Adenia globosa is a plant that belongs to the Passifloraceae family; you can find this plant in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.
Adenia globosa is a climbing shrub forming a dangerously spiny tangle of twisted stems radiating in all directions, which in its habitat can grow up to 2.5 m in diameter.
The branches are around 8 m long, full of thorns, erect and twisted.
The spines are strong, about 2 to 8 cm long, and develop in the leaves’ axils.
During one season of the year this plant loses its leaves.
They are between 3 to 7 mm and 1.5 to 9 mm wide; they are grayish-green.
The Adenia globosa is about 1 to 1.5 mm long, and the stipules about 0.5 mm long.
The caudex is warty and swollen and measures up to 2.5 m in diameter, It also has the appearance of a large stone and is bright green in color.
The flowers are greenish-white.
This plant produces male flowers and female flowers.
The inflorescences produce 1 to 5 flowers.
Male flowers are narrow, tube- or funnel-shaped, and up to 2 cm long.
The sepals are 7 to 9 mm long. Each petal is 4 to 7.5 mm long and 1.5 to 2.5 mm wide.
While the female flowers are more or less campanulate, about 8 to 12 mm long.
The sepals are 5 to 8 mm long. And the petals about 1.5 to 2.5 long.
The plant’s fruit has an egg-shaped and about 1 to 3 cm long and 1 to 2 cm long, leathery, and green.
Each fruit gives between 3 to 6 seeds per capsule. Each seed is 6 to 7 mm long and 3 to 5.5 wide with a thickness of 3 mm.
Adenia globosa Care
Follow these steps, and you won’t have any issue with the care of your succulent plant.
Fertilization
You can fertilize your plant during the active growing season, that is, during spring and summer.
You only have to apply a specific fertilizer for cacti and succulents once every 2 to 3 weeks.
During the fall and winter, suspend fertilization; at this time, the plant does not need to be fertilized.
What you can do is add some fungicide during the winter (it can even be homemade) to prevent the appearance of fungi.
Transplant
If you have your plant in a pot, it is best to transplant it every two or three years.
If you notice that the roots are coming out of the drainage hole, it is time to transplant.
Make sure that the new pot has a drainage hole; you can also take the opportunity to add some slow-release fertilizer to strengthen your plant.
Pruning
You don’t have to prune Adenia globosa as regularly.
You just have to remove those leaves that are already wilted, to give the plant a more beautiful appearance and maintain its health.
Toxicity
This plant’s sap is poisonous, so you should handle the plant with caution, especially when pruning or transplanting your Adenia globosa.
You should also be careful with thorns, as they can be dangerous.
Temperature
These plants appreciate warm, sunny climates.
They tolerate high temperatures quite well.
The ideal temperature for this plant is approximately 70ºF (21ºC).
If you have your plant in a pot, it is best that you keep your Adenia globosa inside your home during the autumn and winter months, all with the purpose of protecting it from extreme cold.
If the temperature where you live is not lower than 60ºF (15ºC), you can have it outside, while if the temperature is below 44ºF (6ºC), it is best to have it inside.
Illumination
Adenia globosa can grow quite well in full sun or partial shade.
Something curious about this plant is that the caudex likes to be in the shade, while the leaves like to be in the sun.
One recommendation is to protect your plant during the sunniest summer hours to prevent the leaves from burning.
Substratum
A very porous substrate is needed; you can add a universal substrate: pumice, vulcanite, and perlite to improve drainage.
If you don’t want to get too complicated with the substrate, you can buy a substrate for cacti and succulents, as they do very well.
Propagation
The best way to propagate your Adenia globosa is through seeds, since propagation by cuttings is possible, but usually, the plant does not produce a caudex.
If you want the plant to produce seeds, the best way to propagate them is from cuttings since they bloom more freely.
But if you want the plant as decoration, it is best to grow them from seeds, since they develop a caudex.
Watering
This plant should be watered with some regularity in summer, while in winter, it is best to keep the soil dry as much as possible to prevent the plant from rotting easily.
Also, this beautiful plant does not like to be watered a lot when it has no leaves.
Pests or diseases
The main problem with adenia is root rot when overwatered.
During spring and summer, keep taking care of your plant to prevent it from getting sick from some very common pests at this time of year.