How to Grow and Care for Desert Rose

The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a slow-growing plant, only growing about 12 inches per year. Desert rose is often used as a bonsai plant thanks to its thick succulent trunk, thin and delicate leaves, and luscious, deep pink trumpeting flowers. It is native to Africa, the Middle East, and Madagascar.

Desert rose is an indoor or outdoor plant depending on your location. In many tropical and warmer climates (USDA zones 11 and 12), it's a widely-used ornamental outdoor plant, and in cooler zones, it is grown indoors. It's best planted in the spring, and it will die if exposed to frost and freezing temperatures. A member of the dogbane family, the sap of the desert rose plant is toxic to people and pets.

Desert Rose Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing desert rose:

• Desert rose needs careful water management and lots of sunlight
• The plant prefers consistently warm temperatures
• Likes well-draining, sandy soil

Light

The desert rose thrives in a full sun environment. Choose a spot in your home where it will receive ample light throughout the day, like a south-facing bright windowsill or sunroom.

If you live in an area where it can be grown successfully outdoors, grow desert rose in a spot that is not shaded by taller plants but has some protection from high-noon sun, which can scorch the plant's leaves.

Soil

As its name implies, the desert rose plant is acclimated to naturally dry, desert-like conditions, meaning well-draining sandy or gravelly cactus soil. The soil should have a neutral to acidic pH, ideally hovering right around 6.0.

Water

During its growing season (late spring and summer), keep desert rose's soil moist but never soaked. Check on the soil periodically and allow it to dry out completely before watering. Plant your desert rose in a container that has ample drainage holes. The desert rose can be susceptible to rot if it becomes too moist.

In fall and winter, when the plant typically goes dormant in the wild, drastically reduce moisture, watering only once a month or so. If you're unsure, a swollen, thick trunk (in proportion to the size of your plant) is a great indication that your plant is well-hydrated.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep your plant in warm temperatures at all times—it will die quickly if exposed to prolonged temperatures cooler than 50°F.

It thrives best at temperatures between 65°F and 90°F. It will not likely survive any prolonged frost outdoors. Humidity is not important to the desert rose because it is accustomed to a dry, hot climate.

Fertilizer

For an added dose of nutrients (and potentially more flowers), you can feed your desert rose with liquid fertilizer (diluted by half) once a month during its active growth period. Do not fertilize the plant during its dormant period.

Is this the right plant for you?

A DESERT ROSE PLANT IS A GOOD CHOICE IF:

• You live in a warm climate where temperatures don't drop below 50°F—or your home's temperature stays above 50°F.
• You want a plant that only needs frequent watering for a portion of the year
• You have a sunny spot in your yard or have a south-facing window where this plant can get ample light

Types of Desert Rose

There are many species of Adenium. However, the most common and easiest to find is Adenium obesum. Some other subspecies include:

• Adenium obesumsubsp.oleifolium: Native to South Africa and Botswana, this species grows to 16 inches tall with a large tuberous stem, narrow olive green blade-like leaves, and salmon, pink, or pale pink with red tubular flowers.
• Adenium obesumsubsp.socotranum:Native to Socotra, an Indian Ocean island between Somalia and Yemen, this is the largest of the species, rising to 15 feet tall with an eight-foot diameter trunk. Pink flowers are up to five inches in diameter and appear in spring while the plant is leafless.
• Adenium obesumsubsp.somalense:Native to Eastern Africa this species has narrow blade-like leaves and twisting branches. It matures at 16 feet tall with a swollen and often twisted trunk. Trumpet-shaped flowers are pink, white, or crimson red,
• Adenium obesumsubsp.swazicum: Also known by its common name, summer impala lily. This is a dwarf species that usually doesn't get larger than two feet tall;native to Swaziland and South Africa. Showy flowers are pink to deep reddish-pink.

Pruning

Use rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution to sterilize your pruning tools; re-sterilize as you move from one plant to the next. Remove cold-damaged growth as soon as new growth emerges. Trim long, lanky stems to balance the stem growth symmetrically. Remove branches that rub or cross other branches, cutting just above a leaf node or where the stem joins with another stem.

Pruning Tip

Looking for the best pruners for your rose plants? We tested 8 top-rated pruners in our Lab to make sure your roses stay happy and healthy.

