Adenia VENENATA

Adenia VENENATA - Poisonous adenia, Adenia venenata.

Can be grown in bonsai style!

Adenia is a genus of perennial deciduous succulent plants in the family Passifloraceae, comprising about 100 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In nature, the plants often grow among rocks, clinging to crevices and other supports by means of tendrils.

Plants of the genus are distinguished by the formation of a massive globose caudex or underground tuber of grayish-green color, capable of reaching 100 cm (39 in) in diameter. In natural conditions, the smooth cone-shaped gray trunk can reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in height. Long shoots extending from the trunk can be climbing, sometimes with tendrils. Leaves are entire or lobed, often with stipules, alternate or opposite. The plant has rather dense, rigid, interlaced thorns.

The flowering period of the plant falls in July. The fragrant flowers in most species are small, unisexual, gathered in axillary umbellate inflorescences. Petal coloration is yellow, yellow-green, and whitish-yellow. The fruit is a cone-shaped, obovate capsule or berry, often inflated, yellow, green, or red, containing rounded seeds.

It is an undemanding plant in care, growing rather slowly under indoor conditions. Many species demonstrate exceptional drought tolerance thanks to the massive caudex in which moisture is accumulated. It can be shaped beautifully as a bonsai. It looks great in a group of succulent plants, including ornamental-flowering ones.

Adenia venenata is a typical representative of the genus. The trunk forms a thickening of round, or most often oval shape. Flowers are pale, yellow. In the natural habitat it is distributed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Seeds are soaked for 6-12 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide with the addition of stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon), then surface-sown into a moist, loose substrate consisting of sand, peat, and perlite and covered with a layer of soil. The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in light but not in direct sun at a temperature of 22-28 °C (72-82 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Waterlogging and drying out of the crops must be avoided.

Under favorable conditions, the first shoots appear in 15-25 days. The maximum germination period can exceed 40 days. Pricking out is performed upon the appearance of 2-3 true leaves into individual pots with light substrate and drainage.

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In indoor conditions, placement on a sunny windowsill or under lamps is recommended. In summer, keeping outdoors in a location protected from rain is permissible. Direct light and high summer temperatures are well tolerated, as the plant is drought-resistant, but during extreme heat light shading may be required. Summer temperature is maintained within 22-28 °C (72-82 °F), optimal is 25-26 °C (77-79 °F). In winter, keeping at a temperature of 12-15 °C (54-59 °F) (minimum 7 °C (45 °F)) is necessary.

Watering is carried out regularly after drying of the soil in the summer period, very cautiously and moderately in winter. With a decrease in temperature during the winter period, watering is ceased. Water stagnation at the roots is not allowed. From March to August, once a month, fertilizers for cacti and succulents with reduced nitrogen content are applied. During the dormant period, feeding is not required.

A loose, well-drained, airy substrate with the addition of sand, perlite, and brick chips is used. Preference is given to neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Repotting is carried out in spring once every 2-3 years by potting-on. Pruning of shoots is conducted for shaping.

Propagation is carried out by seeds, which germinate under stable warmth. Propagation by cuttings rooted in a heated mini-greenhouse is also possible, but this method does not produce a caudex.