Method of Cultivating Desert Rose
The editor will tell you about the introduction of the succulent plant, Desert Rose, its cultivation method. Here, the editor will provide you with detailed answers.
The Desert Rose has a flower shape similar to a small trumpet, with a rosy red color that is very beautiful. The umbrella-shaped inflorescence forms clusters of three to five, brilliant as brocade, blooming continuously throughout the four seasons. It is named Desert Rose because its origin is close to the desert and its color is as red as a rose. The Desert Rose has alternate leaves that are obovate, abruptly pointed at the apex, 8 to 10 centimeters long, and 2 to 4 centimeters wide. The leaves are leathery, glossy, dark green on the front, and gray-green on the back, with entire margins. The raceme is terminal, with over 10 flowers, trumpet-shaped, 6 to 8 centimeters long; the corolla is divided into 5 lobes, in colors such as rose red, pink, white, and bicolor. The flowering period of Desert Rose is from May to December, with flowers in red, rose red, pink, and white. It is easier to bear fruit in greenhouses in the south. The seeds have white down, which helps them fly and disperse.
Potted plants require plenty of sunshine and good drainage. A mixture of fertile, loose sand and leaf mold soil is best. During the growing period, it is better to be dry than wet. Water once a day during the hot summer, and water every 2-3 days otherwise. Fertilize 2-3 times a year. In winter, during the dormant period, it normally sheds leaves. Planting should be done in spring or repotting. In the southern region, it can be planted directly in the ground and overwintered outdoors.
In the northern region, it should be potted and overwintered indoors. The potting soil can be a mixture of leaf mold soil and coarse sand, with a small amount of decomposed dry bone meal added. Place some broken tiles at the bottom of the pot before planting to aid drainage. Repot every spring, replacing the new culture soil. New plants and repotted ones can be placed indoors or in shaded areas for care, with less watering until they adapt, then enter normal management. During the growing period, they should be placed in a sunny outdoor area or in a greenhouse with adequate light. They need to be kept indoors in winter, preferably in a sunny spot, or in a greenhouse. Maintain an indoor temperature of over 12°C in winter. If the potting soil is dry, it can also safely overwinter at temperatures of 7-8°C. Source of the article: https://
In spring and autumn, which are the vigorous growing periods, water thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist but not too wet. Water when the soil is dry and moisten thoroughly. In early spring and late autumn, when the temperature is lower, water should be moderate. Reduce watering in winter, keeping the potting soil dry, but water if it's too dry. Fertilizing is not needed much; apply a thin liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month during the growing period, and stop fertilizing in winter.
Like other succulent plants, Desert Rose prefers well-draining sandy soil. Therefore, when repotting, it's best to add more river sand or small pebbles to the regular soil to improve drainage. Repotting is usually only necessary when the plant is quite lush. For seedlings, repotting should be done every year. The method is simple: stop watering before repotting, then wait for the potting soil to completely dry before turning the plant out, removing the old soil and pruning the roots, then replanting.
Propagation is commonly done through cutting, grafting, and layering, and can also be done by seeding. Cuttings are best done in summer, selecting 1-2-year-old branches, preferably terminal ones, cutting them into 10 centimeters long, and inserting them into the sand bed after the cut surface has dried. Roots form in about 3-4 weeks. Grafting uses oleander as the rootstock and is done in summer using the cleft grafting method, which results in strong and easy-to-flower plants. Layering is often done in summer using the aerial layering method, cutting off 2/3 of a strong branch, filling it with moss first, then wrapping it with plastic film, and roots form in about 25 days, with the plant cut for potting after 45 days. Sowing in summer requires a germination temperature of 21°C.
The above sharing of the cultivation method of Desert Rose is a small experience in green plants and flowers, hoping it can bring help to your life!