PERFECT CAMOUFLAGE

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

26/X/2025

 

Slowly and steadily our rooftop garden is turning into a beautiful space with Adeniums joining the spread there. Besides them, waterlilies have given us extreme happiness. They are ‘slowing down’ as far as flowering is concerned with the onset of winter. Adeniums too are on their last leg of flowering, before they go into dormancy.

 

My job now is to keep a close watch on them. Ensuring that the adeniums are watered as per requirement. They are very sensitive to ‘over watering’. Adeniums are ‘sun loving’ plants with no demands. A feed of manure in Sept-Oct and thereafter they would get hungry in Feb, just before they come into flowering in spring.

 

Luckily, we have enough ‘sand’ from the desert available aplenty in the Suncity, which they love to grow in. Water has to drain out as fast as it can, leaving minimum retention in the pot.

 

Plus, as an experiment, instead of feeding them ‘tap water’, they are being given a healthy ‘tonic’ of waterlily tub water. It contains all the nutrients one can think of because fish keep adding to its nutritious value.

 

We have been avoiding spraying any chemicals in terms of pesticides on them. Reason being, bees have become active and they are good pollinators. In case we get a few ‘seed pods’ next season, they will be a mix of two flower strains which would produce a unique colour once those seeds are planted.

 

Anti fungal powder is sprinkled once a quarter as “root rot” is the ‘biggest destroyer’ of any Adenium plant. A suggestion for all those who are fond of keeping this plant is to keep checking its ‘caudex’ regularly for pulpiness and softness.

 

The causes can be ‘dehydration or rot’. The plant remains healthy from the outside and one day it suddenly dies without a clue. The leaves remain green till the last moment. One has to be extra cautious.

 

Now that the plants have ‘erupted with buds’ with some at flowering stage, it is prudent to give them a thorough check. What I found unpleasant to the eyes was that some of the buds had been bitten by some insect or mite. They have made a ‘hole’ in the flower and once it blooms, some portion of the petal may seem eaten, giving a disfigured flower.

 

As I was watering them today, I found, many plants are now showing yellowing leaves. This is normal while transitioning to winters. Leaves fall off automatically, however, one must ensure that they are not left in the pot as they can cause fungal infections. For me it is easy as my compost bin is close by. The fallen leaves rest in peace there.

 

Having watered them, I went ahead with plucking the yellow leaves. You just have to touch them and they fall off from the stem. But there was one which didn’t come off. I tried plucking it but then it was stuck as if glue had been applied.

 

Lo and behold, what do I find! It was not a yellowing leaf but a ‘yellowish-brownish caterpillar’. Now things started to fall in place. I found the culprit eating my flowers.

 

 This one is called the “Oleander Hawk Moth Caterpillar” or the “Army Green moth”. It eats tender leaves of adeniums and oleander plants.

 

It blends perfectly merging with yellowing leaves. It has horn-like structures at one end and a snake-like printed appearance to ward away predators. The caterpillar is a voracious leaf eater but does not destroy the plant, unless the plant is infested in large numbers.

 

This one looks like a perfect adult, about to go into the ‘pupa stage’. One has seen the moth which does have a camouflage pattern on its wings like the Army combat dress. The moth is big with a wing span of 90-100mm.

 

This one will be monitored closely. However, if it munches on too many leaves leaving the plant bald, then disciplinary action against the caterpillar will be initiated. You know what I mean.

 

Having taken some photos in the fading evening light, one took a close look at the neighbouring plants. Our friend had already munched on a few. For Adeniums, it is an automatic trimming procedure. Mind you this is the season to trim adenium plants lightly if they are not flowering. Ours are small plants, they would be left to the natural trimmers like our ‘caterpillar saab’.

 

 A stern warning has been issued to ‘sahib bahadur’ to mend his ways or he would be relocated to the jungle.

 

https://youtu.be/H92USj4L_Dw

 

A choice has been given to it to turn into a pupa soonest. I could not paste the notice on the plant but verbally it has been proclaimed. Will he listen? I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS