How Much Water Does Adenium Need? A Complete Guide

Adeniums, also known as desert roses, are stunning flowering succulents that make excellent houseplants. With their swollen trunks and brilliant flowers, they add a dramatic touch to any indoor space. However, caring for these plants does require some specific knowledge, especially when it comes to watering. Understanding how much water adeniums need is crucial for keeping them healthy and encouraging them to bloom.

How Often To Water Adeniums

In their native desert habitat adeniums experience cycles of drought followed by heavy rainfall. This means they are adapted to receive infrequent soakings rather than frequent light sprinkles. As a general rule adeniums should be watered thoroughly only after the soil has been allowed to dry out completely. During the growing season, aim to water an adenium every 7-10 days. In the winter, this can be extended to every 2-3 weeks.

Smaller adeniums in pots under 4 inches across will need more frequent watering, as their soil dries out faster. Aim for every 5-7 days in summer and 7-10 days in winter. Larger adeniums in big pots can go longer between waterings, 10-14 days in summer and 3-4 weeks in winter.

Signs Your Adenium Needs Water

The top few inches of soil should be allowed to dry out before watering again. Check by inserting your finger into the soil. If the soil is completely dry it’s time to water. Here are some other signs that indicate your adenium is thirsty

• Leaves start to wrinkle and pucker
• Leaves begin to droop
• Plant looks wilted overall

If you notice any of these signs, it’s definitely time to give your adenium a good, thorough watering. Allow all the excess water to drain out the bottom, then don’t water again until the top of the soil has dried out once more.

Signs Your Adenium Is Overwatered

While adeniums need infrequent deep waterings, allowing them to get too dry can also cause issues. Look out for these signs of underwatering:

• Leaves turn yellow
• Plant drops many lower leaves
• Growth slows or stops
• Flowers fail to open

If you notice these, increase the frequency of watering slightly. It’s a delicate balance between too much and too little!

How To Water Adeniums

When watering adeniums, aim to soak the entire root ball thoroughly. Water should drain freely from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. If excess water takes more than 10 minutes to drain away, the soil may be too dense or the pot too small.

Use tepid water at room temperature. Cold water straight from the tap can shock adenium roots. Avoid getting water on the stems or leaves, as this can cause rotting. Only aim water at the soil.

Water newly repotted adeniums very sparingly until new roots establish. Keep the soil barely moist for the first few weeks until you see signs of new growth.

During the winter dormancy period, reduce watering frequency but don’t stop completely. Aim to water just enough to keep the roots from totally drying out.

How Much Water For Different Size Adeniums

Small adeniums in 2-4 inch pots:

• Summer – Water when top 1 inch of soil is dry. Every 5-7 days.

• Winter – Allow top 2 inches to dry. Every 7-10 days.

Medium adeniums in 6-8 inch pots:

• Summer – Water when top 2 inches are dry. Every 7-10 days.

• Winter – Allow top 3-4 inches to dry. Every 10-14 days.

Large adeniums in 10+ inch pots:

• Summer – Water when top 4-5 inches are dry. Every 10-14 days.

• Winter – Allow top 5-6 inches to dry. Every 3-4 weeks.

These are general guidelines only. Always assess each plant individually based on season, exposure to light and heat, and other factors. Adjust as needed.

Use Well-Draining Soil

To avoid problems with overwatering, always use a very fast-draining cactus or succulent soil mix. Aim for a blend composed of equal parts potting soil, coarse sand, perlite or pumice. This creates lots of air pockets for drainage while still providing some moisture retention.

You can also amend regular potting soil with up to 50% perlite or pumice to improve drainage. Just avoid dense, water-retentive potting mixes that will leave adenium roots sitting in wet soil.

Grow In Terracotta Pots

For the best drainage, grow adeniums in unglazed terracotta clay pots. The porous material helps pull excess moisture away from the roots. Add plenty of drainage holes to the bottom and use saucers just to catch drips, emptying any excess water that collects.

Plastic and glazed ceramic pots work too, just avoid choosing pots that are too large, as this leads to wet soil. Go only 1-2 inches bigger in diameter than the current root ball when repotting.

Use Distilled Or Rainwater

Avoid using hard tap water if possible, as the minerals can build up in the soil over time. Collect rainwater during rainy months and store it for irrigating indoor adeniums year-round. Or invest in jugs of distilled water from the grocery store.

If tap water is your only option, allow it to sit out overnight before using. This allows the chlorine and fluoride to dissipate, making it safer for sensitive plants like adeniums.

Create A Fast-Draining Environment

In addition to fast-draining soil and pots, there are some other tricks for improving drainage around adenium roots:

• Add a 1-2 inch layer of gravel, pebbles or perlite at the bottom of pots to keep soil elevated from collected water.

• Set pots on wire racks or plant risers to promote air circulation underneath.

• Grow in a sunny spot indoors near a window and avoid overcrowding with other plants.

• Move plants outdoors during summer months for maximum sunlight and airflow.

Adjust Watering For seasons

Adeniums grow and need more water during the long days and warm temperatures of spring and summer. In fall and winter, as daylight hours decrease, they enter a period of dormancy and can go much longer without water.

If keeping adeniums growing indoors year-round under lights or on a sunny windowsill, they will still benefit from reduced watering in winter even if growth doesn’t fully stop. Find the right balance based on your environment.

Monitor Humidity

Adeniums prefer drier conditions. Avoid misting the leaves, allowing plants to sit in water-filled saucers, or placing them in rooms with constantly high humidity. This can lead to root and stem rot.

Consider using a humidifier or pebble tray only if indoor humidity drops below 30%, as during winter months when the heating system is running. Keep fans circulating air around adeniums too.

Don’t Rely On A Set Schedule

It can be tempting to water succulents like adeniums on a fixed schedule, such as every Sunday. But it’s important to always check the soil first before watering on any preset day. Watering on a fixed calendar schedule often leads to overwatering.

Environmental factors like light intensity and temperature fluctuation will affect how quickly the soil dries out. Let the plant tell you when it needs water by assessing the soil moisture.

Providing the right amount of water is crucial for keeping adenium houseplants happy and healthy. Aim to soak the soil completely then allow to dry out before watering again based on factors like pot size, season, and growth stage. Pay close attention to drainage and soil wetness to avoid problems with rot. With a little practice, you’ll master the art of proper adenium irrigation.