Growing adenium from seeds at home

Spectacular adeniums with a hypertrophied thickened stem, a small bunch of leaves and a scattering of luxurious flowers are becoming more and more popular with amateur flower growers. For all the exoticism, growing adenium from seeds at home, it turns out, is not difficult and even a beginner can do.

Light brown seeds, similar to miniature tubes, open literally in three days, revealing to the world a tiny, but already rather fleshy plant. Due to the rapid germination and further active growth, adeniums can be safely recommended to the most impatient home gardeners.

Despite the seeming simplicity and quite understandable joy from the sight of the first shoots, one should not forget that adenium is a native of Africa, and in indoor conditions a special approach is needed to its seedlings.

How to grow adenium from seeds, properly organize sowing, germination and care of seedlings?

Conditions and preparation of seeds for sowing adenium

Adeniums are thermophilic plants, therefore, for their germination, an increased temperature and humidity are required.

Experienced connoisseurs of this room culture advise maintaining temperatures around 30–35 ° C. In this case, the seeds hatch quickly and amicably.

If the air cools down to 28-29 ° C and below, the percentage of germination drops, and the already appeared seedlings may rot of the delicate root system.

The second prerequisite for growing adenium from seeds is a properly selected soil that would provide full access to the roots of moisture and oxygen. In this case, the substrate should not contain pathogenic fungi and pests.

Before sowing, adenium seeds are sometimes advised to soak in warm water. However, there are opponents of this method, who believe that moisture provokes the development of rot on seedlings. But it simultaneously activates the development of the embryo.

How to proceed, the florist himself decides. But if you use not just water, but fungicides and growth stimulants, you can get rid of the problem of growing adenium before planting, as in the photo above, a defect in the development of the root system.

Presowing treatment will help neutralize fungal spores that have settled on the surface of the seed and support the growth of the future indoor flower.

For this, the seeds are immersed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour or treated with an available complex fungicide, for example, phytosporin, effective and safe for the plant. After that, the planting material is dipped into a growth hormone solution for a couple of hours.

Soil preparation for growing adenium from seeds

The best substrates for adenium are easily permeable to moisture and air. They are perfectly structured and do not cake after several waterings. Dense soil prevents plant growth, contributes to the accumulation of excess moisture. Therefore, during preparation for sowing, you need to carefully choose the right mixture.

Today, flower growers willingly use ready-made soils, which differ:

• appointment;
• acidity;
• supply of nutrients;
• a set of basic and additional components.

At home, for adenium seeds, it is convenient to use substrates based on peat or coconut fiber, but for greater lightness and airiness, it is useful to additionally loosen them.

The mixture for planting adenium should be only half of succulent soil or universal soil.The second half is baking powder, which can be taken as:

• perlite or vermiculite;
• coarse river sand;
• crushed charcoal;
• the smallest fraction of expanded clay;
• foam balls, which can be obtained by kneading a piece of packaging from household appliances.

The capacity for planting adenium seeds can be any. The main thing is that there are many drainage holes at the bottom, freely allowing excess moisture to pass through.

Conveniently, if the container has a lid, then it turns into a miniature greenhouse for the time of growing adenium at home. A drainage layer of expanded clay, fragments of coal, foam or brick is laid out along the bottom. A substrate is poured on top, which is moderately moistened. Now it's the turn of the seeds.

Sowing adenium seeds at home

Since the seedlings of adenium are large and noticeable, the grower can choose between sowing in one container or using small pots for each sprout.

How to plant adenium correctly? Both options have their strengths and weaknesses.

A single sowing saves time for transplanting seedlings, allows plants to actively grow roots and get better light. But at the same time, for the mass of cups or cells for seedlings, often used for germinating adenium seeds at home, you need a lot of space both on the windowsill and under additional lighting lamps.

Sowing in a common container, on the contrary, saves space, but with uneven growth, some of the strong young plants will begin to stretch, waiting for the weaker shoots to catch up. In addition, such adeniums really need a transplant, otherwise crowding will lead to the rapid weakening of green pets. Usually, a transplant in its own pots is carried out 2-3 months after sowing.

In order not to accidentally fill the sprouts in individual containers, it is better to choose a container of a minimum volume, use cells for seedlings with drainage holes, peat pots or tablets.

When sowing, adenium seeds are spread flat at a distance of at least 3 cm from each other, and then sprinkled with a layer of substrate 5 to 10 mm thick. In this form, the container is placed in a greenhouse. Further care consists of:

• maintaining a fairly high temperature and humidity;
• in regular irrigation of the soil surface with a spray gun or in gentle irrigation into a pan.

To maintain a stable heat for adenium seeds, at home, you can use the bottom heating by means of a moisture-proof heating pad, shoe dryer and other improvised means.

Every day, the greenhouse, in which the seedlings remain for about a month, is aired. After the emergence of mass shoots, young adeniums are transferred to a bright place, leaving the heating for another 7-10 days. Fortified plants are planted.

Since it is possible to grow adeniums from seeds all year round, winter seedlings need mandatory illumination, which is easiest to provide with the help of special phytolamps. Further care for indoor plants does not differ from what adult specimens receive.

How easy it is to grow adenium from seeds - video