The Exotic Desert Rose Comes To Town
I love traveling, be it for a couple of weeks, a few days or just a weekend. It is my
dream to visit as much of our world as possible during my lifetime, and any
opportunity to visit a different town, city and country is eagerly seized
without hesitation. Although I’m hardly what someone would call a globetrotter,
I have managed to visit a few places, some within driving distance, some by
plane, some more exotic than others, some just simple getaways. I’ve ventured
to about half a dozen cities in the United States, a couple of European
countries, four ‘blessed-with-abundant-beaches-and-sunshine’ Caribbean regions
and almost a dozen different towns and cities in Canada. My lifetime’s travel itinerary
is nothing to brag about, but it’s not too shabby either.
Most of the places I’ve had the opportunity to journey to have left a positive
impression on me. But then how could they not since the trips taken are
vacation-oriented, where daily routines and responsibilities are replaced by spontaneous
fun and ample relaxation. But aside from that obvious fact, for some it’s also
been that ‘extra something’ – pleasant or unpleasant - that makes them a little
more memorable.
For example, I discovered that Maine has an amazing bookstore for avid readers like
me and oodles of places to eat lobster – two things that register high on my
‘favourites’ list. New York City was the first place I’d ever been to where a
restaurant employee warned me about hanging my purse on my chair – something I
always do back home but (apparently) something that no one in their right mind
does there (unless you want your purse to disappear). Mexico was the first all-inclusive trip
I’d ever taken, which I learned from day one was the only way to go. For a whole
week, all I needed to carry around with me was my room key (and my husband). Greece, a country so
rich in history, left me in awe with its ancient sites, stunning sunsets, heavenly beaches,
clear blue skies, energetic night life, hillside villages, blue-domed churches,
abundant olive groves, wealth of monuments - and on and on.
When I visited Niagara Falls, a place I’d often wondered what all the fuss was
about, I expected a glorified waterfall that I would roll my eyes at. Instead,
I was humbled and astonished by one of the most remarkable forces I’d ever caught
sight of. After only a glance I understood why this exceptionally powerful
water torrent is considered a natural wonder of the world. It truly is
extraordinary. Dominican Republic was where I played blackjack for
the first time (after only a few minutes of coaching outside of the casino) –
and won enough rounds (and cash) to pay for the week’s meals. It was in Boston
where I saw the overwhelmingly-popular sci-fi film Star Wars, in Toronto where
I (queasy of heights) stood on the top floor of the world’s tallest free
standing structure (553.33m / 1,815 ft., 5 inches) and in Plattsburgh where my
husband (then boyfriend) bought an engagement ring and proposed to me a few
hours later.
And the very attractive city of Kingston, Ontario - within very reasonable driving
distance and the latest escape from the everyday routine of home - left me with
a wonderful impression in an entirely different manner. Can you guess what it is?
“Well, duh”, you say. “Since this is a website about houseplants, it must be about a plant, no?”
Yup.
Before we began our drive home from Kingston, we stopped off at the local Wal-Mart
to pick up a couple of things. Obviously I took a stroll through the plant
section while we were there. And was so glad I did. Because lo and behold, much
to my surprise, there was that much–anticipated plant I’ve been keeping an eye
out for - for years. But not just any plant. It’s a plant that’s been on my
wish list for ages; a plant that I’ve read about over and over again in every single
houseplant book I have, hoping for the opportunity to grow one; a plant that is not
regularly available for sale at the local garden centers; a plant that’s easy enough
for beginners to grow and exotic enough for experts to pursue.
We’re talking about the striking Adenium Obesum, commonly referred to as the Desert
Rose. And thanks to the beautiful city of Kingston, I now have one gracing my living
room window as I write.
Let’s take a closer look at this succulent that produces gorgeous blooms with minimal care.
Caring For The Exotic Desert Rose
If you are searching for an interesting plant that will also add a splash of colour to
a sunny windowsill, look no further than Adenium Obesum - Desert Rose. Native
to regions of Africa and Arabia, where it rains often but is very
hot in the winter, this fleshy-leaved succulent can grow up to ten feet in
height in the wild but rarely exceeds 3 feet when grown indoors. A magnificent
specimen with glossy foliage and a swollen, often twisted trunk (caudex), the
Desert Rose scores even more points with its production of lovely,
trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of crimson red, bright pink and even white.
Although quite popular with houseplant enthusiasts, the Desert Rose is rarely available
commercially at local stores. If you run across one locally, don’t hesitate to
buy it; it may not be available for very long and may not be available again
any time soon. For those who can’t wait for them to show up at local nurseries
or for those who missed the opportunity to get one when they did, there are a
multitude of websites for online orders.
