wow that is really looking nice what a great way to open up the branches.

Thank you, John. And merry Christmas. :-)

Cheers,

Martin

Truly looking amazing, Martin. Love it in that pot and your top dressing.

Rick

Thanks, Rick!

It needs a "haircut" again and soon a larger pot if the growth spurt continues. Oh, btw, I think that flower buds are on the way on 3-4 branches. It will be the very first flowers, then. :-)

Love the shape of her crown Martin. What a beauty! She looks like she will pop that pot in just another 6 months!

Tracy

Thanks, Tracy.

Yes, she is slowly pushing herself out of the pot. ;-) Before that happens, I will have to prune the branches. Again. She is growing out of shape. But I am still crossing my fingers that she will bloom before spring is here. 3 (4?) branches look mature, just about to grow flower buds.

Hi Martin, another great looking arabicum. Is it grown in 100% gritty mix? Thanks.

Tan

Tan, thanks.

It is grown in a 50-60% / 40-50% mix of coir / grit. I find it suitable for growing in my controlled growth environment (grow tent with LED light).

Beautifull!!!

dh_a, well thank you.

After some more pruning and pinching:

it certainly is taking shape!

Beautiful!

Love the pot, also!

Hmm, the Japanese bonsai aluminium wire I recently ordered is too thin for this tree. I probably need 5mm/0.2 inch wire to keep the thickest branches in place (20-25mm/0.8-1.0 inches thick).

After a few wiring attempts: A fairly soft stem, 8mm/0.3 inches thick, can be shaped using a 1.5 mm/0.06 inch wire. If you are inexperienced, I can't recommend that you begin your bonsai career wiring your favourite adeniums. Try wiring adeniums with little or no potential because failure is to be expected (deep marks/scars). I am happy I did.

I would have used the foam-padded kind, Martin.

I can't buy that here. I even had to buy the japanese wire online. I guess bonsai is not that popular in Denmark...

Then just get foam-padded ones online next time. I'm too lazy, I just mow down branches I don't like. I have a suspicion anyway that once released, adenium branches will right itself and grow vertically. I have seen a branch actually turn 45 degrees upwards which looked ridiculous. To avoid this, the thing will have to be wired for a long time (years!) until the branch hardens significantly. New growths will still tend to be vertical. But you know that. It will have to be a combination of wiring and pruning. Sigh. Too much work lol

Maybe I can find the foam-padded ones in German or UK webshops. But a quick search on Amazon UK resulted in a list of seamless breastfeeding nursing bras and cotton full coverage wire-free padded bras. ;-)

I doubt that the thick branches of the arabicum in this thread will right themselves. At least some of them appear to have hardened to a point where they can't be bend anymore. I can't even bend that annoying almost vertical sidebranch on the far left side. So I pruned it some more.

lol It will be challenging to use lingerie for this. Also, I can send you some, just say the word.

Pagan, thanks for the offer but it will probably be withheld by customs...

10-01-2017:

After pruning the branches, most of them have grown 2-3 new branches. A few has a only a single new branch and needs to be pruned again.

Update

21-05-2017:

It needs a trim and more training after too generous watering. Next week I will repot it into a 3 or 4 gallon Smart Pot.

Pagan, your plant is fantastic! Like the tie-down, too. Will this plant bloom?

Carol in Jacksonville

Carol, I think that you meant "Martin", not "Pagan". Pagan has some lovely plants, though. ;-)

Thanks. It hasn't bloomed yet. Hopefully it will before I cut it down. ;-)

- Martin

Wow Martin, this arabicum beauty looks better and better with your care and grooming!

Rob, thanks for the info!

I have plenty of wire bought in a local bonsai shop, but I haven't used it yet. ;-) My plant would definitely benefit from some wiring and more pruning.

Tan808, thanks for commenting. I appreciate it. :-)

Ya, I did mean you, Martin! Sorry 'bout that.

Gorgeous plant! When you view the photos from top to bottom, it is interesting and fun to see how much it has grown and developed.

Carol

Update

After initial wiring and some light pruning (it will be wired and pruned some more):

HI Martin if you want to learn about bonsai the one person I rate very highly is a fellow called Graham w Potter he is one of the best new age bonsai gardener'she is on utube. When I was mucking around with bonsai plants before I saw the light DR I have used what we call paper raffia natural 4mm tape it stops the bruising itso on ebay I checked for you any way best of luck.

Hi Martin, did you cut the end of the brunches? It looks like on the first photo above.

Polina.

Polina, yes, it has been pruned several times.

Which sellers have such seeds, if it isn’t too tacky a question?

Ariel, this seller has a good reputation and provide an excellent service. Polina.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/adenium_ko/m.html?item=202143859522&ssPageName=ADME%3AL%3ACOSI%3AUS%3A1123&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 

I buy seeds from Kesorn in Thailand. Look at adeniumseeds.com. Reliable and honest seller.

I’ve gotten Ko seeds before. I’ll see if Kesorn can ship to Mexico. Thanks :)

Now that I just spliced and repotted my black RCN's, you know we are going to want an update on this one for 2018, Martin! ;)