Last evening when I went to nurture the plants on the rooftop, the sky was hazy with intermittent clouds covering the sun. The sun kept hidden behind a veil of clouds playing hide and seek.
I am not a weatherman but my instinct told me that it might rain. I announced it to my wife. I twirled my moustache as if I had made that rain forecast. There were times when the weather department predicted rain but there was none and when they projected clear weather it rained.
As usual around 4am in the morning, I thought I heard the pitter patter of rain in my dream. It wasn’t my dream but it was actually raining.
‘Jhirmir-Jhirmir’, a very slight drizzle or ‘bareek fuaar’, not intense rain but a continuous drizzle with very tiny rain droplets fell. Due to rain, the temperature dipped.
Rain meant that one could delay watering the plants. For Adeniums rain means trouble.
These plants are so sensitive to water that a little over watering and they rot without giving a hint. From the outside they look perfectly healthy but they rot from within. It calls for immediate action by ‘carving out’ the affected part. Or else, it is goodbye to the plant. I lost one last rainy season.
After Christmas, adeniums transcend into dormancy. They need no water or fertilizer. They just rest and sleep and need no manure or water. Force feeding can be harmful.
Here in the Suncity, a slight requirement of watering may be needed for two reasons. One, their caudex should not show signs of turning soft. Second, most of them are still flowering and need water to flower well. Plants sometimes get confused whether to sleep or to keep awake.
Beginning of January, a little water, just about 50-100 ml per pot, is good enough to keep the soil moist. Repeat in mid Jan. Just a slight sprinkle, that too if you feel it is needed.
These days, there is enough dew in the air. Plants draw their required moisture naturally. If droplets form on the car means ‘no watering’ the adenium plants.
As a routine, one must check every plant thoroughly on a weekly basis, if not daily. Just press their branches & caudex. If they are soft, it is fine if they are pulpy which means disaster.
If they are squishy it means trouble. One needs to pinch and see or if need be, carve and check for rot. If rot has begun, that brown portion has to be totally removed. It is akin to gangrene setting in. Amputation of the rotten part is the only solution to save the plant.
‘Basant Panchmi’ has gone by and Holi is approaching. The plants know it is time for 'reveille'. Therefore, it is time to prepare them for the coming season. This includes fertilizing them so that when they are fully conscious, breakfast is served. Lunch and dinner would follow in subsequent months.
Some suggest to hang the plants bare rooted in winters, repot and trim them in February to get better results. My plants are small. I am going to avoid hanging, repotting, or pruning them.
It is also time for all other pots in your garden to be fertilized. Friends, collecting manure is not as easy as you think but I am ready with five ingredients. A handful of Vermicompost, a teaspoon of Neem Khali, Bone Meal, and Sarson Khali with a dash of Anti-fungal powder per pot is sufficient.
Before manuring the adeniums, watering has to be stopped for at least three days. The top three inches of dry soil needs to be scooped and kept aside. Fertilizer as discussed would be administered to the roots. The top soil would be replaced. The drainage hole of the pot should be inspected and kept open to let excess water flow out freely.
Next two days, no watering again. This will help the manured soil and roots to get used to each other. Manure releases heat. This heat should not start a rot in the plant.
Adeniums can be best described like the ‘Hero Honda advertisement’. Fill it, shut it, and forget it. They will keep flowering thereafter. In the rainy season they might stop for a while and restart flowering in Sept-Oct till they go back to sleep in Dec.
Enjoy this plant folks. A must for every garden lover and especially those who stay in Rajasthan. Give them full sunlight, summers don’t bother them. Water them only when they need it. Fertilize them once a year or maximum twice. A word of caution, this plant has to be frequently inspected for rot. Follow these tips for abundant flowering.
Am I missing out on something? I wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS
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