Characteristics of the desert rose plant
To propagate Desert Rose, you can take a cutting from an existing plant, dip it in rooting hormone, and root in a damp combination of 75 percent perlite to 25 percent Canadian peat. Plant when roots and new leaves appear, and don't bother with cuttings whose leaves have wilted. Desert Rose also grows well from seed, though only if seeds are viable, which many nursery stock plants are not. Grafting and air layering are also possibilities, but are generally too difficult for the home gardener.
 |
| source: Pinterest |
How to grow the desert rose
To propagate the Desert Rose, you can take a stem from an existing plant, dip it in a moist mixture of 75% perlite and 25% Canadian peat. Sow when new roots and leaves appear, and don't bother with cuttings whose leaves have withered.
Desert rose also grows well from seed, although only if the seeds are viable, which is not the case with many nursery mother plants. Grafting and stratification by layers of air are also possibilities, but are generally too difficult for the home gardener.
Dying Desert Rose
Well-cared for Desert Roses should live for decades, so you don't normally need to worry about yours dying. However, temperatures below freezing will kill the plant. So will overwatering, as plants are susceptible to root rot. Be aware that in the winter both indoors and out, the Desert Rose may drop all its leaves and flowers as it rests. This is normal and should not cause you alarm.
Reaching Maturity
Desert Rose has a slow growth rate, which for trees and shrubs generally means that it earns less than 12 inches (30 cm) per year, often reaching only 14 inches (35 cm) after three years. Typically, plants reach their peak around 4 feet (1.2 m), although older plants can reach heights of 6 feet (1.8 m) or more after decades of growth.
After planting a desert rose successfully from a seed or stem, it may not bloom for months or even years later. However, plants that grow successfully from seeds tend to be more vigorous than cuttings and, therefore, can bloom in just 12 months, thus reaching sexual maturity.
Culture and Care
To keep your Desert Rose growing and blooming well, provide it with a lot of bright, direct light — at least six hours a day indoors, full sunlight outdoors. Plants in shade will not flower well. Water regularly, but do not allow soil to become soggy, and withhold water entirely during the winter. Desert Rose prefers temperatures between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (24 and 35 degrees Celsius), and dislikes temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). If you live outside of the Desert Rose's hardiness zone ranges, you may keep it indoors during the winter and move it outside when the weather warms up.
Caution! All adeniums have highly toxic sap. In Africa the sap has been used to make poison arrows for hunting game. On the island of Socotra where introduced goats have decimated much of the native vegetation, the adeniums are left totally untouched. Use care when handling and pruning plants.
Do not get sap in your eyes. If you get sap on your skin, wash promptly. Commercial propagators handle hundreds of plants daily without problems; however, precautions are prudent. If you have pets that are prone to chewing on your plants, it is likely that they will forever ignore these after the first experimental taste, but to be safe, keep the pets and adeniums separated.
