How often to water a desert rose
A comprehensive explanation of how often to water a desert rose and some tips on desert rose care. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
The desert rose is a plant that blooms all year round, and many people are raising it. However, many people have difficulty mastering watering during the process of raising desert roses, which can lead to dry leaves and root rot. In fact, by mastering the watering method, we can control the growth of desert roses well. Some gardeners ask how often to water, but you can judge reasonably through these three methods. Based on your preferred method, you can find the correct watering frequency. We can calculate "by days" or use our hands to "touch." As long as it suits the desert rose you are growing, it will grow well, with developed roots, avoiding root rot or dry roots.
1. Water when the soil is completely dry with good ventilation
If the ventilation is poor at home and the watering frequency is high, it is easy to cause root rot. If the ventilation is good, we can wait for the potting soil to dry completely and then water thoroughly. How to judge complete dryness? It means watering promptly when all the moisture in the potting soil is gone. Some gardeners say they don't want to wait for the soil to dry and don't know how to judge. Can they water when the soil is half-dry? Of course, it can be, but ensure good ventilation. For example, if you are growing outdoors, place it in a rain-free area with sufficient light, and watering when the soil is half-dry will not cause any problems.
Because good ventilation does not cause soil compaction, the water after watering can evaporate quickly. Generally, the surface of the potting soil will be completely dry in about one day, while there is still some moisture inside. After another day, it will dry up to half, and then you can water without any problems. If you are using very compacted garden soil and it doesn't dry for ten or fifteen days after watering, watering when it's half-dry can easily cause root rot. We can judge based on ventilation and the drying speed of the potting soil, and adopt the principle of watering when completely dry.
2. Water when the stem feels soft if ventilation is poor
If we are growing it in a closed balcony with sufficient light but poor ventilation, we must not water too frequently. How should we operate? We can use our hands to touch. When it's time to water, touch the main stem with your hand and squeeze it to see if it feels soft. If it does, you can water it because, in a normal state, the main stem of the desert rose is very hard after watering and cannot be felt as soft when squeezed. When it feels soft, it indicates that the potting soil has been dry for a while and the roots have been short of water.
At this time, water it on a sunny day. As long as the soil is well-ventilated, it will absorb the water quickly after watering, and the main stem will gradually become plump. The water in the soil will be absorbed by the plant and some will evaporate due to sunlight, keeping the soil slightly moist and avoiding root rot. Don't worry; the desert rose won't die after a month of drought. You just need to water it when it feels soft and it won't damage the roots.
How often to water a desert rose
3. Watering frequency in days
Many gardeners say they don't want to touch with their hands or don't know how to judge complete dryness. So what should they do if they want to water based on days? You need to control it reasonably. As for the number of days, it depends on your environment. For example, some gardeners say they water their desert rose once every half month, but have you considered that if you are using soil with a high particle content, it will dry in three to five days after watering, and waiting for half a month can cause the roots to dry out. If you have poor indoor ventilation and the soil is compact, it may not dry for one or two months after watering, so following a fixed watering frequency based on days is not suitable.
Therefore, the frequency of watering based on days can follow this method but should be adjusted according to your environment. For example, if you use well-ventilated nutrient-rich soil or particle soil at home, the potting soil can dry completely in a week after watering, so you can water once a week. If you use compacted soil, it can take half a month to dry completely, so water it once every half month. Based on your environment and the drying speed of the soil, choose the number of days to water. As long as you master the drying speed, generally, following your frequency will not cause any problems.
In a home environment, it's simple to judge the moisture level. You can use a bamboo skewer for kebabs, clean it, and insert it into the pot near the bottom. When you want to water, pull out the skewer and check. If there is no moisture on the skewer, it means the soil is dry and you can water it. You can judge the watering frequency based on the dryness level and speed, and also check when it's dry and the humidity level, which can help you control the watering well.
This method can also be used for other plants, but remember, to grow desert roses well at home, the particles should make up five to seven parts, use a small pot instead of a deep pot, and place it in direct sunlight with a temperature not lower than 15 degrees. This way, it can grow all year round and bloom continuously.
The above introduction to how often to water a desert rose and some tips on desert rose care provided by Green Enthusiast website are for reference by netizens.