ferns for their pre-historic, palm-like mystique) are destined to be one sub-interest of mine within gardening/horticulture that really sticks, as their flowers are some of the most vivid and striking I have seen in their "size-class" if you will.  In my personal opinion, the richness and variety of color seen in Adeniums far surpasses that of actual roses.

I also kind of appreciate the fact that, like temperate bonsai, you can just "put them to bed" for 4-5 months each year, during which they require minimal care.  I envision winter quarters as an outdoor, shaded corner under a roof to avoid periods of chilly rain.  During this time, I will water once per month or so and add a smidge of fungicide to the water for good measure.  I had considered just keeping them as decorative pieces in my bedroom during this time, as I think their leafless forms would be fascinating to admire, but I don't think steady 71F -75F temperatures would keep them sufficiently dormant.

Speaking of "size-class" related to flowering plants, for extremely small flowers, the Lepanthes genera, (neo-tropical, mainly montane forest-dwelling, small to mico-minature-sized orchids) within the Pleurothallid alliance are my absolute favorite.  Each bloom like a shimmering, living gemstone and often a comparable size, or smaller than their mineral counterparts, this mysterious, elusive group of mainly twig-epiphytes has captivated me ever since I opened my first book on orchids many years ago. 

I have, in the past, grown at least 150 plants, representing, at minimum, 60 Lepanthes species.  These are both expensive and highly challenging to cultivate, in most cases requiring elaborate terraria (sometimes called Pleurothallidariums) to maintain environmental parameters that are just right for their survival and to entice the finicky, diminutive orchids to bloom.  Seriously, they should have a twelve-step program for these (and orchids in general)!  Of all the sub-disciplines within horticulture/gardening, I find orchids to be the most addictive.  While I have had countless hours of fun and enjoyment during the observation of, procurement of, shopping for, constructing elaborate setups for and caring for orchids over the past 24 years, I have spent more money, and experienced more disappointment, frustration and loss dealing with orchids than with all other plants I have dealt with combined.  Thus, I tell myself now, "Do not navigate to eBay and search "Lepanthes", do not navigate to eBay and search "Lepanthes"...".

If I had unlimited resources, I would definitely still maintain a few separate setups around the house that would each provide a different diurnal temperature range for warm/intermediate, intermediate/cool and cool/cold growers. 

Sorry to derail my own thread.  Now back to Adeniums!!!

 

 

 

De-rail away!..., lol

Once i start resurrecting what collections have been sacrificed to the " Sun drenched furnace" here,  guaranteed it will be Orchids that will likely empty my pockets the fastest.. Especially since a big goal ahead is directed toward building a collection of more challenging types, ie:  Stanhopea, Mormodes, Cyconoches, and Cyrtopodium ..and what crosses between them i come across.. and a good start of a specimen isn't cheap.  Cattleya, and friends, are easy..  Cymbidiums ..and a fair majority of Dendrobiums, -at least the ones on my list-, are almost effortless in Southern CA.  Having ..at least a couple well known growers close by, and only an hour or two from a couple others out there, the toughest decision will be how much $ to have set aside when visiting.. or attending a show, when they resume again.

As far as Roses.. Until the day comes that one with electric blue flowers, about 7" across.. which smells like Cloves or Vanilla is created, the only roses that might be included in my landscape are the native, wild kind.. I have a special "dislike" for 99% of the hybrid ones.. Too much work to keep them perfect, and a tad too "Mary Poppins /  English Garden" for my taste. They're in the same category as "Geometrically shaped" green Hedges, and Lawns..  Hard pass.  lol..

Edited July 13, 2020 by Silas_Sancona
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[palmsOrl]

You could have taken the words right out of my mouth Silas, on all counts.

Like you, I find roses rather... uninteresting and you explained very well why.  I too would consider a native species if offered to me (not sure that we have any).  Ditto on the hedges and lawns.  One exception regarding lawns might be impeccably kept Zoysia grass lawns I have seen in the affluent parts of town.  If I had to have a lawn, that would be my choice.  I have also seen some super-dwarf mondo grass used alone or with hardscaping to create some interesting ground cover in areas too shady to support most grasses.

As far as orchids, I am definitely a "species snob", going for the rare and weird stuff over the showy hybrids.  I will say though, when I have attanded shows and seen some of the amazing hybrids at their best, I wouldn't turn one down for my collection.

