Cacti & Succulents

imagine of adding a desert rose to your garden , but are n’t certain where to start ? This flowering cacti is quite beautiful , and well known for its stunning pink blooms . In this article , gardening expert Paige Foley takes you through all you call for to acknowledge about Adenium Obesum and their guardianship .

The Desert Rose isclassified as a lush plantand is n’t actually from the rose family at all ! They go to theApocynaceae familyand the genus Adenium genus . You ’ll also see them referred to asAdenium Obesum , which is their botanic name . Other popular plants in the folk are periwinkle , milkweed , andhoya . Native to desiccated neighborhood of Africa , the Middle East , and Madagascar , they opt dry condition than other succulent flora .

Desert Rose cactus growing in container with pink blooms

They can be grown indoors or outdoors and are quite tender to frost . When get indoors , they can get large than other unwashed houseplants . They have stocky trunk , dark gullible leaf , and beautiful trumpet - mold flowers .

Adenium Obesumis relatively low maintenance once they are established . Provide them with the right soil miscellanea , right sunlight , water requirements , and they can live for years . Although they are promiscuous to care for , from time to time they can uprise problems . Many of these problems can be avoided when care is conform .

Caring for a desert rose does n’t have to be unmanageable . Nailing down a few cardinal detail will help oneself keep them happy and sizeable . In this article , we are going to take an in - depth flavor intodesert rise tutelage , alimony , and common problems . Let ’s get begin !

Pink flowering adenium Obesum with many pink blooms blossoming from the plant

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Adenium Obesum Plant Overview

About Desert Rose

The desert rose is a succulent that is best experience for its beautiful blooms . They prefer warmer climates which realise them excellent houseplants and ornamental in warmer regions .

They are usually used as bonsai industrial plant because they have slurred automobile trunk and lavish leaf above . It grow lean , touchy leaf and trump - similar flush .

The desert rose can be grown outdoors in zones 11 and 12 but is more commonly grown indoors . In these warm regions , the plant is frequently used as an ornamental plant . In the correct climate , this succulentcan get quite tall , even indoors . Despite the name , the desert rose is n’t a rose at all but a deciduous plant .

Close-up of a flowering succulent plant in a sunny garden. The plant has lush, glossy foliage, bright green in color, and obovate in shape. The flowers are large, tubular, semi-double, and bright red.

Thisflowering succulent plantgoes by many name such asImpala Lily , Mock Azalea , Sabi Star , and Dwarf Bottle Tree . Adenium Obesumhas a large gene pool with many variation and sub - species . It is the only Adenium variety specifically hybridized to produce different flower colors .

How to Grow

read care ofAdenium Obesumis comparatively dim-witted and a large option for founder bonsai growers . Much like other succulent , it ask right sunlight and water management . In this segment , we take a deeper smell into the proper care necessity . rent ’s dive in .

Light

Desert arise requires more sunlight than most succulent and prefer a full - sun environment . Choose a locating that receives at least 8 minute of sunlight per day . A south - front window or solarium is ideal . you could also post it near a Cicily Isabel Fairfield or east - face windowpane but may need to supplement it with grow lights .

If you choose to plant this succulent outdoors , prefer a location that is shaded from the high - noon Lord’s Day . Shade can add up in the form of taller flora , structures , or spook textile . The vivid noon sun can char the leaves , cause brown or black maculation to develop .

Providing too much shade can cause abnormal growth with faint leaf , laggy branches , and no flowers . If you require more productive blooms , you will need to meet their sunlight requirement . sun stimulates flush production , but blossom will decrease production in the hottest and rainiest month of the yr .

Close-up of two desert rose flowers in full sun, against a blurred background of a leafy garden. The flowers are large, tubular, have 5 petals of bright pink, turning to pale pink and white closer to the centers. The throat of the flower is pale yellow.

Water

look on the fourth dimension of yr and the temperatures , watering requirements will vary . During the late spring and summer , keep soils moist but never soggy . This is when the plant is actively growing and take the most H2O . sloppy soils can let to rotting ancestor , which can drink down the plant .

In the fall and wintertime months , watering can decrease drastically . In the natural state , the plant naturally goes dormant during the colder month . During this time , water once a month or so . This will keep dirt dry and avoid damage the roots from excess water system .

Check the trunk if you are concerned that your desert rose is n’t receiving enough water . The trunk should always be swollen and thick . If the trunk is sparse and shriveled , this is a good sign that it ’s prison term to water the plant . you’re able to also check territory for wet a few inch below the surface .

Top view, close-up of a young succulent plant in a large, round, brown flower pot with moist soil. The plant has long, obovate leaves, bright green in color with white veins. The leaves are covered with water drops.

