It’s time for your adenium dormancy procedures to kick start. Depending upon the part of the USA you are located your adenium plants will go into dormancy during winter. In some areas it means 100% of all leaves will drop and very slow or no growth until late winter/spring time will occur.
The southern states experience shorter desert rose plant dormancy but you still need to start your winter growing procedures.
Adenium dormancy plant care
First, you need to greatly reduce the watering of your adenium plant during dormancy. Make sure the soil is 100% dry between watering. Water 1 to 2 times a month depending upon your desert rose plant growing environment. Give the adeniums as much light as possible. Make sure you protect them from cold weather below 40 degrees. If you have lamps/lights switch the bulbs out with grow lights to give the plants 4..5 hours of good light per day.
Grow bulbs have greatly come down in price and you can even get LED lights to conserve electrical power costs. No you do not need a special fixture to for grow lights/bulbs. Yes, we have used LED grows lights with success. Make sure you are using a full spectrum grow light
Fertilize your Desert Rose Plant
Even during dormancy we recommend some liquid fertilizer. These are desert plants and in the wild they do not go into 100% dormancy. Use Dyna-Gro Grow diluted 1/2 potency during the winter once a month with you water. In late winter you may want to switch to Dyna-gro Bloom right before you expect to see new leaves or unit you see desert rose plant flower buds.
If you have time released fertilizer hold off until spring before adding more. You do not want to over fertilize the adenium plant during lower water consumption months.
Final Adenium Dormancy Notes
Unlike some other types on plants this is NOT the time to crop branches or roots. Yes, you can repot your adenium plant but be careful not to break the roots. Once you repot the desert rose plant wait 3 weeks before watering.
The main exception to this rule are people in my area where the plants have a very mild adenium dormancy. Here is southeast Florida the plants will lose leaves and the growth will slow down. However, 90% of the time the plants start growing new leaves within a couple weeks so you can crop branches and roots during this period.
Have a great Thanksgivings!
Can you give me any advice for pruning a frost-damaged desert rose? I’m in the Tampa area and we got to about 29F a month or so ago and I was a bad plant mom and didn’t bring them in. They’re both squishy in the smaller, more distal branches but seem fine in the thicker areas near the trunk and older branches. They’ve been in dormancy for a while if that makes a difference. I just want to make sure I’m doing the best by my babies but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot on this subject online. . . And yes, lesson learned, I will be bringing them in any time it gets too cold from now on **hangs head in shame**
Sorry if this isn’t a good place to ask this but I couldn’t find a way to contact you guys directly.
Treat the plant as if it has root rot. Cut off all effective areas. Do not leave any mushy areas or it will further damage/cause rot in the plant.
all my adenium plants are in dormancy, no new leaves ,no new growth, leaves are green, some are yellowing and falling. Soil are kept dry all in pots inside the house, I live in So California, inland area. My problem is one plant and the only one has a soft base, not mushy but soft when pressed, unlike the others, it still has leaves, green no new ones like the rest. do you think it just need water or its starting to root rot? I need your advice please, help!
Check the roots. If all looks good give it more water.
Hi, I’m in South CA. 2 of my adeniums had lost leaves over the winter and recently put out new growth after repotting. 1 adenium however kept all leaves, green, but not doing anything and doesn’t seem to be taking water. Checked roots, stem – all good. Added slow release fertilizer 2 weeks ago. Still no growth. It’s been raining for couple days a row. Should I leave it alone or bring it in to warmer conditions? They were bare root babies bought last spring. Thank you!
Yep – may still be in dormancy.
Hi – well into summer and my adenium is starting to lose all the leaves. The bulb seems a little soft, but not rotted. I am worried it is falling into early dormancy and I’m not sure what to do. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so it’s warm and sunny right now. Any tips are appreciated. Thank you!
If the adenium is soft but not mushy it may be a lack of water. Desert plants expand (get hard) and contract (get soft) based on how much water they retain.
I greenhouse my adeniums in the winter with heater ~~ temp maintained at 50 and above. I was wondering if adeniums need to be in soil while dormant or can they be removed from the soil (like a bulb or tuber) to help avoid root rot? Thank you from OK!
Yes leave in pot during dormancy. Even during dormancy they need to be watered
My desert rose is slowly losing all it’s leaves. Only 4 left. One by one they turn yellow and fall off. The trunk is firm and on the greener side. As soon as this started happening I took it outside where it’s getting a LOT of light. Is this early dormancy? It began in June or July. I’ve watered it maybe once a month. What would you recommend doing?
Dormancy periods vary greatly in the USA. I would not think June/July is a dormancy time in any parts of the USA. September yes for northern states. Either nutrients, water or DIRECT sunlight. Lots of light does not give me enough details. A bright window still may give a lot of light but light strength is another factor. If the plant does not see the sun for many hours then the sun radiation strength may not be enough.
Can I bring in my Adeniums and put in a dark corner in my basement until late Winter/Early Spring, leeting the leaves fall off and go dormant…I’m in Pennsylvania and need a break from plant care … I think I took on too much for my experience level
We are in the south so we have not tried that. The plant needs to be above 50 degrees and we highly suggest that you give it light even during dormancy.
Hi I just purchased an Adenium, and we’re about to go into winter here in Southern California. The leaves are starting to fall off and the plant is beginning to go dormant, as is expected. I was curious, since I just purchased this plant will it be okay for me to repot it even though it’s entering its dormant phase? It certainly hasn’t outgrown the plastic pot it came in, but I would like to give it a more esthetically pleasing pot and I’m not sure if they used the best soil at the plant store. I’m just worried repotting it during its dormancy period will not be good for my adeniums health… thanks for any help!
Yes – you can re-pot the plant in your area this time of year. Remember do not water for 5-7 days once you re-pot the desert rose to prevent root problems. During dormancy you need to water lightly about once a month.
Hi I have dessert weather and is currently cold. I noticed that my plant is starting to soften and I’m worried I’ve done something wrong. Any suggestions?
Desert roses are not cold hardy. They do not like weather below or prolonged weather below 60.
hi! my desert rose is in dormancy with limited grow light, compared to my succulents. is it okay to bring out with my other plants on these warm sunny days? I live in east tn
Even during dormancy desert rose plants need warmth and light. If you have warm days go ahead and take them out when its getting towards the end of dormancy starting in late February.
I stopped watering and brought mine into the garage a month ago when we had a few cold nights (high 40’s) My question is did i move them in to soon and can they be kept dormant for to long.
What type of plant. – PLEASE DO NOT POST IN THIS BLOG. Go to http://www.epicgrower.com/blog to ask questions
Go to http://www.epicgrower.com/blog to ask questions Adeniums l
Hello, I have 3 desert roses that I keep outside in zone 8b (central Texas). I plan on keeping them outside over winter and putting them in my (dark) garage if it frosts or rains, and then moving them back to their normal spot. Is this correct? It’s reaching the low to high 40’s at night here and I don’t want to hurt the plants. My first plant lived inside year round in a south facing window and went through dormancy just fine, even with steady temps in the high 60’s to low 70’s, so this is my first winter outside. When should I bring my plants in?
– PLEASE DO NOT POST IN THIS BLOG. Go to http://www.epicgrower.com/blog to ask questions