My focus in orchids since the beginning has been (not all at the same time):

-Slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae)

-Pleurothallids (mainly Lepanthes)

-Leafless epiphytic species

-FL native epiphytic species

-Miniature species in general

-Species from Borneo and New Guinea

-Caribbean epiphytic species

-Phalaenopsis species (and yes, I always end up with a few grocery store hybrids in my collection)

-Equitant Oncidiums

-Telipogon species

-Madagascar native species

-New Caledonia native species

 

Looking at my Adeniums on this scorching, dry, sunny afternoon, I think the two infected ones are improving in health and will go on to make a full recovery.  With the lack of rain, I put them out into some direct sunlight.  I think starting next Spring, being in the correct type of substrate and with 9 months to overcome the fungus, I will be able to leave them out in the full-sun and let them get rained on without worry.

I really like the varieties with darker colors in the flowers, so I will have my eye out for more of these on my next trip to the plant nurseries.  I have also seen some stunning yellow flowers.

[Silas_Sancona]

I think Swamp Rose, Rosa palustris is native to central and northern FL.. There's a few species native to CA and the Southwest i wouldn't mind including in a landscape, if i have the room eventually..

As far as lawn space, only thing i'd consider is a Texas-esque, Savannah-like setting ..say in the front of my property using warm season grasses like Gramma Grasses, and a specific cultivar of Buffalo Grass developed to handle California conditions.. which would only need mowing once a year, in which numerous native/ regional perennials, and various bulbs from S. Africa and South America/ Mexico could be naturalized in, ie:  Lycoris, Rhodophiala ( Ox Blood Lilies ), Zephyranthes ( Rain Lilies ) and various CA. natives that would flower at various times from Feb- October..  Again though, lol ..that's if i have space to do something like that..

As far as Orchids, i think my list is at 13 and 1/2 pages at this point, lol.. Aside from everything else on it, Have wanted to work with both Stanhopea and various stuff in the Catasetum alliance since seeing various species/ hybrids at different sales /shows..  Stanhopea are weird, and the always interesting flowers can smell like anything from Baked Cinnamon Cookies or Jasmine, to ..of all things.. Oregano or Mint..  A surprising number of species are supposedly hardy enough to be grown outdoors in the San Diego area/ Southern CA if placed/ cared for correctly..

Catasetum and family are just weird.. and come in bizarre color combinations. Individual plants in some species can change the sex of the flowers based on what conditions they experience/ how much light they receive. I may not be able to grow a good % of them outdoors unprotected all year ( have to be absolutely dry in winter while dormant, or they rot ) but hoping there are some i can grow under a covered south facing patio w/out too much trouble.  FL. native Cyrtopodium punctatum is a distant relative of the Catasetums..  On the list too.


Yea, you should know for sure by next spring if your plants healed up well..  My yellow one is on it's last flowers but is also pushing new growth at a good speed..  Hopefully added moisture in the air over the next week will push it a tad faster.   Too nervous about exposing my Desert Roses out in full sun here..  Tried it with a really nice A. swazicum specimen i had, and a few younger plants i'd bought at a sale..  None make it past August.


 

[greysrigging]

Had a few beers around at my mates Anna and Sharkey's place this arvo.... one of the better Desert Rose collections in Darwin.  Despite the record 'dry season'/winter heat, the plants all looking fantastic !

[jimmyt]

@greysrigging     Wow!  Maybe they should rename their garden.  Anna and Sharkey's Desert Rose Emporium!     Sweet!

[tacobender]

Have a grafted one planted about 2 years ago. The small one nearby is a volunteer seedling. Has a interesting blotchy color flower.

Anywhere moisture is, seeds sprout in my yard. Desert roses are prolific at seed time, wind blows them everywhere.

[palmsOrl]

After a couple months in a spot with more sunlight, the health is of my Adeniums has really improved and the areas of rot on the caudices of two of the plants have not spread any further, despite being out in the rain and only getting fungicide a couple times.  I haven’t had any blooms, but that might simply be because the season for blooming has passed.

[palmsOrl]

Near the beginning of this thread, I posted about the fungal issues a couple of my Adeniums were having.  Long story short, the caudex of one ended up with a large hole in one side and I began treating all three of my plants with fungicide every time I watered.

The conclusion reached earlier in this thread regarding the hole in the caudex was that it would not heal or fill in and would always be present.

As I was examining this plant yesterday, I discovered that it is starting to grow new roots around the periphery of the void left by the dead tissue.  Also, it appears to be starting to fill in with scar tissue.

So, for you Adenium enthusiasts, if one of your prized plants gets a bad fungal rot on a portion of the caudex (and roots in the case of mine), carve away as much of the infected tissue as possible, make sure to plant it in a very well-draining, sandy soil mix and treat with a systemic fungicide every time you water and it will more than likely recover eventually.

[palmsOrl]

Here's an update on the Adeniums.  Not much to see, but the smallest of the three, the red one has held on to its leaves.  Is this common?

