Worth knowing:
The exotic Desert Rose grows a bizarre looking, water-retentive succulent stem (caudex), which it developed by means of adapting to its dry natural habitat. It pleases every bonsai lover with a rich blossom that covers the whole plant with up to 5 cm big, pink-red coloured flowers.
Natural Location:
The natural habitat of the Desert Rose are the steppes of Arabia and Africa.
Cultivation:
Seed propagation indoors is possible throughout the year. Spread the seeds onto moist potting compost, put just a little compost earth on top and cover the seed container with clear film to prevent the earth from drying out. Don’t forget to make some holes in the clear film and take it every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20°C and 25°C and keep the earth moist, but not wet. The first seedlings will come up after one or two weeks.
Place:
The Desert Rose is accustomed to strong direct sun and needs a full sunny place for cultivation. Indoors it should be kept at a window to the South. During summer you can move the plant outside at a temperature of at least 15° Celsius and with as much sunlight as possible to produce a rich blossoming.
Care:
As a succulent plant, the Desert Rose can endure long dry periods once it filled up the water-storing trunk. It more likely takes damage from too much watering and waterlogging. During the growth period and blossoming, you may give fluid fertilizer for bonsai plants once a month.
During the winter:
The Desert Rose is not frost-hard and should be kept during winter on a sunny window sill at a temperature of at least 15° Celsius. At lower temperatures – never less than 10° Celsius! – it will draw back into hibernation and also shed the leaves. From autumn on, you should keep the earth almost completely dry and water only every couple of weeks to foster the hibernation. That way, the plant will gather its strength for a rich blossoming next year. With beginning of the growth period you may start slowly increasing the watering accordingly.
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