Desert Rose Bonsai Care – The desert rose bonsai is a popular and very beautiful bonsai, loved for its many pink flowers as well as its unusual, strong, bulbous trunk.
The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a succulent shrub native to the desert regions south of the Sahara and the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern and southern Africa and Arabia, according to the University of Arizona.
Desert Rose Bonsai Care
Adenium Obesum is a deciduous evergreen, but may lose its leaves during sudden cold spells. It has fleshy, succulent leaves and a bulbous stem. Its flowers are large, pink or red.
Adenium Arabicum (desert Rose) • World Of Succulents
The desert rose is often seen in gardens in tropical countries, but it is a popular ornamental plant around the world. It is often grown in pots so that it can be brought indoors when the temperature drops.
With care and love, you can grow a desert rose bonsai that will give you an abundance of flowers every year.
Note that the milky sap of the desert rose is poisonous, so wear gloves when you can or cables.
To care for desert rose bonsai, provide bright direct light and water when the soil is completely dry. For potting soil, use bonsai soil consisting of clay and sand and a little potting mix. It grows at temperatures between 20 and 38 °C (70-100 °F). Fertilize every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer with a fertilizer diluted to 1/3 of the recommended strength. Humidity around 40% is correct.
Desert Rose Flower Bonsai Flower Pot Stock Photo 150804932
In North America and other parts of the world where the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5°C), your desert rose bonsai will bloom profusely during the warmer months, but will stop when it gets colder.
At this point, bring your bonsai inside. Most of them drop their leaves during this dormant period, but some do not. If your desert bonsai rose loses its leaves, you can enjoy its unusually large trunk and small branches.
Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies love them. As you train and prune your bonsai, the new leaves will become smaller, but the flowers will remain very large.
The roots cannot be left in water, so well-drained soil is the key to good health for your desert rose bonsai.
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Use a special bonsai soil which is, of course, made of clay and sand particles, mixed with organic matter. This mix cannot be overwatered, it drains very well and the organic matter retains enough nutrients to feed your plant.
During the hot summer months, when your desert rose bonsai is actively growing, check the soil every few days. If the soil is completely dry, water it slowly and generously, until water comes out of the hole in the pot. The desert rose bonsai does not like soggy soil.
That said, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering when your desert rose bonsai enters a dormant period.
Desert Rose bonsai loves the sun and bright light. You can leave it outside in full sun during the active growth period.
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If you don’t have outdoor space for your bonsai, make sure it gets the same amount of light as it does outside.
The best thing is to place it on a balcony, terrace or at least on the windowsill to get as much sun as possible. When you bring your bonsai indoors, when the temperature drops, place it in a warm and bright place.
Desert Rose bonsai thrive in climates where temperatures do not drop below 70°F (20°C). It is fine even when the temperature reaches 100°F (38°C).
If your bonsai is kept outdoors, bring it when the temperature looks like it will drop below 40°F (5°C).
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Although desert bonsai rose grow actively in the spring and summer, it should be fertilized every 3-4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/3 strength. There is a good value of NPK ie. NPK 1:1:1.
Also, feed it from time to time in the spring when your plant is waking up from dormancy. In summer, it is enough to feed your bonsai tree once a month. Stop feeding your desert rose bonsai completely when the weather cools and let it go dormant.
The ideal humidity level is around 40% for desert rose bonsai, as the name suggests we are dealing with a desert species.
Desert rose bonsai are grown in special shallow pots with a large drainage hole and small holes around the pot to attach the tree. Due to its bulbous trunk, desert rose bonsai look very interesting in shallow pots or trays.
Adenium Desert Rose Bonsai
The pot should not be more than two thirds of the height of the tree. Its color must complement the color of the tree or the color of the flowers.
Your bonsai was probably already planted in the right pot when you bought it. Bonsai pots are very important to the overall look of your bonsai.
Desert rose bonsai should be repotted every two to three years, as a mature desert rose grows quite slowly. You can repot it more often if you see the roots filling the pot completely.
Transplanting is quite easy and should be done in early spring. First, release the tree from the pot. Heavy trees are often tied to the pot so that the fine roots are not broken by the movements of the tree.
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Shake off the old soil and comb the roots with a toothpick. Cut off all the old thick roots and leave small feeder roots. Trim the roots evenly around the root ball to keep it flat.
Do not cut more than two thirds of the root ball. Wash the roots and the pot. Place a layer of fresh potting mix in the bottom of the pot and place the tree on top. Fill the rest of the pot with the fresh soil mix.
Use the same pot or the same size. A larger pot would encourage more root growth and your goal is to keep the tree small.
When wiring the branches of your Desert Rose bonsai, do not wire them too tightly or the wire will cut into the growing branches and leave unsightly wire marks.
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No need to wire if the branches grow in the direction you want. Bonsai are wired to allow you to position them into the desired shape as they grow.
Use soft aluminum or copper wire. Once wired, place the wired branch gently in the direction you want it to grow.
Pruning or trimming your Desert Rose bonsai is essential to keep it small and growing into the shape you want. You can cut desert rose bonsai throughout the year.
Pruning encourages more branches. As a result, your plant develops more flower buds as the buds develop into new growth. Cut off all long shoots.
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Cut out damaged parts and branches that grow in the wrong direction. When cutting, make clean cuts just above a leaf node. Wear gloves when you cut desert roses, the sap is poisonous.
If you give your Desert Rose bonsai the ideal conditions, it will give you two flowering seasons. First, the flowers will begin to form in early spring and should last until mid-summer.
Then, in the heart of the hottest summer, the plant will take 6-8 weeks off and continue to flower into the early fall months.
If you keep your desert rose bonsai in a warm, well-lit greenhouse, it can be kept active all year round.
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The biggest problem your Desert Rose bonsai can suffer from is root rot. This can easily be avoided by using only coarse, free-draining bonsai soil. This plant should never be sitting in water. It does not like wet soil.
You can propagate desert rose bonsai from cuttings or seeds, but you only get small desert rose plants. You will be a long way from a young plant to a bonsai.
Bonsai takes a lot of time to grow and care for, so it’s like a mature tree in a pot. If you want a new desert rose bonsai, get one from a reputable bonsai grower.
It’s easy to fall in love with your Desert Rose bonsai and start thinking of it as a member of the family. You may want to invest in some basic tools for your care.
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Start with good quality bonsai pruners, for cutting branches and roots. You will also need small clamps to connect the bonsai branches and some aluminum or soft copper wires.
The rose rose bonsai is a beautiful little tree that will give you years of pleasure with just a little care. If you give it plenty of sun, warmth and protection from the cold, it will reward you with a large number of pink flowers twice a year.
Its care is quite simple: leave it in full sun during the spring and summer, water it sparingly, fertilize even less, and bring it inside when it starts to get cold. It’s that simple.
If you are worried about wiring its branches, look at some photos of botanical gardens with good collections of desert rose bonsai. They will give you an idea of how to do it.
I Just Got My First Desert Rose 😍 Does Anyone Have Any Tips On Caring For This Beautiful Guy?
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