Caring for, propagating and overwintering desert roses

The name of the desert rose (adenium) does not necessarily suggest it, but the drought-loving plantspoils you with numerous flowers.

Depending on the variety, the desert rose can have red, pink or white flowers and also has the most unusual stem forms. We show how to care for the undemanding succulents and present the most beautiful varieties.

Desert rose: origin and properties

The desert rose is a genus of plants found in parts of Africa as well as the Arabian Peninsula. It belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and contains the milky sap typical of this plant family. It escapes when the plants are injured and can irritate the skin or even cause poisoning. The desert rose survives the dry season in its homeland without any problems. It is a stem succulent, which means it can store water in the so-called caudex. This is the storage organ of the plant between the root and stem. The caudex can be shaped and pronounced in various ways and look very decorative.

The evergreen shrub therefore sometimes appears like a tree and can reach heights of up to five meters in nature. But how big does a desert rose grow in indoor culture? That depends entirely on the variety and can vary from 30 cm to 3 meters. The leaves are oval, thickened and dark green. adenium not only impresses with its interesting stem forms and evergreen leaves, but also with its pretty flowers. The desert rose flowers appear from April and remain until July. The desert rose can bloom in all shades of color from white to violet. Even double flowers are available due to breeding.

The most beautiful desert rose varieties and species

There is still disagreement about the desert rose species and varieties. It is sometimes assumed that there is only one desert rose species, namely the common desert rose (Adenium obesum). All other representatives would therefore be subspecies. However, it is also possible that there are several different species. A distinct species or subspecies, all of the following desert roses are suitable houseplants and beautiful to look at.

• Adenium obesum: The common desert rose is considered a true desert rose. Its flowers can have different colors, usually the flower inside is lighter colored than outside, which results in a nice color transition.

• Adenium arabic: This Somali desert rose sees Adenium obesum very similar. If you want to cultivate the desert rose as a bonsai, it is best to Adenium arabic grab because it is best suited for these purposes.

• Adenium multiflorum: As the name suggests, this desert rose scores with its impressive flowers. In nature, however, this species does not grow quite as large and usually stays at a height of around three meters.

• Desert Rose 'Snow White': This desert rose variety has white flowers and double flowers. This is how it looks particularly gorgeous.

• Desert Rose 'Golden Dragon': Rather unusual for desert roses is the 'Golden Dragon' variety, which produces yellow flowers.

Cultivation, location and soil

adenium is a very frugal houseplant that causes little difficulty when it comes to care. To join one adenium You don't have to buy a ready-made plant to enjoy it, you can also grow the desert rose from seed. When using seeds, the caudex of the small plants is usually better developed than in offspring obtained from cuttings. In the spring, spread the seeds on the growing substrate and cover the seeds with soil. The layer should be a maximum of one centimeter thick. Keep the soil moist and place the jar in a warm and bright place at around 20 to 25°C. The first seedlings can appear after a week. When the first pairs of leaves appear, you can repot the small desert roses. When planting, the part of the caudex where most of the roots are located should be covered with soil. You can also leave a slightly larger part of the caudex on the surface and simply cut off the upper fine roots. A flat pot ensures that the caudex does not develop long and pole-shaped.

The desert rose needs a spot that is warm and very sunny. It can therefore be placed directly on the south window without any problems, as long as there is no constant draft there. Temperatures of around 20 °C are recommended, but it can also be warmer. Even dry air is not a problem. As soon as the temperatures are in the double digits in summer, you can also put the desert rose outside. There the enjoyment of light is usually higher than at the window and adenium receives the best conditions for strong, albeit slow growth.

So that the conditions are right in the root area, the substrate must be permeable and the pot must have a drainage hole. As with most plants, a drainage layer of coarse material such as pebbles at the bottom of the pot is recommended. Then plant the desert rose in a mixture of two-thirds potting soil and at least one-third quartz sand, which increases permeability. For example, you can use our as a basis Plantura organic universal soil use, whose pH value is in the optimal range for the desert rose and is mainly made from recycled vegetable raw materials.

cultivate desert rose

If you are looking for an undemanding houseplant, you are in the right place with the desert rose. Dryness and warmth are the two basic requirements for successful desert rose care.