-Michael

[kinzyjr]

[Reyes Vargas]

1 hour ago, kinzyjr said:

That's a nice deep red.  I like it.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Reyes Vargas

[Reyes Vargas]

I have a couple in the ground but they are nothing to brag about.  These were in the ground during the arctic blast.

This one is a red one.  It used to be a lot taller but obviously the freeze knocked it down to size.  I kind off like it like this.  It's more bushy.

This one is smaller.  It's white with red on the edges.  This one for some reason was not affected by the freeze like the other one.

[Reyes Vargas]

One more desert rose.  Not only do I like the flower color but I also like the thinner leaves.

[Palmensammler]

19 hours ago, Reyes Vargas said:

I have a couple in the ground but they are nothing to brag about.  These were in the ground during the arctic blast.

This one is a red one.  It used to be a lot taller but obviously the freeze knocked it down to size.  I kind off like it like this.  It's more bushy.

This one is smaller.  It's white with red on the edges.  This one for some reason was not affected by the freeze like the other one.

How cold was it during the freeze? Would these survive a typical European winter?

Thanks
Eckahrd

Edited May 23, 2021 by Palmensammler

[Reyes Vargas]

6 minutes ago, Palmensammler said:

How cold was it during the freeze? Would these survive a typical European winter?

Thanks
Eckahrd

We got down to 23°F (-5°C).  These are tropical plants so I don't think they would survive even minimal freezes year after year.   This was a freak storm and most years we don't get anywhere near freezing. I don't know how cold it gets there so I can't say that it will or won't grow there.

[palmsOrl]

Not a whole lot to see but two of my Adeniums have come into bloom.  The white one overcame the rot from last year and has calloused over the pit where the rot was.

[Silas_Sancona]

7 hours ago, Reyes Vargas said:

We got down to 23°F (-5°C).  These are tropical plants so I don't think they would survive even minimal freezes year after year.   This was a freak storm and most years we don't get anywhere near freezing. I don't know how cold it gets there so I can't say that it will or won't grow there.

Typically, Anything below 29-30F will damage them ( or kill them completely if wet at the same time ).. Very surprised yours survived below 25F. Wonder if your specimens contain any  A. swazicum in their genetic make up. Is supposedly one of the hardiest sp. ( able to tolerate brief exposure a couple degrees lower than most others )

[Reyes Vargas]

46 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

A. swazicum in their genetic

I wouldn't know that since I grew them from seed. 

There are some at the pizza hut in Weslaco that were frozen to the ground and they are coming back.  I'm not sure but I think I saw that they were flowering also last time I passed by.  The same happened in 2010 and 2011 where they froze to the ground and they just bounce back.  You might be right that they might have  A. swazicum in their genes since they keep coming back.

[Reyes Vargas]

1 hour ago, palmsOrl said:

Not a whole lot to see but two of my Adeniums have come into bloom.  The white one overcame the rot from last year and has calloused over the pit where the rot was.

I like the red one.  Is that a double or is the flower not completely open.

[Palmensammler]

10 hours ago, Reyes Vargas said:

We got down to 23°F (-5°C).  These are tropical plants so I don't think they would survive even minimal freezes year after year.   This was a freak storm and most years we don't get anywhere near freezing. I don't know how cold it gets there so I can't say that it will or won't grow there.

O.k. that's what I thought. So no chance here planted outside all year.  Nicely looking plants but I can't place more pots on our terrace.

Thanks for showing.

Eckhard.

[Reyes Vargas]

Some baby desert rose plants.  I planted these seeds that I collected from my plants.  

[Lindyschoe]

And I love Chinese rose or Chinese hibiscus. It's not exactly whimsical. It is standing on my balcony, it needs light, but also protection from direct sunlight. Near the window or on a closed balcony is perfect. In summer, the comfortable temperature for the Chinese rose is 18-25 ° C and higher, in winter-not lower than 15 ° C. At my house, this temperature is sometimes not observed and I spray rose leaves with water( especially in summer). I don't water too often, when 2 or 3 cm of soil dries out. And I always water it with water that is protected. And on the account of seeds, I have a proven option. Here it is https://troopscout.com/bloom-and-wild-voucher-code/. There are always a lot of buds from there and the plant variety is always the same.

Edited July 17, 2021 by Lindyschoe

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

My personal opinion:

I hate the roots on this Desert Rose.  They are Fugly!

On the other hand,

These roots are exquisite!

[Silas_Sancona]

A few Desert Rose encountered today..  Not a fan of the double flowered types, ( ...or any man-made/ non-natural, double / triple petaled " Froofy " flowering things really ) but know some people like 'em. 

 Color combo in the first 2 pictures is interesting.

[tacobender]

This one is approaching 2 meters tall. 

[MSX]

my a. obesum in full bloom