What soil is best for keeping Desert Rose alive and easy to grow, and how do you care for it so it blooms?
Every year around mid-year is when Desert Rose bursts into bloom. During this period the Desert Rose has a long flowering season, usually blooming from around April to May, and it has excellent ornamental value. However, some flower growers report that even though they bought a Desert Rose several months in advance, it still shows no sign of blooming, with only green leaves to be seen. In fact, this situation is mostly related to people not being very familiar with the growth habits of the Desert Rose. Let's take a deeper look together below.
The Desert Rose is a succulent shrub plant that by nature prefers sunlight, so having plenty of sunlight is the key factor in getting it to bloom more. It is therefore recommended that during care it needs at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight each day to ensure healthy growth and flowering. If the light duration is insufficient, it will affect the number of flowers or prevent blooming altogether.
Some flower growers say they worry that as temperatures rise in summer in June, giving it too much sun will harm the Desert Rose. In fact, this worry is unnecessary, because in its place of origin, the desert, it receives intense sunlight every day, yet it still blooms and still maintains healthy growth. This shows that it likes sun and fears shade. However, note that after absorbing strong light it needs timely watering. In addition, if you have just bought a Desert Rose, you should not immediately expose it to blazing sun, because a new plant has weaker resistance and its leaves are easily sunburned or turned yellow.
Furthermore, to care well for a Desert Rose you also need to take into account the soil environment it likes. As far as possible, choose a loose, well-draining sandy soil. You can mix perlite, vermiculite or coarse sand into ordinary garden soil to improve drainage. As for watering, summer is the growing season for the Desert Rose, and the warmth also causes water to evaporate faster, so it needs more watering than in winter. Follow the principle of preferring dry over wet: water thoroughly each time, but wait until the soil surface dries before the next watering, to prevent excessive water from causing root rot.
In addition, regarding fertilizing, during the growing season, that is from late spring to early autumn, apply a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium once a month to promote the growth of flower buds. Through the above care measures, the Desert Rose can become a beautiful sight in your home.