Soil

Just like the name aver , desert rose prefers ironic , desert - like grime . This simply mean that they prefer well - drain soils that contain sand or gravel . A succulent or cactus soil is ideal as it has the right additives for grow succulent and cacti successfully .

you may produce your own potting soil by mixing sand or gravel into general - employment potting grime . If planted into the ground , you may amend miserable debilitate soils with sand or pose before institute .

Test your grunge before plant to ensure they drain water well . genus Adenium Obesumshould be planted in soils that have a pH that is electroneutral to acidic in pH.

Close-up of female hands pouring fresh soil from a yellow pot into a green flower pot with a growing succulent. The plant has a thick, gray-white trunk, oval, oblong in shape with long, obovate, dark green leaves.

Soils should never become waterlogged as this can cause root rot to arise in succulent . It is very crucial to check off your soils often , specially when you first acquire the plant life .

fit to ensure water drains properly from the pot or ground . Any plant life in grown in potsshould have drain holes in the bottomto allow excess water to pass on .

Temperatures

Desert rose loves warm temperatures at all time . If unwrap to temperatures below 50 F , the plant cansustain extreme damage or decease . Theythrive best in temperature between 65 to 90 F.you may placeAdenium Obesumoutdoors during the summer in nerveless regions .

If you localize them outdoors during the summer , you need to watch temperatures . Before temperatures degenerate too blue , you will need to land them indoors for the winter . humidness is n’t an outcome for these succulents . They are native to dry climates and can acclimatise to normal indoor humidity levels .

Maintenance

Adenium Obesumrequires little maintenance once they are found . Some light pruning and overwinter tending are all they need . Providing these introductory requirement will helpkeep your plant healthy and happyfor many years .

Pruning

Pruning is healthy for many plants , and theAdenium Obesumis no different . start out by gathering and sterilise your creature . incisive scissors or shear that are scavenge with scratch alcohol or bleaching agent are best . Simplyremove any deadened or damaged branches or leaves .

you could also trim back gangly stems to make the industrial plant more symmetrical . Branches that rub or scotch over others can be cut to improve coming into court . You will desire to cut above the folio node or where the stem encounter another fore .

Pruning was n’t required in the winter months as the plant is not actively mature . In the spring , before place the industrial plant alfresco , it ’s best to give it a quick trimming .

Potted succulent flowers in the flower plant farm. Plants are in large, round, black, plastic flower pots with bark mulch. Desert Rose forms a thick, oval-shaped trunk, gray-white, from which branches grow with small, obovate, glossy green leaves with white veins. Succulents bloom bright pink to pale pink tubular flowers with slightly wavy petals.

Pruning is a great elbow room to negociate the size of yourAdenium Obesum , as they can get quite large . joint to a regular pruning agenda to help keep the plant respectable and at a manageable sizing .

Overwintering

Adenium Obesumis very sensitive to hoar and cooler temperatures . Once temperature drop below 50 F , thesucculent will drop its leaves and go dormant . If you live in regions where temperature drop below 50 F for prolonged periods , you will need to bring your desert rose indoors . In extreme cold , the succulent will pall .

If you do n’t need the plant life to be maintain as a houseplant , you could bring it indoors to a place that does n’t freeze down . This will give up the plant to go dormant without damaging or killing it .

A garage or basement that does n’t suspend work well . basically , you’re able to stop all care until the springtime . The succulent can go months without sun and urine .

Close-up of female hands cutting the branches and leaves of a desert rose with secateurs in the garden. The plant is small, in a round, black, plastic flower pot, the soil of which is covered with bark mulch. The plant is a stout, grey-white, thick stem with many thick branches bearing green, smooth, obovate leaves. The gardener is dressed in a checkered blue and white shirt.

Once temperature set about to rise up again in the spring , you may gradually infix your works to the outdoors . Be sure to determine temperatures as you might need to fetch it indoors at night . It is best to reintroduce yourAdenium Obesumto the outdoors slow . grade outside too speedily may cause the plant to go into shock .

Fertilizer

Desert Roses are n’t exceedingly ponderous feeders but do benefit from everyday fertilizing . you could pick out between aliquid fertiliser or a obtuse - handout fertiliser .

prefer a fertilizer that is well - balanced from your local garden center or retail memory board . If you prefer to use a swimming fertiliser , you could apply it once a month during the mature season .

Slow - release fertilizers can be apply about every three month or so , depending on the label directions . Do not fertilize in the winter when the plant is dormant .

Close-up of a dormant succulent plant against a blurred green garden. The plant has a thick, large, slightly rounded, gray-white trunk from which many thick, bare branches grow.

When you are using melted plant food , be certain to go for it to the dirt surface . limpid fertilizer can burn the leafage , causing extensive legal injury to the plant life .

Blooming

The primary cause for growingAdenium Obesumis for its beautiful blooms . The heyday will appear about 7 to 8 months after sow . get your desert rose to bloom is n’t all that difficult . You will need to provide ideal uprise conditions , as we talked about earlier in the article .

