The desert rose is an exotic plant from East Africa that is conquering domestic windowsills more and more often. Properly cared for, it can even be in the garden or on the balcony in summer.
The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a steppe plant that, due to its origin, copes well with heat and drought. It is actually a shrub but looks like a tree with the thickened trunk. In full sun, the desert rose forms a fascinating display of flowers. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be double or single, white, pink, red or multicolored.
The desert rose can grow over four meters high in its homeland! The trunk reaches a large circumference of more than two meters and takes on very different shapes. As a houseplant and ornamental plant, it is more reminiscent of a bonsai. Of course, it grows much more slowly than in Africa and stays small.
Desert roses, which you can buy here, are often grafted onto oleanders. This makes maintenance very easy. Unfortunately, the typical growth of the trunk is lost because of this. Oleanders and desert roses are both members of the dogbane family.
This is where the desert rose thrives best
Location:
The desert rose is basically undemanding and easy to care for. A location with lots of sun is important. In the room it is best placed on a south or south-west window. You can also place the plant outside from May to October. A place in the sun is also useful here. Just note that the desert rose does not tolerate drafts.
As soon as the temperature drops below 15° C at night, the plant has to go back into the room. In winter, the desert rose is in good hands in the brightest possible interior with a temperature of around ten degrees. Heated air doesn't harm it, but it's possible that it won't flower as much next year.
Floor:
One differentiates between ungrafted and grafted desert roses. The ungrafted desert rose grows in a mixture of 50 percent earth and sand. Plant grafted plants in normal potting soil (planting desert rose instructions).
Repotting is rarely necessary given the slow growth. If so: do not water after repotting! Here's a guide to repotting oneDesert Rose.
How to properly care for the desert rose
Casting:
The desert rose needs the right amount of water, which it stores in the trunk. Water more frequently in summer, but be sure to avoid waterlogging. Too much water causes the trunk to rot.
The desert rose sheds its leaves in autumn and stops growing. This process is called dry dormancy in the typical desert plant and is important for the plant to get through the months with little light. In the winter months, the plant therefore needs very little or no water at all.
In the spring it begins to grow significantly again. The first flowers appear from March. From this point on, gradually water more. When all the leaves are in place and the desert rose has many flowers, always keep the substrate slightly moist. But the same applies here: too little is better than too much!
Fertilize:
The plant blooms profusely and persistently from March to October. Small doses of cactus fertilizer support flowering.