Propagating a Desert Rose

Desert rose can be grown from branch cuttings. Here's how to propagate from a stem cutting:

1. Before you get started, have these items on hand: garden gloves, sterilized pruners, rooting hormone, a clean pot, and a well-draining potting mix.
2. Put on garden gloves to avoid the toxic sap of this plant touching your skin. Using your pruning snips, take a five to six inch cutting from the tip of a branch.
3. Allow the cutting to dry out for a day or two.
4. Wet the cut end and dip it in rooting hormone.
5. Plant the cut end into a well-draining growing medium like perlite or sand mixed with potting soil.
6. Water the cutting daily; however, make sure the water drains out of the soil. The cutting should take root in about two to six weeks.
7. After six weeks, you should notice new growth, or if you try to tug at the stem gently, it should feel rooted in place.

Tips for Buying in Store

• Check for pests. Signs to watch for include discoloration on the leaves, noticeable insects in the soil or on the leaves and stems, and webs on the leaves.
• Inspect the roots. Make sure there aren't lots of roots bursting out of the drainage holes and inspect them to ensure they are healthy and not mushy.
• Read the plant label. Make sure your home or a spot in your home has adequate light for this plant.

Potting and Repotting a Desert Rose

Repotthe plant as needed, usually when the roots fill the container and the plant becomes root-bound, about once a year or every other year. If you do not want your plant to grow much larger, you can keep it in its current container. The best time for repotting is in the late winter or early spring, preferably as soon as new growth emerges.

When repotting a succulent, make sure the soil is completely dry before gently removing the plant from the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots and remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. If you make any cuts or notice bruises, you can topically apply a fungicide or antibacterial solution.

Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting mix, spreading the roots out as you repot. Let the plant dry for a week or so to reduce the shock to the plant. After a week, water the plant but make sure water drains thoroughly. Do not let the plant sit in standing water or soggy soil.

Overwintering

Desert rose cannot endure frost or prolonged cold. Once temperatures reach 50°F, the plant will drop its leaves and trigger its slowed dormant phase.

To keep your plant alive, bring the plant indoors, stop watering it, and place it somewhere it will not freeze, like in a garage or basement that remains above freezing. It will not need care or light until the spring. Once the warmer temperatures return, slowly provide water, place it in a window with a sunny exposure, and gradually reintroduce your plant to outdoor life.

How to Get Desert Rose to Bloom

The desert rose plant is the only Adenium extensively hybridized to obtain different flower colors.

Bloom Months

Desert rose will bloom about seven to eight months after sowing, depending on the cultivation conditions. The plant typically blooms during the summer months.

What Do Desert Rose Flowers Look Like?

Desert rose blooms with vibrant pink, rose, or red trumpet-shape flowers and bright green leaves. When it goes dormant for the winter season, it drops its flowers and foliage.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To encourage blooming, make sure your plant receives at least six hours of sunlight and provide fertilizer at least once a month during spring and summer. If your plant was recently repotted, it might be putting its energy into developing new roots instead of flowers. Give it time to adjust to its new growing environment.

Common Problems With Desert Rose

Desert rose is a relatively disease- and pest-free plant. The biggest problem affecting this plant is overwatering. When growing conditions are not ideal for a plant, it reduces its natural defenses, and pests or diseases creep in.

Pest to Watch

Look out for signs of spider mites on your desert rose. You might first notice the leaves of the plants becoming speckled or discolored, and upon closer inspection you will see tiny spider-like insects and fine webbing on the underside of the plant's leaves.

Yellowing Leaves or Leaf Drop

A common sign of root rot is yellowing leaves or sudden leaf loss. A fungus causes root rot, and if caught early enough, you might be able to save the plant. You will need to remove damaged leaves and stems and unpot the root ball. If you notice any blackened, mushy roots, cut away the damaged roots with a sharp knife. Between cuts, sterilize the knife. Apply a fungicide, according to the package instructions. Replant the remaining roots in a well-draining potting mix.

Spotting on Leaves

Powdery mildew leaves blister-like marks on the upper leaf surfaces. It can lead to distorted growth and a white powdery-looking substance on the leaves, stems, and buds. This tends to spread more often during cool, damp nights and warm days. Powdery mildew does not like water. Mist the plant leaves and apply a fungicide, according to the instructions on the package. Prune when stems and branches bunch up. Adequate spacing between plants reduces the risk of powdery mildew.

Speckling on Lower Leaves

Spider mites are the most common pests for desert rose. They feed by sucking sap, primarily from the underside of the leaves, causing the leafs to speckle. Leaf speckling leads to complete discoloration and eventually leaf death.

To detect spider mites, shake the infected foliage over a piece of white paper; spider mites look like small dots. You will also notice fine webbing and eggs on the underside of the leaves.To get rid of a small infestation, use a forceful spray of water on the underside of all the leaves. Repeat this every several days. You can also use insecticidal soap or neem oil for mite control. Make sure you apply it to the underside of the leaves and all the lower surfaces of the plant.

From: thespruce