They typically begin to bloom in the former spring . Once temperature become warmer , the industrial plant will discontinue bloom production for 6 to 8 weeks .

The bloom will pick up again in the early autumn and again cease when temperatures become too low . If growing indoors , the flower window can be much longer because temperatures are more consistent .

Close-up of a flowering succulent plant in a large flower pot, in a garden near a brown fence. The plant has a large, wide, slightly rounded trunk with many thick branches, on top of which grow dark green, smooth, obovate leaves and bright red tubular flowers with white luminous throats.

Proper sunlight and regular fertilizing can increase your peak production . If you need more flush , you will have to find agood balance of sunlight and fertilizer .   Blooms should appear in the springtime and summer months . If you have recently repotted , give it time to correct . It may be putting energy into fresh roots instead of flowers .

Repotting

You will not have to repot yourAdenium Obesumoften . There will only be a few situations where you may ask to repot your desert ascend . The top reason for repot your succulent is if the etymon begin to outgrow the container . If you remark antecedent grow through the drainage holes or a gravid mass of etymon , this is a good indication to repot .

Root - bounce plants are n’t always a uncollectible thing . If you want the industrial plant to remain smaller , you’re able to exit it in its current container . The best time to repot is inlate wintertime or other spring .

Choose a grass that is two or more inches expectant than the current pot . Terracotta and ceramic peck are expert for desert roses as they allow for right airflow and drainage .

Close-up of a blooming desert rose flower in a sunny garden, against a blurred background of glossy green, elongated, oval leaves. The flower is large, tubular, bright pink outside and white inside with bright pink edges. The throat of the flower is pale yellow with prominent pinkish stamens.

Before you repot , allow the grease in the current mass to dry completely . Remove the succulent from the current stool and throw off the one-time territory from the plant .

Place into a new pot with fresh potting soil . Do not water for a week after repot . After a week , you may irrigate your desert rose as you ordinarily would .

Propagation

Adenium Obesumcan be propagatedby limb cutting off or by seed . Branch cutting is the most popular shape of propagation . The plant will take much quicker during propagation by branching press cutting . No matter the propagation method acting , it is best to do so in the outpouring .

go by assemble garden mitt , fix shear , rooting hormones , pots , and pot land . Begin by putting mitt on to forfend the toxic sap from touching your skin . Using the blank shears , trim back a 5 to 6 - inch cut from the tip of the leg .

Allow the cut to cure for a twenty-four hour period or two to forge a callosity on the cut end . Once a callus has formed , place the cut conclusion into the rooting hormones . theme hormone will help oneself encourage strong growing roots . position the cut end into the pots filled with potting mix andwater thoroughly .

Close-up of an succulent transplant. Close-up of female hands holding the bare root of a Desert Rose plant over a white flower pot filled with soil. The root is large, thick, yellowish-gray-white in color with many thin white root threads.

irrigate your cutting day by day to encourage right rootage ontogeny . tally your stain often to avoid problem from short draining stain . The cutting should take root in 2 to 6 workweek . Once the works has make roots and you acknowledge new growth , you’re able to graft it to a larger pot .

The best time to sow seeds is in the spring . Begin by gathering your green goddess and make full them with well - draining potting dirt . If you trust , you could hook the seeds for a few hours before institute to rehydrate them . range one seed every 2 inches into the spate . Cover the seed with a slender level of potting soil .

Once ejaculate are implant , irrigate them thoroughly and palace them in a warmer locating . You should water the seeds once the soils become dry or you may mist gently . Never allow grease to become waterlogged as this can lead to growth problems . seedling should stock in a calendar week to 10 days . Once sprouted , move to a sunny fix .

Top view, close-up of a growing desert rose cutting in a large clay pot covered with water drops. The plant has beautiful, oblong, smooth, glossy, obovate leaves, bright green with white veins.

Common Problems

Adenium Obesumare disease and pest destitute for the most part . Like most houseplants , they can develop plague and disease if ply with unconventional grow conditions .

The most common job that feign the succulent is overwatering . give your plants the best mature atmospheric condition is key to go on cuss and diseases at bay .

Spots on the leaves of your desert rise can arise from several different problems . The color of the floater will be a right indicant of what the job is . If you notice a blister - like spot that is powdery white , this is a sign of powdery mould growing on the succulent .

Close-up of young sprouts from the seeds of the succulent plant. The seedlings are small, bright green in color, consisting of short erect stems with two small leaves in the center and two outer obovate, smooth, glossy green leaves. The soil is moist and loose.

Powdery mildew tends to circularize during the night when temperatures are cool , and moist and Clarence Shepard Day Jr. are affectionate . Allowing proper airflow around the succulent will assist lessen the spread of the disease . you may dress stems and branches that have a big plague of the disease to control its facing pages .

