Desert rose is a beautiful succulent to tally to your houseplant assembling .
Bob Stefko
A sun - loving succulent , desert rose ( Adenium obesum ) is known for its striking flower in white , pinkish , reddish , and purplish hue . These plants also have thick trunks and slender folio that give them a striking appearing . Many people use them as abonsai optionbecause they are slowly - grow . Desert rose hails from sub - Saharan Africa and the Arabian peninsula . In their native habitat , these plants farm in arid , hot climates . Desert go up is commonly rise as a houseplant in the United States .
Credit:Bob Stefko
Note : All parts of desert uprise flora are toxic if rust and should be kept out of reach of modest small fry and pets .
Where to Plant Desert Rose
Desert rose plant life love sun , which mimics their native habitat . When growing a desert come up as a houseplant , choose a cheery place that receives direct sunshine during the twenty-four hours . If you live inUSDA Hardiness Zones 11 or 12 , you’re able to farm desert roses alfresco in a gay area of your garden .
How and When to Plant Desert Rose
Plant desert rose nursery plants in the spring . Choose a potting soil formulated for succulents . The container must pop the question excellent drainage .
Desert Rose Care Tips
Desert rose plants are easy to give care for if they have the right sunlight , soil , and body of water .
Light
Desert rose , as its name implies , screw the sunlight . Grow it in a cheery region of your plate , such as a Dixieland - face window , where it will receive at least six hour of sunlight daily .
Soil and Water
Grow desert rose in a potting intermixture plan for succulents and cacti . They do best in soil that is neutral to acidic and has apH around 6.0 .
Theirwater involve modification seasonally . In late spring to summertime , keep the stain moist but never wet . Overwatering a desert jump can lead to root rot so allow the soil to dry out before giving the plant another drink .
Desert come up plant usually go dormant in the fall and wintertime in their aboriginal home ground . When grown indoors , they do well when watered infrequently , about once per calendar month during their hibernating period . you could recount if this works is receiving sufficient piddle during the acquire time of year by checking its trunk , which should feel firm .
Temperature and Humidity
Desert rose is wonted to arid condition and low humidity . This succulent does best when temperatures are around 65 ° degree Fahrenheit to 90 ° F . They do n’t fare well when kept in cooler temperatures around 50 ° F for extended flow — they will die . If grow them outdoors in warm weather , make for them indoors before the temperatures discharge in late crepuscle and winter to protect this plant .
Fertilizer
During the succulent ’s grow period — late bounce through summer — give the plant a boost with a general houseplant fertiliser . utilise a5 - 5 - 5 liquid fertilizerand stretch it to half the recommended strength . The plant ’s growth slows down in fall and wintertime , and plant food is not recommend then .
Pruning
Pruning is n’t typically needed for this industrial plant because desert rise grows slowly , less than 12 inches each year . Many gardeners process it as a bonsai plant , in which guinea pig it can be strategically trimmed into the desired shape using clean scissors hold .
Potting and Repotting Desert Rose
Repot desert rosewhen it becomes root - recoil or when the root word start escaping from the bottom of the container . Transplanting it into anew , larger containerencourages it to spring up bigger . Some people favour to keep them root - bound so they stay modest .
Transplant desert climb in wintertime or former springtime as it prepares for its growth full stop . repot a desert rose is easy — choose a bigger container with drainage holes and ensure the soil is dry before absent it from its current home . Put the industrial plant in a new pot and then add fresh potting mix .
Pests and Problems
Desert rose is typically an easy houseplant to care for , with slight worry fordisease or pest problem . However , overwatering , spider mites , andpowdery mildeware the most uncouth result you may run across with this plant .
wanderer mites : Spider mites are tiny pests that suck the fool from the leaves . They do so discreetly on the underside of the leaf , so you ’re less likely to notice them until the leaves begin to look stipple or discolored . As a preventive measure , check the leaves from time to time for wanderer speck , which look like flyspeck dots and sometimes there ’s a minuscule webbing . If there is an infestation , wipe down both English of the leaves with water for several years . you’re able to also wipe the leave-taking withneem oilor insecticidal soap .
Overwatering : Overwatering is the cock-a-hoop subject for this flora , as it likes moist but not overly wet grease . Overwatering induce root rot , and the signs are yellow leave of absence or dropping leaves . Sometimes , you cansave the works from theme rotby transplanting it to another container with new well - draining potting dirt . However , yellow or dropping folio can also be an index that the industrial plant is get in its quiescency form , which is in the late fall and winter .
Stems that turn mushy or contraband are another signal that your desert rose has too much water . Depending on when you notice these symptom , you may or may not be able to salvage the plant ; replant the desert originate as before long as potential . First , reduce back any shameful or mushy stems . Check the roots for any rotting and use sharp shear to nip any stricken sphere before placing the plant in a young container and adding sweet potting admixture .
Powdery mildew : This unwashed fungal disease affects indoor and outside plant . It look like white powder on the leaves and stem . It well spreads in dampish conditions or when there is a lack of air circulation . The first footprint is to remove any folio afflict with powdery mould . If a desert get up is living in close quarters with other houseplants , give each of them space to increase air circulation and reduce the spread of the fungal disease .
How to Propagate Desert Rose
Desert rose can be propagate from germ or stem cutting off . This is well done in the spring or early summertime .
Growing from Cuttings
When you ’re ready to take a stem cutting , put on gloves to avoid tinge the industrial plant ’s irritating sap .
Propagate from Seed
set out with quality ejaculate from a reputable retailer . Then :
Types of Desert Rose
You ’ll find plenty of varieties of this succulent at your local greenhouse or for leverage online .
‘Pink Picotee’
Adenium obesum‘Pink Picotee ’ is a desert arise with vivacious blooms that make a affirmation . The flowers are white-hot with hot pink border . This no - fuss plant is a super - slow grower and a innate for using as a bonsai .
‘Double Noble’
see for a standout blossom ? ‘ Double baronial ’ , anAdeniumhybrid , has blooms that resemble rose and have duple or triple the petal of a typical desert rose . The petals have a striking red edge and lily-white interiors .
‘Ballerina’
Adenium obesum‘Ballerina ’ blooms have a voiced pinkish bound on creamy white flowers . This graft desert rose is remarkably rose - like and stunningly beautiful . ‘ Ballerina ’ may be challenging to find , but it is worth the effort .
Frequently Asked Questions
Desert roses are native to the desert , where they receive a destiny of sun . Place them in the area of your home that sire the most direct sun ( at least six hours a day ) and append the sun with agrow lightif involve .
With enough sunshine , the right amount of — but not too much — water , and a slight fertilizer at the starting signal of each outpouring growing season , a desert rose can inhabit for many year .
It bet on the variety . Some have a subtle , sweet scent that is like to a blush wine .
Yes , this is recommended . Cactus dirt operate best because it will drain quickly , which should lower the chance of root guff .
Adenium . NC State Extension
Desert Rose . ASPCA
