Desert rose
(Adenium obesum)
Country of Origin : Africa
Bonsai Styles : Clump
Zone : 11
The desert rose (also known as Impala lily, Kudu lily, mock azalea, Sabi star) is a small succulent from the dry desert regions of Africa. (It is worth noting that this plant is completely unrelated to the rose family)
It is a sparsely branched bush that grows thick and fleshy green leaves. The leaves are directly attached to the branch without a petiole.
A double seed pod with silvery, shimmering tufts of hair is produced after the blooming period. The pod measures approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
Can you bonsai a desert rose?
Desert rose bonsai can be relatively easily grown into a beautiful flowering bonsai tree. The lack of extensive branching is compensated for by a thick trunk, attractive leaves and striking, elliptical pink flowers that are 2 inches long. It also has a tendency to grow thick external roots. These thick external roots give the bonsai a unique aged look.
How big does a desert rose bonsai get?
In nature, the plant grows to a height of 2-3 meters (6½ to 10 feet). Desert roses are more like a miniature bush than a tree. However, when grown as a bonsai, it can reach 1.5 – 2 feet in height. There are also some desert rose bonsai specimens that are 1-2 feet wide with a trunk as thick as 10-12 inches.
Is desert rose bonsai poisonous?
Desert rose bonsai can be highly poisonous. The sap of all adeniums is highly toxic. It has been used in Africa to make poison arrows to hunt game. Make sure you don’t get sap in your eyes. Wash your skin immediately if you get sap on it. It is likely that pets that chew on your plants will ignore them after the first taste, but for safety, keep pets and Adenium obesum bonsai apart.
How long does it take for a desert rose bonsai tree to grow?
Desert rose is a slow growing plant. A young desert rose tree can reach a height of 1 foot (12 inches) in one year. As the tree matures, its growth rate slows even more. In 1.5-3 years, you should have a decent-sized mature desert rose bonsai. However, to make a specimen with a characteristic thick trunk, you might require a longer time period.
Read more about other bonsai trees species in : Types of bonsai tree
Best location to keep Desert rose bonsai tree
Can a desert rose grow indoors?
Desert rose bonsai can be kept indoors all year round. However, make sure that the bonsai is placed in a place with plenty of light and air ventilation. Bright light is also important for optimum flowering.
During the growing season, desert rose will develop unnatural, weak growth and will not bloom if kept too shaded.
How do you keep a desert rose bonsai?
In addition to being placed indoors all year long, desert rose bonsai can also be placed outdoors in a sunny or partially shaded location during the warm summer months. If kept indoors, open the window in the warm summer months. During the winter months, it likes to have a rest period and should be placed in a bright location with temperatures between 54°F and 61°F (12 and 16°C).
It is critical to keep desert roses away from frost and cool weather. Dormant bonsai trees do not require full sun.
IMP: Refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas. Also, refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas.
Propagation of Desert rose bonsai tree
Desert rose can be propagated by using cuttings. You should use cuttings that are 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long. Before planting, let the cuttings dry for three to four days.
The cuttings should be dipped in rooting hormone and placed in a well-drained rooting medium (such as Perlite). Or you can mix sand and peat moss in a 1:1 ratio. Make sure the medium is always slightly moist.
A mist chamber or an enclosed area with high humidity produces better results with cuttings.
Watering Desert rose bonsai tree
These plants are very drought tolerant and can go without water even for 2 weeks. Hence, no special vacation care is required.
Frequently water the bonsai during the growing period, especially during the blooming period.
In winter, watering depends on the ambient temperature. The cooler the temperature, the less watering is necessary.
These plants do not tolerate water logged soil.
Read watering bonsai tree for more details and also about bonsai water immersion technique.
Wiring Desert rose bonsai tree
Wiring of desert rose bonsai is possible only as long as the branches are still pliable. Make sure that the wires are wound a little loose to avoid scaring the bark of the tree as the branches thicken.
Be very careful while wiring as the bark of the tree can be damaged very easily.
Read : Detailed guide on How to wire a bonsai. This extensive guide includes all the wiring techniques and Do’s and Dont’s. It will also show you other bonsai training techniques which can be achieved without using wires.
Pruning Desert rose bonsai tree
When to prune Desert rose bonsai tree?
How to prune Desert rose bonsai tree?
It is common for adeniums to branch sparsely and they may become leggy over time. Pruning can improve branching and produce a fuller-looking plant. As the flowers develop at the ends of the stems, a more fully-branched bonsai will also produce more flowers.
Branches that are thick should be cut back after the rest period, in early spring.
It is important to cut back new shoots regularly, once they have reached the desired length.
As mentioned before, the sap of the tree is poisonous. Therefore, take special care that you do not come into contact with sap (especially if you have a fresh cut or an open wound). Wash your hands or skin as soon as you come into contact with sap.
You can wear gloves at the time of root pruning.
Also develop a habit of sterilizing your pruning tools after each pruning session.
Read how to prune a bonsai to know about the right technique of pruning and more about defoliating a bonsai tree.
Repotting Desert rose bonsai tree
Desert rose bonsai trees can be repotted every 2-3 years in late spring along with root pruning. Let the soil dry a little before repotting. Do not resume watering the bonsai immediately after repotting. Wait for almost a week.
What kind of soil for desert rose bonsai?
As with all the succulents, Desert rose bonsai trees need free draining bonsai soil mix. These trees are highly susceptible to root rot if the soil is not free draining and stays excessively wet for a long period of time. Hence, the soil should contain at least 1/3 to 1/2 drainage material such as sand or gravel or Perlite.
Completely change the soil at the time of repotting in case you are using a peat based bonsai soil mix.
You can also use a bonsai soil mix containing a mix or peat, sand and loam in the ratio 2:1:2.
What kind of pot for desert rose bonsai?
These plants produce massive roots. It is possible for them to break through the walls of plastic pots as well as thin-walled ceramic pots.
Make sure to use a bonsai pot that is slightly bigger than the root mass. Repotting a desert rose in a big pot will increase the likelihood of more water retention and root rot.
Use a shallow, bowl-like container. This will provide room for roots to spread and ensure that the soil dries out in a timely manner. Somewhat pot-bounding the roots in these “big-enough” containers will also assist you in restricting the overall growth of the bonsai tree.
Every 2-3 years at the time of repotting you can slightly increase the size of the pot till you have achieved the desired size of the bonsai.
Please check out how to repot a bonsai to know everything about repotting and root pruning a bonsai.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Desert rose bonsai tree
During the growing season, desert rose bonsai can be fertilized weekly with any balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength.
You can also use a liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks at half strength.
Do not feed in the winter season.
Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application. This will also give you more details on how to feed flowering bonsai trees.
Diseases and pest of Desert rose bonsai tree
Adenium trees are prone to few pest infestations.
Mealybugs and spider mites are the most common problems but can be treated with common remedies.
When the bonsai is grown indoors or in greenhouses, these pests are more of a problem than when it is grown outside.
Mites are particularly harmful to certain species and cultivars, causing total leaf drop when they build up very rapidly. However, the affected plants will re-leaf rapidly once the mites have been eradicated.
During the summer, desert rose bonsai trees grown outdoors can occasionally be infested with large yellow aphids with black legs.
Our comprehensive guide: How to identify and treat bonsai pests and diseases is a great resource for you to see all the organic and inorganic remedies you can use.
