potting a pachypodium

I've been given a pachypodium appox. 1 ft. tall that was removed from a container of some sort! It looks healthy, has no dirt/soil just bare root; small green leaves with a fat trunk maybe the size of a lg. grapefruit. Can I container plant it now or leave it to the spring (located in N.Ga.) It will be kept indoor under grow lights @ appox. 70 degrees until spring. Also, if I do plant it now how deep of pot? Soil mix will likely be 2/3s rock 1/3 potting soil. Water now or hold of until spring? I'll try to post a picture!

Pot it up now. I would recommend a clay pot since they dry out quicker than plastic. A standard pot should be deep enough but make it twice as big as the diameter of the pachypodium so you have room to pick up the pot without getting stuck by the thorns. Water it good to begin with so the roots start growing and then water every few weeks after that. They can go weeks without water in winter but you want it to stay happy too.

I don't know why you would use so much rock though. I'm pretty sure I have mine in pure potting mix but then I did it several years ago so I might have some sand and aquarium gravel mixed in as well.

This one is a survivor. I let it outside one winter (west of Atlanta) along with all the other cacti and succulents (maybe a couple hundred). It and another pachypodium or two plus an agave or two were the only survivors.

The cactus is winter hardy too but I bring this pot indoors. The ones in the ground made it through last winter.

hcmcdole... this is the pachypodium! i tried to describe. it's different from yours. And thanks for the reply

Did the previous owner give you any instructions on what to do with it? Or at least how they grew it until you became the proud owner?

Not really other than soil mix and to water very little. He had 3 or 4 sitting on the ground just like the one he gave me! he was prepareing to move several plants inside for the winter, taking many out of the soil. I left with several cactus... witch I no will be ok soiless or until they scab. His big thing was not to overwater it! I don't no man I really don't want to loose this one. He did mention the sap is poison.

Hmmm, I would pot it up with a really gritty mix and very little water through the winter then.

You may get more feedback on the succulents or caudiciform forums (Pachypodiums are popular there). What you have is one of the Pachys that grow fat underground. It has been lifted to show off the caudex and severely pruned to limit the branchy top growth. There are two, the most common being P. bispinosum, and both make lots of pinkish flowers (these are the most floriferous Pachys).

The plant may grow year round but will be most active in spring and summer. Base your watering schedule on how the plant looks. When it is leafy water regularly, otherwise hold back, maybe half as often, just so the roots don't dry out. As a houseplant it will enjoy as much light as you can provide. When you move it outside in the spring be sure to allow it to accommodate gradually to the stronger light levels. Start in mostly shade and then over a few weeks you can introduce it to more sun.

The plant will thrive in full sun (once adjusted) but be aware that the body of the plant used to be below ground, so it may be sensitive to too much light if the previous owner did not give it much exposure. So be careful there and keep a close eye on how the plant is doing.

Pot it up now, wait a couple days to water, and then water deeply every couple of weeks until spring. When the plant is in the sun and going strong you can water weekly or twice a week in a nice rocky mix like you describe. More often when it is really hot.

When they are in active growth all Pachys enjoy regular water (don't let the soil dry out completely like you might with other succulents). An unglazed clay pot will require much more frequent water (twice as often?) and for that reason I use plastic or glazed ceramic pots. Be aware that the main body of the plant develops underground, so avoid using a very shallow container unless you just want to set the plant up for display. It's a very good idea to use a rocky mix, which frees you from undue concern about overwatering.

When in active growth you can feed the plant every time you water with dilute nutrients. Taper in the fall and do not fertilize when the plant is obviously dormant. I would hold back on pruning for a couple of seasons.

Oops, I just saw how old the thread is. Hopefully some of the info is helpful anyway...