How to cultivate desert rose
The editor brings you an introduction to the succulent plant desert rose, how to cultivate desert rose, and detailed content will be shared next.
Some flower enthusiasts have asked how to cultivate desert rose. Generally speaking, it is easy to raise desert rose in the summer. Placing it outdoors and watering it once a week is sufficient. Maintaining its dormancy in other seasons is more difficult. The following are some tips from the author's experience in cultivating desert rose over the past few years, which may serve as a reference for flower enthusiasts.
1. Sunlight: The thick stem and leathery leaves of the desert rose indicate that it can tolerate strong sunlight. Adequate sunlight helps the desert rose bloom. Not only does it need sunlight during the vigorous growth period, but it also requires sunlight during dormancy. In Beijing, desert roses require abundant sunlight to survive the winter (overcome dormancy). An environment with less sunlight is not suitable for cultivation.
2. Temperature: The ideal growing environment for desert rose is high temperature and ventilation. In Beijing, when the temperature reaches about 25℃ in May, move the plant from indoors to outdoors. When the average temperature exceeds 30℃, the plant grows robustly without shade. Desert roses are not cold-resistant. After November (when the minimum temperature is below 15℃), the plant should be moved indoors and kept dry (basically no watering) to ensure dormancy. Only with good dormancy can the desert rose bloom in spring and summer.
3. Watering: The thick stem of the desert rose fears moisture. Long-term moist potting soil can easily cause root rot and lead to plant death. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the principle of "less is better than more" when watering desert roses. My experience is: Do not water the pot in the winter for three months in Beijing and keep the potting soil dry. Watering in winter depends on the indoor dryness. You can use environmental misting or pour water into a tray under the pot (my practical method is: water the tray once a month or every one and a half months, and mist with water at noon when the sun is high, keeping the surface of the potting soil slightly wet). When the plant is moved from outdoors to indoors, the leaves fall quickly (almost all of them). Don't worry and definitely do not water it for at least 15 days. From May to October in Beijing is the growing season for desert roses (outdoors). During this time, the watering method is: When the plant is first moved outdoors, and the night temperature is low, do not water it. You can mist some water during sunny periods. When the plant starts to sprout leaves, use the winter watering method. When the temperature reaches 30℃, you can water into the pot, but the water should not be excessive. Each watering should only be done when the potting soil is completely dry.
Recommended control method: To accurately grasp the dryness and moisture of the potting soil, I found a pot of the same size as the one used to plant the desert rose, filled it with the same soil and amount of soil. I water both pots with flowers and without flowers together, and after a week, I pour out the soil from the pot without flowers to check the dryness and moisture. If the potting soil is completely dry, you can determine the timing of your watering. This means you are watering once a week without any problem.
4. Potting Soil: My potting soil consists of: orchid stone or red brick particles, lightweight stone, and fairy soil or ordinary potting soil; the ratio is 1:1:1. Note: Mix in a moderate amount of slow-release fertilizer or fermented chicken manure, with a bit more at the bottom of the pot.
5. Fertilizing: From May to October every year is the growing period of the desert rose, and also the flowering period. A small amount of fertilizer can be added to support its growth. Note: Do not apply raw fertilizer. Raw fertilizer can easily cause root rot and pest infestations in the potting soil.
6. Potting Change: The method is simple, done every year when the plant is moved outdoors, as it is dry and easier to handle. After replanting, do not water immediately. Place the plant in a semi-shaded area to recover, and only water thoroughly after the leaves have resumed.
7. Propagation: I only propagate desert roses through cutting, but the results are not good, so I suggest not bothering. The cuttings of desert roses do not have thick roots and have low ornamental value.
The comprehensive knowledge on how to cultivate desert rose provided above is hoped to be of help to you.