Adenium refers to succulents – plants adapted to life in conditions of limited water availability. The species is also called "Desert Rose" or mini baobab, it is often grown as bonsai. It is very easy to create a bonsai from a plant, because adenium forms it almost independently. The main decorative value of the plant is large elongated flowers with characteristically spaced petals. The flower can reach a diameter of 10-12 cm, appears at the very top of the shoots.

 Adenium can be grown from seeds at home. The seeds are soaked in warm water (25 degrees) for 48 hours until they swell and fall to the bottom of the container with water. Soaking allows you to soften the seed shell, stimulate the germination of sprouts. White "worms" should appear inside. Seeds germinate, we transfer them to the ground. 

 For sowing adenium, it is better to prepare a mixture consisting of:

 -soils for cacti;

 - perlita;

 -gravel;

 - coconut fibers.

 The soil mixture can be "steamed" at 150 ° C to kill pathogens that may be in the ground and damage seedlings.

 Sowing of adenium seeds:

 1. The seeds are placed horizontally (in a supine position) on the uncoated soil (adenium seeds are not buried in the ground, because fungi immediately affect them, in addition, the sprout will consume a lot of energy to germinate from the ground). You can cover it slightly with a millimeter layer of sand so that the seeds do not dry up.

 2.The container or pot is covered to maintain optimal humidity. They use a transparent film pierced in several places, over time they make more and more holes so that the seedlings get used to humidity and ambient temperature. The film is removed several times a day, watered, ventilated. Germination occurs after 3 to 5 days at a temperature of at least 26 ° C, germination is good.

 3. Completely remove the film only when the first leaves appear – if you remove the film earlier, there is a risk that the seed peel will not come off completely, which leads to the need to remove it manually – which can damage the seedlings.

 4.After removing the film, you can put a bottle on the container without a bottom and a cork. We keep the substrate moist until the second pair of leaves appear – then we begin to gradually reduce watering (so that the substrate dries out before the next watering).

 5. Then the seedlings can be gradually accustomed to the sun by exposing them to the southern or western window, isolating them from direct sunlight, for example, using a sheet of white paper.

 Adenium seedlings sometimes give the impression that they do not grow at all – this is because the plant imperceptibly develops a caudex that grows downwards, increasing the size of the part from which the roots grow.

 Small seedlings need to be transplanted into a pot in a month, it is desirable to fill the walls of the pot with fertilizer from bone meal. We recommend using pots with a diameter of at least 2 cm wider than the diameter of the root ball. It is better to use small and wide pots. An additional advantage of planting Adenium in such containers is the ability to easily control the moisture level of the substrate.

 It is necessary to properly prepare the soil for transplantation. The soil for adenium at home should be:

 - easy;

 -permeable;

 -with a high content of sand, gravel, materials that increase permeability (perlite, expanded clay);

 -soil reaction: from neutral to slightly alkaline.

 Under favorable conditions, seedlings can bloom in 8-12 months.

 Adenium loves warmth and sun – this should be taken into account when growing.

 Adeniums grow better at temperatures from 20 to 30 ° C. Growing in cool rooms is not the best idea. These types of potted flowers do not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C.

 The care of the adenium consists in regular moderate watering. Shaped like a bonsai flower, it reacts poorly to moisture errors. Proper care includes watering only after the substrate has completely dried. This allows the succulent to form a strong, thick caudex in which water accumulates. In natural conditions, caudex accumulates water during cyclical periods of rains, which then allows you to survive a drought. If you provide the plant with constant access to water, the caudex will not grow properly.

 The care of the adenium requires regular monitoring of the appearance of the caudex. As the substrate dries, the caudex becomes more sluggish. This is a signal that the bonsai has dried out the substrate and it is necessary to moisten the plant.

 It is worth emphasizing that a slight overdrying of adenium tolerates much better than excessive watering.

 With proper care, these plants are able to live for hundreds of years even in indoor conditions and delight you with their beauty. We are sure that you will love it!