What is my desert rose trying to tell me?

15 years ago

I have a DR in my office, in a bright window that gets direct sun about 6-7 hrs a day. It is blooming nicely, and there is new growth, although I'm not sure if it's going to be leaves or more blooms.

But, it's dropping leaves. The upper branches are wrinkled, but not mushy, and the caudex is firm.

I'm watering when it dries out, usually 1-2 times per week. Feeding weekly.

Is it time to switch to 'tropical plant' mode, or am I watering too much?

These guys are tricky!

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Comments (6)

caudex1
15 years ago
1st thing to do is unpot and check the roots, rotting will cause what you are describing.
blutarski
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks caudex. Would there be new growth coming on if there was root rot?

One thing I noticed today- with the sun getting higher in the sky each day, the DR isn't getting as much light as I thought. It's down to about 5 hours.
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As Gill mentions, the skin of the Adenium is a natural process as it ages. There does not look to be any issues to me with scale. The Yellowing of the leaves is even and it is on the lower part of the branches, which could just be a case of old leaves shedding. Aslo, could be the soil and water retention. Most of the big box stores receive their plants growing in a peat or coco peat based mix. This would be the first thing I would change as it holds water too long and no aeration to the root zone. Where you reside is definitely much warmer than many of us and you could probably use a good cactus mix with added perlite or something similar. I like the Gritty Mix. The only thing in your climate that you would need to become familiar with the watering requirements. They would need to be monitored just to get used to that the Gritty Mix dries back quicker than any fine particle soil will. Checking for water needs is a basic need which is required no matter what soil we decide to go with. The dark ends with the bark looking as it is rolling back a bit. This is from an old pruning site and is normal as the cut edges callus up at cambium layer edges. Part of the issue here is that whomever pruned it did not make the cuts at a 45 degree angle which is best to keep any moisture from collecting at this site. I would definitely re pot this tree and give it a good pruning to give it more stabililty and better shape. You are in a climate that has a good length growing season. The branches are quite long and would definitely give it more strength to support blooms later on. It will push out more blooms after a pruning. Rick
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Maybe every 10 days or so, depends how fast it dries up. But since it is in gritty mix, I water well and all excess water will drain. If the peat is hydrophobic, it will 'shed' the water - that's why it drains out, but nothing is getting to your plants roots. It is usually best to repot newly purchased plants - they are in peat that is fine for growers with all the automated watering, lots of light, appropriate heat... If you have perlite, sifting it would be best (or it could be rinsed) to get rid of dust & smallest particles. If you can get pumice, it could be used instead of perlite. Adding some grit would be good too. Many ppl use mix of only C&S soil and perlite, minimum half (or more) perlite.
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greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
15 years ago
Blutarski, hello again! I didn't realise you had a larger DR. Sorry to learn that you too are having problems. I have also read they like lots of light and fresh air. I have mine in a SW window, I can't provide anything better than that, the sunshine here in the UK is a bonus, we count ourselves fortunate to get 5 hrs a day. At least with the beginning of British Summer Time over this last weekend, we are heading in the right direction!! I have answered your ? back on my thread earlier today. Good luck with yours!!
Gill.
wase
15 years ago
feeding "weekly" is probably too much, especially a plant that is inside..
xerophyte NYC
15 years ago
If your plant could speak it would probably say "I wish I was back home in Tanzania, I miss the hot weather"

:-)

I wonder if it's just not hot enough for your plant to be in full-tilt growth mode, so it may not be responding to watering, sun or food the way you may think. Bring the plant outside in July and August and you will see what I mean.

Adeniums are beautiful plants, but growing them well outside of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China or Arizona is exceedingly difficult...perhaps more challenging than almost any other succulent species. They simply need lots of heat.

X
wase
15 years ago
good point, Xero; a few weeks ago, when it got up to 75 in chicago for 2 days, I put mine outside, and 2 days later I had a flower!
Of corse now, its back to winter here, so its back inside, and not happy again...

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What is my desert rose trying to tell me?

Comments (6)

caudex1

blutarski
Original Author

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What is my desert rose trying to tell me?

Comments (6)

caudex1

blutarskiOriginal Author

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blutarski
Original Author