Hello, there, and welcome! If you use a liquid fertilizer then go with a balanced of like 13-13-13 at half strength. The closest to a balanced liquid fert I've been able to find in my area was Miricle Gro African Violet. You can use Osmacote that's also balanced and don't have to worry about mixing and feeding weekly or biweekly. These have worked well for me and got me comfortable with caring for them. I recently also added Spray-N-Grow for the micronutrients and I've been super happy with the results I seem to be seeing this year as compared to last year. For me, they seem more healthy and a lot more pest resistant than they were last year. I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence or not but it's looks like it's working for me. Hope this helps and others will add their experiences and what they use. There's a lot of good products out there and it will basically end up to personal preference. Kirk

Hi Connie, Glad to know theres others out there with the same mind frame. Have fun ordering your other three babies. OK Miss Northern Enabler, a.k.a. TJ, it sounds so adorable doesn't it. I do want to do it bad but I was so trying not to order any more roses and start filling in more with other perennials. waaaaaaaa! If only I had tons of sunny space to work with but I don't. waaaaaaa!!!! Anyways, I was wanting some more english roses so I will probably hold off for a while anyways. Hope you are doing well! Tootles, Judy

Same here in the SF bay area...half the time they never bloom if grown outdoors in pots-even when placed where it can get blazing hot on a summers day..I think it IS the cool nights of 60f and lower all through our spring-fall that really doesnt allow them to grow much or flower. I have two of the hardiest-a hybrid and A. arabicum,and they arent encouraging me to add any more.

I have my desert rose in a clay pot.. I do not water it until it is dry about an inch down. And cut back on water in winter. It is in a south window and gets lots of light in the winter. It goes out on my covered front facing south after all chance of frost is over. It loses some leaves in winter. I have had it for three or four years. I took a cutting alert it dry out on the end put in spot of regular miracle grow potting soil and it has started putting on leaves.. I would love to try planting from seeds.. My cutting even got water logged and started to turn mushy on the end and I cut it off jammed it back in soil and it started leafing out again. I think over watering is what kills most cactus roses.. I also fertilize with mirical grow and alter with blooms fertilizer in summer.