Methods for Cultivating Desert Rose
The editor answers everyone's questions about the cultivation methods of desert rose and the precautions for caring for desert roses in the introduction of green plants and flowers. Let's learn about it together.
The desert rose is a perennial deciduous succulent small tree, with bright and colorful flowers, ranging from rose red, pink, white to bicolor and more. The flowering period of the desert rose is long, from April to November every year, and it can almost bloom all year round if planted in a greenhouse. Placed on the balcony, study, living room, windowsill, or cultivated in sunny areas of the courtyard, it is both warm and romantic, highlighting an elegant posture that is pleasing to the eye. It is a新兴 family planting flower that has become popular in recent years and is well-liked by people. So, how to care for desert roses in a pot at home? What are the requirements for cultivation? Let's share the specific methods and requirements for cultivating desert roses.
1. Selection of planting soil. The original ecological growth environment of the desert rose is the African tropical desert and arid area, so it prefers loose, fertile, well-ventilated, and well-drained sandy loam rich in calcium. For home pot cultivation, a mixture of garden soil, peat soil, sand, and perlite is recommended. A flower pot with a diameter of 16-25 centimeters is suitable.
2. Requirements for temperature and light. The desert rose prefers high temperatures and drought resistance, and it is afraid of cold climates. Its suitable growth temperature needs to be around 25-30 degrees Celsius, and the overwintering temperature should be controlled between 15-25 degrees Celsius. Below 10 degrees Celsius, it may suffer frost damage. Therefore, in northern regions, it is necessary to keep the desert rose warm in winter to prevent frostbite. The desert rose thrives in a sunny climate and does not tolerate shade. It is suitable to place potted desert roses in south-facing balconies or windowsills with plenty of sunlight. Conditions permitting, they can also be planted in courtyards or patios. However, it is important to note that in southern regions, strong sunlight in the summer may require some shading to maintain the green of the leaves.
3. How to water and fertilize. The desert rose prefers a relatively dry growth environment and dislikes waterlogging in the pot. Therefore, when watering the desert rose, it is important to follow the principle of "not watering when not dry, and watering thoroughly when watering," and avoid frequent and excessive watering. If the pot is waterlogged for a long time, it can easily cause the branches of the desert rose to grow excessively and may lead to root rot. Watering must be considered comprehensively based on the planting soil, weather conditions, and seasonal changes. Generally, water every 3 days in spring and autumn, 1-2 days in summer, and once a week in winter. As for fertilizing, the desert rose prefers fertilizer. Adult plants should be fertilized with less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium during the vegetative growth period, as excessive nitrogen can cause excessive growth of branches and leaves, inhibiting reproductive growth, meaning they will only grow branches and leaves without flowering. Therefore, during the reproductive growth period, stop using nitrogen fertilizer and switch to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. During the flowering period, it is necessary to supplement some fast-acting fertilizers to make up for the severe loss of nutrition due to the long flowering period.
Methods for Cultivating Desert Rose
4. How to prune branches. Pruning of the desert rose should be based on the plant shape. If there are no branches in the seedling stage, pruning should be done when the plant is 15-20 centimeters tall to promote branching; pruning of mature plants is usually done after flowering, based on personal preference and the direction of the branches. More branches mean more flowers. After pruning, if the cut is not too large, it can heal on its own, but if the cut is too large, the wound should be treated with a 2% copper sulfate solution for disinfection and then coated with a fungicide powder to prevent infection.
The comprehensive methods for cultivating desert roses and the precautions for caring for them introduced by the Green Enthusiast Network are hoped to be a modest contribution that can solve your problems with green plants.