desert rose
Light needs
- Place your desert rose in a spot that provides 6-8 hours of sun a day, with some shade from the afternoon sun if necessary
Watering
- Desert roses tolerate semi-dry conditions
- When your desert rose first leafs out during the spring, it will require regular watering, and even more so while blooming
- Allow the top few inches of the soil to dry, but do not let the soil dry to the bottom of the pot while actively growing
Repotting
- Desert roses are best grown in pots in Texas as they require protection during the winter
- Provide well-drained potting soil which can be achieved by adding sand or perlite to the soil mixture
- It is best to repot during the growing seasons so that the plant may grow its roots have time to fill the pot
Fertilizing
- Fertilize your desert rose during the spring and summer months to encourage green growth and blooms
- To encourage blooms, choose a fertilizer high in phosphorus to continuously bloom (this is the second number displayed on fertilizer bags/bottles #-#-#)
Overwintering
- It is time to bring your desert rose inside for the winter when temperatures commonly fall below 40ºF.
- Find a sunny window free of drafty ACs
- Typically, a south facing window will provide the most consistent bright light throughout the day