How to grow Adenium obesum (desert rose)? Stone Gardener explains the growing methods and precautions in detail

So stunning

Hello everyone, I'm Stone Gardener. A few days ago I posted a few pictures of desert roses, and many gardening friends sent me private messages asking how to grow theirs. Today I'll share with you the growing methods for desert roses.

Beautiful blooms

The desert rose, also known as Tianbao flower, is a succulent plant of the genus Adenium in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). Although it is called desert rose, it is not actually a rose growing in desert regions, nor is it closely related to or similar to roses. It gets the name desert rose because its place of origin is close to the desert and its flowers are red like roses. Now let's take a look at how to grow desert roses!

Do the pruning work well

The desert rose likes high temperatures, drought and a climate with plenty of sunlight. It prefers calcium-rich, loose, airy, well-drained sandy loam. It is not tolerant of shade, dislikes waterlogging, dislikes concentrated fertilizer and raw fertilizer, and fears cold. The suitable growing temperature is 25-30°C. In summer it can be placed outdoors in a sunny spot with ample watering to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. In winter watering must be restricted, and the overwintering temperature should be kept above 10°C so that it drops its leaves and goes dormant. During cultivation, apply organic fertilizer 2 to 3 times a year as appropriate.

The potting soil must have good air permeability

[Growing conditions]

1. Soil: The desert rose grows near deserts, so it likes well-drained sandy soil. When the plant is growing vigorously, some river sand or small gravel can be added to its growing medium to help drainage. Desert roses at the seedling stage should be repotted every year.

2. Sunlight: A good sunny environment helps the desert rose bloom. Even during the dormant period, sunlight must not be reduced.

3. Temperature: The desert rose is suited to growing in a hot, well-ventilated environment and has poor cold resistance. In the south it is generally easier to keep alive. In winter it should be moved indoors and kept dry.

4. Fertilizing: The desert rose's growing season is the spring and summer rainy season each year. During this period the desert rose grows very fast. Slow-release fertilizers are best, such as decomposed compost.

5. Pruning: If the desert rose is not pruned regularly, it easily loses its ornamental value. The best time to prune is after its flowering period. More branches mean more flowers, so to get more flowers you need to find ways to keep more branch divisions.

6. Overwintering: In autumn and winter the desert rose is in its dormant period, growing very slowly or even stopping altogether, so no fertilizer is needed in autumn and winter.

7. Repotting: Desert roses at the seedling stage should be repotted every year. The repotting method is very simple. First, stop watering before repotting, then after the potting soil is completely dry, take the plant out, remove the old potting soil and trim the roots, then replant it.

Seed propagation

[Propagation methods]

1. Cuttings: For desert rose cuttings, summer is best. Select 1-2 year old branches, preferably the top branches, cut them to 10 cm long, let the cut dry, then insert them into a sand bed. They take root about 3-4 weeks after insertion.

1. Grafting: For desert rose grafting, use oleander as the rootstock. Use the cleft grafting method in summer. After the graft takes, the plant grows robustly and blooms easily.

3. Layering: For desert rose layering, air layering is often used in summer. Cut two-thirds into a robust branch, first fill it with moss, then wrap it with plastic film. It roots in about 25 days, and after 45 days it can be cut off and potted.

4. Sowing: Sow desert rose seeds in summer. The germination temperature is 21°C.

Big red flowers

[Precautions]

1. During the growing period, the desert rose should be kept dry rather than wet. In the high-temperature period of summer, water generally once every 3 days. Water must not accumulate in the pot.

2. In the vigorous spring growing season, apply nitrogen fertilizer 2-3 times. Before flowering, apply a compound fertilizer containing calcium and phosphorus 2 times.

3. Soft rot is the main disease harming the desert rose. It mainly shows near the soil surface, first as white or pale yellow, and finally turning dark brown or even rotting. This is mainly caused by poor ventilation and water accumulation in the pot, so do not water too much at ordinary times. About every 1 month, spray with agricultural streptomycin at 1000 times dilution or Bordeaux mixture at 150-200 times dilution for chemical control.