Grow Desert Rose This Way for a Chubby Trunk and Frequent Blooms

The name Desert Rose is easily misunderstood, because it neither grows in deserts nor is it a rose. But it is indeed a very drought-tolerant plant, and its chubby branches are extremely endearing. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, with a white center and outer edges that are mostly pink or rose red. The flowering period is generally once in April and May, and then again in September and October.

Desert Rose loves sunlight very much and has a relatively high demand for light and heat. The hot summer is simply the best season for Desert Rose to let itself go. So place it somewhere it can fully enjoy sunlight and heat, and do not hide it in a dark indoor corner. I believe a balcony or yard will be its best spot (except when it rains).

Desert Rose is a very drought-tolerant plant with very low water needs, and it fears moisture and waterlogging the most. So while keeping it outdoors, do not forget to move it indoors to shelter from the rain when it rains. Overwatering will first cause root rot, and second cause leggy growth, making it grow long, thin, and weak, and it will also be less likely to bloom.

When watering, wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering, water thoroughly once the soil is dry, then wait until it dries out completely again before watering again. It is better to let it go dry than to let water accumulate. Even in the hot summer, watering once every three or four days under full sun is no problem. In winter, depending on humidity, watering once a week or once every ten-plus days is fine. In winter, some leaves may drop, which is a normal dormancy phenomenon, not caused by lack of water.

Desert Rose is only cute when its trunk is chubby, and the method is water control + pruning. Besides not watering too much, it is also not suitable to choose too large a flower pot. In addition, carry out some shape-control pruning on the branches and leaves. Leggy branches greatly affect the overall shape, so according to the desired shape, the tops can be forcibly cut off.

The pruning time can be chosen in spring after the dormancy period. Spring is exactly the season when all things revive and branches and leaves begin to sprout. Choosing this time to prune can encourage more branches to grow, and then more flowers to bloom. In this way, with water control + shape control, you can grow an ideal pot of Desert Rose with a chubby belly below and many branches and flowers above.