Naked Pachypodium lamerei

[lucky1]

This turkey does this every year.
I repot it after the leaves fall off, and more leaves grow.
Then the process repeats.

What on earth is the matter with this thing?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5751540081/" title="DSC04699 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/575 ... bda116.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04699"></a>

Noticed these brown areas below the thorns.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5751540071/" title="DSC04698 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/575 ... ffca66.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04698"></a>

Is it worth keeping?

Barb

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Barb, I might be wrong, but I think that happens to them naturally in Madagascar, where they live (according to the change in wet/dry seasons).

[hardyjim]

Nothing is wrong with it,mine does the same thing every year.

[lucky1]

Really?

That blows me away because I had a Pachy a long time ago, it even branched and it NEVER dropped a leaf.
I don't think Steve's (in Kansas) drops leaves either.

So the little marks under the thorns aren't some kind of disease?
Or bug infestation?

Thanks!

Barb

[Knnn]

Barb,

When overwintering in the house mine would drop all their leaves until they were back outside.
They are taller than me now and I'm afraid to move them, so they have a permanent spot in the GH
All started growing in earnest about a month ago, within the last week all the leaves from last season fell off leaving just the new ones. So there is some sort of leaf replacement cycle inherent in these.
The leaf attachment points on mine will sometimes turn black too, not sure if it's a fungus or what, goes away as it heals over.


Steve

[lucky1]

Sorry that I didn't understand the leaf falling off thing previously.
Thought it was just because mine was so sick last year, with huge spots all over its leaves.

So I repotted it and it grew nice clean leaves again with no horrible spots.

Steve, I didn't realize yours dropped leaves indoors.

Thanks for explaining all this.
I was ready to toss it in the compost, but I won't now.

Yours are taller than you, Steve? Wow.
I can't wait to see yours flower...blossoms look like plumeria.

Thanks again everybody.
This ole bird finally got the message.

Barb

[Knnn]

Here's a couple photos,







Steve

[hardyjim]

Very nice Steve-well done!

Barb

If they go into a cool environment or if you let them dry out
to much they will drop their leaves/esp in fall/winter.

So,basically any kind of stress....
If I keep mine watered and put in a sunny window
they will keep their leaves all winter,I usually let them go
dormant-easier to deal with and I don't have enough
sunny spots in front of the windows.

[lucky1]

Oh man, Steve, those are spectacular...wow.
Bet they'll flower sooner than later.
To repot them, you'd have to wear chain mail coveralls.
Great photos, thanks.

If they go into a cool environment or if you let them dry out
to much they will drop their leaves/esp in fall/winter.

That was it.
Shouldn't have put it in the cold building.

Thanks guys!
Barb

[sidpook]

Hey Barb, I remember the leaves always coming off and even sometimes not coming back for a full year or two. I was in the Peace Corps in Comoros Islands (specifically on N'gazidja Island) in East Africa in the channel btwn Madagascar and Mozambique. We had them all over as well as Baobab trees. They all lost their leaves and looked dead at times, but always came back. I love those things! They are amazing.
Good luck with them!

Mike

[lucky1]

Hey Mike, thanks.
How cool you were stationed there.
Seems a lot of plants I like are from Madagascar.

I'm guessing that was your pre-palm/yucca hobby days...just think of the seeds you could collect there, especially Madagascar
Some of their landscapes are eerie; plants look like they're from another planet.

Steve (KNNN) has grown a baobab tree from seed.

Barb

[sidpook]

Hey Mike, thanks.
How cool you were stationed there.
Seems a lot of plants I like are from Madagascar.

I'm guessing that was your pre-palm/yucca hobby days...just think of the seeds you could collect there, especially Madagascar
Some of their landscapes are eerie; plants look like they're from another planet.

Steve (KNNN) has grown a baobab tree from seed.

Barb

Whoa,,,,I'd love to see that. I always felt like I was in an episode of the flintstones while over there.

[lucky1]

I've always wanted my Pachypodium lamerei to get tall (like Steve's!) before they start branching , but this turkey is acting strangely AGAIN.
Looks like some stem rot even though it's planted in gravel
And now it's sending out shoots below the stem rot at about 1 foot above the pot rim.

So much for a tall gorgeous Pachypodium...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6044255306/" title="DSC04874 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/604 ... 423b71.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04874"></a>

Barb

[seedscanada]

I gave all my pachypodiums away in 2008 after our baby was born. One 2 foot tall particularly fat lamerii fell over and a thorn went directly through my big toe and big toe nail, right nearly to the bone! Yeeeowch! I am growing more now 'cuz they are so gorgeous and threatening.

[hardyjim]

Barb


I think they look cool either way but branching is so rare
for these as houseplants!

ENJOY!

[lucky1]

OMG, seedsc!
Yikes, that sounds painful.

I am growing more now

Toenails? or Pachypodium?

branching is so rare

Really? I've tried to get mine to just grow a stem to, say, 5 feet before branching.
Never works for me.
Must be the stress of my growing conditions that creates branches.

Barb