Q: I have a Desert Rose plant as a houseplant. It gets a few leaves at the end of its branches, and before long they develop brownish yellow tips an fall off. Also some of the leaves are misshapen. They have a curl to them. I do not see any bugs on it. I have had it for two years, and it just keeps going through the same cycle. Sometimes it has no leaves at all, other times it gets leaves, only to drop them. I have tried less water, more water, everything to no avail. Please help, I love this plant and want it to grow.
Thank you, Janey
A: OK I will need more information to determine the possible cause of the leaves falling from your adenium plants. Since you have tried varying water schedules – when testing a problem you need to make the change for at least a month before you see results because desert rose plants are slow growers. How much light do you give it? Is it filtered light (through a w window) or is it growing outside. What’s it the growing temperature of the desert rose plant. If the nights get into the 40’s then it may be causing the problem. Do you live in the North where you have hot days and cool nights? Finally what type of cactus fertilizer do you use for your adenium plant. Too much nitrogen can cause problems. Also, between watering does the adenium plants soil get totally dry?