Another common trouble is scorching from too intense sunlight . The scorched spots can appear brown , red , or shameful .

You will involve to find a new location that has less intense sunshine or render shade during the afternoon hours . The succulent will maturate out of the spots once moved or provided refinement .

Close-up of the leaves of an succulent plant infected with powdery mildew against a black background. The leaves are medium in size, obovate, elongated, smooth, glossy green, covered with white powder spots.

This is a plebeian sign of root buncombe . This disease develops when soil are poorly draining , or soils are overwatered . The disease is treatable if caught early enough .

murder the succulent from its grass and begin cutting damaged roots from the succulent . Damaged stem will appear blackened and mushy .

Cut these damaged roots from the succulent with sterilize scissors or shears . It is significant to clean house the cutting instrument between gash to ward off spreading the disease further .

Top view, close-up of a flowering plant succulent with yellowed leaves. The plant has large, obovate leaves, glossy green in color, with yellow spots. The flower is small, tubular in shape, bright pink in color with a yellow throat. Flower petals have brown dry spots.

Once you have absent all damage roots , fill up your pot with tonic potting soil . you may apply a antifungal agent if you are interested but it ’s not necessary .

If you see discolored corpuscle on the leaves of your plant , this is usually the sign of the zodiac of an dirt ball trouble . The most coarse muggins - sucking dirt ball are aphids or spider tinge . you could usually feel them on the underside of the leaves of your plant .

If you happen to distinguish either spider pinch or aphid , you ’ll want to set apart the plant from others nearby in your garden to prevent the infestation from transfer . Then treat the flora with your favourite method acting of pest control , sooner organic options .

Close-up of a large branch of a desert rose plant, with lower leaves damaged by aphids or spider mites. The leaves are elongated, obovate, smooth, glossy, bright green with pale brown spots on the lower ones.

There are a number of different method to practice , which usually start with a unattackable flow of water . You ’ll most likely finish using a horticultural oil or insecticide .

There are a few unlike varieties of Desert Rose that you’re able to grow , depending on your location . Let ’s take a deeper look at some of the most pop varieties that you ’ll come across .

Is a little succulent that has a bole that is very conceited and twisted . It can grow up to 16 feet tall in ideal precondition . Do n’t panic , they be given to stay much modest when grown indoors .

The leaves are green and narrow with a white mid - costa . The flowers are cornet - shaped and range in color from pink to red to white .

Close-up of a flowering plant Adenium obesum subsp. Somalense in the spring garden. The plant has a tall trunk with green, narrow-linear leaves with a prominent white midrib. The flowers are large, tubular, bright pink with pale pink edges.

The most popularAdenium Obesumis theadenium obesumsubsp . oleifolium . This succulent has foresightful and narrow leave that are crowned at the tip of the branches .

The flower has a trumpet physical body and comes in pinkish , Salmon River , pale pink , and ruddy . Like all desert rose , this variety can get quite large but typically does n’t get tall than 3 or 5 feet when grown indoors .

The largest appendage of the desert go up family can reach upwards of 20 base tall and 8 feet in diameter . This variety can be spring up indoors but is more normally grown outdoors because of its size of it .

Close-up of a flowering succulent plant Adenium obesum subsp. Oleifolium against a blurred sunny courtyard. A long curved trunk with narrow long dark green leaves with smooth edges. The flowers are large, tubular, rich pink in color with white-yellow throats.

They farm pinkish prime that can get up to 5 in in diam . The prime only come along in the spring for a few calendar week .

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes , this succulent is passing toxic to big cat , frankfurter , horses , and human race . It is best to keep the plant off from PET and tyke . All portion of the plant are toxic so when handling the succulent , it ’s best to wear off glove to avoid the toxic sap .

When supply the proper fear desert roses can live for many , many years . They have been known to sweep centuries . But keep in mind if they are exposed to cold temperature , their life-time will be much poor .

Desert Roses are very behind - growing plants . They only grow about a pes per year or possibly less . Providing ideal growing conditions will ensure you get the most increment out of your industrial plant each year . If something is n’t ideal , growth can be dim .

Close-up of a flowering plant Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum in the desert. The plant has a large, thick, oval, smooth trunk from which curved trunks grow with long, narrow, oval, dark green leaves and pink tubular flowers.

Final Thoughts

Desert roses are a unparalleled succulent thatcan be used in outdoor landscapes , as a bonsai , or indoors as a houseplant . In their natural surroundings they can get quite grandiloquent . However , you may control the height by pruning and quite a little size of it .

Be cautious when growing around pets and pocket-sized children as all parts of the plant are toxic . ProvideAdenium Obesumwith proper sun , soil , and water and they can live for many years .