Complete Guide to the Desert Rose Plant
The desert rose plant, also referred to as the Adenium Obesum, is an evergreen succulent endemic to the tropical conditions of African countries such as Madagascar, Kenya and Uganda. The plant is capable of withstanding considerable neglect and is a great container plant. It works well indoors and can be grown outdoors where the weather is warm and humid.
Physical characteristics
The plant has a thick trunk and short, fleshy branches. In keeping with its name it is something of a cactus in that it has the thick trunk typical of plants that retain water. The blooms come in a range of colors including white and pink. The plant makes for a great display piece as it has interesting structure and color. It adds drama to a room or a garden.
The desert rose plant also makes a great bonsai plant. By placing just the roots in a mixture of soil and pebbles, the plant can be grown without deep root formation. The combination of the thick trunk and the dramatic flowers makes for an elegant bonsai arrangement also.
Conducive conditions
The desert rose plant is best grown from seed although there are nurseries that grow them from cuttings. Experts believe that growing them from seed ensures the best kind of plants with the distinguished trunk or stem.
The plant needs plenty of sun exposure. While the plant is capable of surviving even in condition where sun light requirement is not met, for it to thrive and produce that magnificent floral display, it needs plenty of sunlight. Many people who keep the plant on a sill for sun exposure say that it seems that the plant is able to handle even significant drops in temperature as long as it gets its sun light during the day.
In keeping with its name, the desert rose plant needs extremely dry growing conditions. It should never be over watered and it should be placed in very well-drained soil. If it is to be in a pot, it is very important to make sure that the soil does not become water-logged. Successful gardeners recommend mixing sand, vermiculite and perlite along with potting mix to create a combination that dries out quickly. Using terra cotta or ceramic pots will also help with drainage. The plant is susceptible to root rot and so it is a good idea to be very vehement about maintaining dryness. (Since a combination of sand and perlite is not likely to provide many nutrients for the plant, it will need frequent fertilizing.)
Water enough to dampen the soil but do not make the root soaked in water. Wait for soil to dry between watering. This will vary till you figure the cycle depending on the ambient temperature and where you plant is situated. It is not a bad idea to mix a water-soluble fertilizer to feed the plant during each planting. This will ensure that the plant gets the nutrients it needs.
Problem areas
Root rot is the single biggest problem with the desert rose plant. So, if any part of the plant seems overly fleshy or if it yields to pressure the best thing to do is to get rid of it. It is better to cut and let the cut heal rather than letting the rot spread to the rest of the plant. There are occasional times when the whole plant will seem soft to the touch when the whole plant feels soft.
Sometimes if the temperature dips too much the plant will drop all its leaves. But this is not a source of major concern because the leaves will reappear over time.
Similarly, plants which are attacked by caterpillars and lose their leaves will also grow them back.
So, the desert rose plant is fairly resilient and this also makes it easy to grow at home.