Quality of light is extremely important to this plant that needs plenty of sunshine in
order to thrive and flower. Four to five hours of direct sun each day in front
of an east, west or south window will encourage this succulent to flower. The
Desert Rose will also do well in very bright light without a lot of direct sun
but it won’t bloom as often or as profusely.
Adenium Obesum is capable of surviving a great deal of neglect. But even this
heavyweight has its limits, and it draws the line at over watering. If nothing
else kills this plant, you can be sure that too much water will. Over watering
- especially during the winter when little moisture is needed or when the plant
is kept in cooler temperatures - is lethal to this otherwise resilient beauty.
Treat your Desert Rose the same way you’d treat other succulents. During the growing
season allow the soil to dry out moderately between each watering and then
water thoroughly until it comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the
pot. Do not wait too long to water or else you might force your plant into
early dormancy. Young plants growing rapidly will require frequent watering
while the older specimens with slower growth are more resistant to dry
conditions. Be especially careful about keeping your Desert Rose adequately
hydrated when it’s flowering to keep the plant from dropping leaves and flowers
prematurely.
When the winter season kicks in your plant prefers to stay dry, so water sparingly and
keep the compost only very slightly moist. Make sure you are using a
fast-draining, porous soil to prevent rot. And never allow a potted plant to
sit on a saucer full of water. Always dump out the excess after the plant has
been watered.
The Desert Rose is extremely heat tolerant, able to handle (and even thrive) in
temperatures as high as 29°C (85°F) without a problem. However, bear in mind that higher
temperatures mean shorter blooming periods; the higher the heat, the faster the flowers
will fade. On the opposite end of the scale, never allow temperatures to drop below 10°C (54°F).
As winter approaches, unless you can provide your Desert Rose with
ample light, it’s best to allow it to go dormant. Inadequate light leads to
weak, spindly growth that is unattractive and will inevitably need to be
pruned. A much needed resting period in a cool room with temperatures between
10°C (54°F) and 16°C (61°F) is ideal and something that your plant will
appreciate and benefit from. If there is no cool area in your home to place
your plant, force it into dormancy by withholding water until all the leaves drop.
The easiest way to set the dormancy cycle in motion is by placing
the plant outside for the summer and bringing it back indoors in the fall when
the night temperatures have begun to drop. At that point the Desert Rose will
have dropped all its leaves and you can continue to induce that state by
withholding water and keeping the plant in a shady location. When the winter
season is coming to an end and the days start to get longer, resume watering
and move the plant to a much brighter location as soon as it sprouts new
growth. When the weather warms up and all danger of frost is gone, you can
place your plant outdoors.
* Note: If your plant only drops a few leaves (not all of them)
and continues to grow, do not withhold water entirely. Allow it to get
completely dry before giving it a drink.
Under ideal conditions growth can be surprisingly quick and
nutrients can be consumed rapidly, so feed your plant often but only a little
at a time to promote healthy growth and abundant flowers. Follow your plants
lead to determine how much and how often. If your plant is growing in leaps and
bounds feed every couple of weeks with a preferred fertilizer at half strength.
Time release pellets, liquid or powder fertilizer all work well. Feed less
(once a month or every six weeks) if growth is slower and do not feed at all
during the resting period.
Blooming, which typically occurs in the spring and again in the
fall, can begin when the plant is very young and only about 14 cm (6 inches) in
height. Quality light, proper watering and ideal care will encourage the Desert
Rose to produce beautiful flowers. It is also recommended that the plant be
pruned hard to induce blooms, particularly when the days are shorter and cooler.
Pruning should be done after the plant has had its resting period.
* Note: All parts of a Desert Rose are poisonous. Make sure you
wash your hands after handling the plant. Keep it safely out of reach of
pets and children.
If you’ve been fortunate enough to add this succulent to your
indoor plant collection, don’t hesitate to generate more of these beauties.
Propagation is very easy. Take cuttings in the spring, allow them to dry for a
couple of days, place them in a potting medium such as a sand-peat mix, keep
them out of full sun until they root and before you know it you’ll have more of
these beautiful plants adorning your home!
The Desert Rose And Hydroculture
Thanks to Kingston, Ontario I finally added this much sought-after and rarely-available-locally
succulent to my collection of indoor container plants. After having waited for so many years to find this
precious specimen, you would think that I would be reluctant to convert it to the hydroculture style.
Not a chance. The plant was given 24 hours to adjust to its new environment before the soil was ditched
and the new growing style was introduced.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Desert Rose adapts
readily to the hydroculture system and hardly makes a fuss. A small number of
leaves were dropped in the process and they were quickly replaced by vigorous
new growth. The Desert Rose and hydroculture is another match made in botanical
heaven.
In its natural habitat a Desert Rose can live to well over a hundred years. With proper care,
your own plant growing indoors may live long enough to be an heirloom to be passed on to the
next generation. Imagine that.
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