Who has not ever fallen in love with the Desert rose? This extroardinary shrub-bearing plant has very colorful flowers, and its maintenance is not as complicated as it may seem, as you will see below.
Go ahead and expand your collection of cacti and succulents by adding a specimen. You will see how you do not regret it.
The desert rose belongs to the genus Adenium and, although the best known species - and the easiest to find - is A. obesum, there are some more that are just as interesting; such as A. boehmianum or A. multiflorum. They are native to South Africa, where they have a dry subtropical climate (with minimum temperatures that can reach 0 degrees Celsius, but without frosts) and, like all caudiciform plants, they have a slow growth, being able to be in the same pot for years.
But ... it cannot be planted in any substrate, because it is very sensitive to rotting from excess moisture. To achieve a substrate that drains water well and quickly, the following mixture can be made: 30% perlite + 30% black peat + 20% coconut fiber + 20% vermiculite. Inside the pot it is recommended to put a layer of volcanic clay or clay balls; this way we make sure that the roots will not be in permanent contact with the water. Will appreciate a weekly watering throughout the growing season, that is, from spring to late summer.
If you live in an area where winters are cold, with temperatures close to 2 degrees below zero, protect your plant with transparent plastic and suspends irrigation from September-October until the mercury in the thermometer remains above 10ºC. If winter is even colder in your area, protect your Desert Rose inside the home, in a room where it receives a lot of light.
The subscriber, as we have seen this week, can be done taking advantage of the eggshells, tea or coffee grounds (cold), compost… Of course, you can also use a chemical fertilizer specific for cactus following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Do you have any doubt? Get in contact us.
For the first time I have a desert rose. It does not exceed 20 or 25 cm. I have it in a pot on a patio. Being that we are in winter with a temperature sometimes lower than 10 degrees, it appeared with its leaves fallen down. I don't know if it was because of the cold. Can you get to dry ???? What can I do since I am fascinated with it even though it has not blossomed yet. I would appreciate your advice in advance. Thanks a lot. Patricia / country Argentina
Hi Patricia.
Yes, it is probably cold.
My advice is not to water it hardly anything during the winter, as the trunk could rot. Ideally, add a little water (a glass) every time you notice that the trunk is a bit soft. This can be once every 15-20 days.
A greeting.
Monica thank you very much for your reply. Nice to meet you.
Cordially, Patricia.
Thank you very much, Patricia 🙂
Hi there! I have a desert rose bonsai that I just did root pruning. To plant it again later, they told me that I could use the sand that is usually used in gardening (although I'm not quite sure what it is, since I am new to plants: P) and that I can mix in bits of charcoal or of Pine bark. It would be good? Or in any case, could you use universal substrate instead of sand? Thanks in advance and hugs from Paraguay!
Hello Sarilla.
I have deleted the first two comments for being the same.
The Desert Rose is a plant that wants a porous substrate. You can use universal substrate, but I would recommend mixing it with equal parts perlite, clay balls, pumice or similar so that the drainage would be good.
Greetings and thanks to you 🙂.
Yes, my comment was not published and at first I thought there was some error ..
I understand, we will have to see what I can get him.
Thank you very much for the reply! Greetings and success! 🙂
Hello, I have a desert rose that I bought a week ago, the transplant with leaf soil and vermiculite and a little worm castings, but most of the leaves are turning yellow and falling, what can I do?
Hello Maribel.
What temperatures are there? If it is 10ºC or lower, it is getting cold. Keep it in a room where there is plenty of natural light, and where there are no drafts.
By the way, how often do you water it? This plant must be watered little, no more than twice a week.
A greeting.
I want to know when you can prune and lower the roots of a certain rose in what months of the year before or after spring since thank you very much
Hello Claudio.
The roots of the desert rose are superficial, they should not be pruned since otherwise the plant could die.
A greeting.