Pruning, watering and fertilizing the desert rose

The most important thing when watering the desert rose is to avoid waterlogging. Remove any water that runs off after pouring into the coaster. Watering is only done when the substrate feels dry. In any case, the desert rose tolerates drought better than wet. In winter, the water supply can be almost completely stopped. If it gets too cold and there is little water, the desert rose goes into a dormant phase and sheds its leaves. It will sprout again next spring.

The desert rose is only fertilized during the growth phase. No fertilizer is needed during hibernation. The growing season extends from March to October, during which time you can fertilize about every four weeks. Use a cactus fertilizer if available, or use half the dosage of a green plant fertilizer. For example, ours is ideal for this Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer which is suitable for almost all indoor plants. In addition to the important nutrient elements nitrogen and potassium, it also contains microorganisms that support root growth.

It is not necessary to prune the desert rose as it grows very slowly anyway. If you want to interfere with the shape, however, a cut is possible, because the desert rose will sprout again at this point. The best time is after flowering. Otherwise the created flower buds could be cut off.

At this time you can also repot the desert rose. However, this is sufficient every few years when the roots grow out of the bottom of the pot, as growth is very slow.

Yellow leaves and loss of leaves on the desert rose: what to do?

Is your desert rose losing leaves or turning yellow? That doesn't have to be a cause for concern.

• Yellow leaves: If you intentionally put the desert rose into hibernation in winter by stopping watering, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. At other times, however, too much or too little nutrients or root rot from waterlogging can be the trigger for leaf change.
• No flowers: The desert rose does not bloom? For a rich flowering in spring, the dormant phase in winter is crucial. If the right overwintering does not take place, it can lead to failures in the flower and also in the leaves.
• loss of leaves: It is quite normal for the desert rose as a houseplant to lose its leaves in winter if it is no longer watered. It also gets too little light in the cold season. However, if the leaves fall off in spring or summer, there may be a care error.
• pests: The desert rose is rarely attacked by diseases or pests. spider mites or Mealybug especially like the dry air in winter. In the event of an infestation, the plant should be washed carefully but thoroughly.

Multiply desert rose: seeds, cuttings and Co.

Both cuttings and seeds are suitable for propagating the desert rose. The decisive advantage of the seed is the stronger development of the caudex.

The desert rose is propagated by cuttings in summer or spring. Shoots without flowers but with at least two pairs of leaves are used. Cut off a shoot with a sharp cutting tool and let it dry for a day or two. Then you can put the cuttings in potting soil and keep them warm and slightly moist.

Using your own seeds is also promising. Between July and August, the seeds ripen, which are in oblong, brown capsules. The mature capsules are harvested and the seeds extracted. Then you can start sowing directly, as the germination capacity is highest with fresh seeds. You can find out how to do this in the paragraph on cultivation, soil and location above.

Overwinter desert rose

Overwintering the desert rose is crucial for flowering next year. In the cold season, the sun-loving succulent does not get enough light for growth anyway and is therefore put into a dormant phase.

It is important that the temperature does not fall below 15 °C, even in winter. In the cold season there is no fertilization and watering is very reduced. During the hibernation - also called dry dormancy in the case of the desert rose - the leaves of the actually evergreen plants are shed. After a successful hibernation, flowers and leaves sprout abundantly again from spring, as soon as watering begins again. Every few years, when the pot has become too small, the desert rose can be repotted after hibernation but before new growth.

Is the desert rose poisonous?

Because of its milky sap, the desert rose is poisonous. It should not be touched or eaten as it can cause skin irritation and poisoning. Gloves can be worn when working to protect against the sap. The desert rose should not be placed within the reach of children or pets.

There are many more blooming succulents, some of which are even hardy. We have put together a small overview for you.