Author: epic_admin

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Desert Rose Adenium bonsai how to shape your branches

How to shape desert rose branches. If you are familiar with bonsai then you have a head start in creating bonsai adenium plants.  You will need standard bonsai wire wrapping tools and wire. Does not use stiff wire or wire that is too thin which will cause damage to your desert rose branches. I recommend using thick soft (easy to bend) bonsai wire so your desert rose will not get indentations on the branches.

Choose the branches of your Adenium you want to shape. It’s always better to start shaping your bonsai adenium plant when the branches are young. Yes, you can shape thicker branches, however, it will take longer thicker wire plus you run the risk of breaking the branch of your prized desert rose. Adenium branches easily bend and twist due to their high level of water content. The high level of water content in the desert rose plants is also the reason they are soft and can be damages easily if you do not take care.

Start wire wrapping around a thicker branch or truck that is connected to the desert rose adenium branch you plant to direct its growth. Bonsai is a way to make a desert rose adenium plants to have the look of a full size tree. This is done by controlling the way the adenium branches and trunks are grown. You start with a thick branch to act as a brace/anchor when you bent the actual branch to the shape you desire.  After 3 to 4 wraps round the base trunk or branch start to wrap the branch of the desert rose bonsai several times (5 to 6 wraps or more). Once you finish wrapping the branch of the adenium, bend the branch to the desired shape. Check the adenium desert rose growth about once every two weeks to make sure the wire does not damage the desert rose adenium branch.

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Adenium plant Desert Rose flower names and Hybrids

hybrid adenium desert rose plant multi pedel with pink, white and yellow
Hybrid adenium Siam gold dream multi-pedal flower

Desert rose plants and see naming of hybrids is not a science. The shear number of bybrid adenium desert rose flowers names is daunting. If you are a collector of the desert rose, also called adeniums, then you know trying to keep track of the names is near impossible. Combine the names with flowers at look almost exactly the same but from different growers makes even more difficult. First a rose by another other name is not always the same. When growing adeniums desert rose plants by seed you are not guaranteed that the end flower will look exactly like the parent plant. This one way new flower hybrids are created. There are always variations in a plant just like sisters and brothers.

If you plant 20 seeds from the same mother plant of a hybrid then about 30% to 40% may look like the partner. Some may have slight differences and others big differences in the desert rose flower. Ok so how are desert rose adeniums plant flowers named? First, beyond the ones that naturally occur in nature, any grower can name a flower. There is no governing body or agency that controls naming desert roses flower types and hybrid plants. You will fine resellers use the same names as the growers but that there are no rules on adeniums flower names.

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Desert rose Adeniums what pots to use to make fat caudex

One of the more frequent questions may beginners have is how to care for the adenium (desert rose) to create a bigger caudex (exposed root system).  The image is a hybrid adenium triple flower that was grafted about 1 year ago. The graft is right below the last branch. You will not notice the graft line after a year due to the growth of the caudex. When you grow the desert rose adeniums select a pot that is wider than deep. This forces the root system to become exposed as it grows.

Think of a bonsai pot when growing your desert rose. They may be 12″ to 20″ wide but only a couple inches deep.  As you grow the desert rose keep the plant confined into a pot with only 2 to 2.5″ to spare around it (‘2’ caudex use 4.5″ pot, 4″ caudex use 6″ pot).  Notice when the person who cared for adenium repotted it  (above) he exposed, move a larger root to the top of the soil to expand the exposed caudex area. At the same time he trimmed other roots that would have been exposed so the growth goes mostly to the exposed root caudex and to the lower roots

Growing and caring for desert roses, adeniums, is just like growing other succulents and cacti.  Water once a week depending upon your climate in very porous soil and light fertilization if you are not growing in the ground. Desert rose growing and care can be grown in any region but they do need protection in cooler climates.

Image Grafted hybird Adenium Desert Rose tiple flower

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Desert Rose Adenium Obesum bonsai style growth

Desert Rose adenium arabicum growing bonsai style
Desert Rose adenium arabicum bonsai

Desert rose Adenium Obesum can be cultivated and require little care. One of the best ways to to grow it in a bonsai form with a thick trunk and broad canopy.  Adenium arabicum is well know for its broad leaf surface and some what large leathery looking leaves.

Desert Rose Arabicum is know for its thick fat caudex.  It forms a well short trunk yes, you will see other desert roses adenium’s types growing in this a bonsai style, however, the arabicum is very well suited as a miniature tree with a full canopy of branches.

In the wild it not uncommon to see the Adenium arabicum having a very wide long caudex and then a short trunk with long branches. Other Adenium desert roses grow over 6 feet tall but not usually this one.  One of the est ways to collect many different flower types is buy obtaining grafted adenium desert roses or Hybird grow from seeds. Ask what root stock they are using for the grafts will make a difference in the caudex size and shape. The non-hybird flower is like the one int he image shades of pink. Also, when grow from seeds you may  get a flower color variations. Always treat the Adeniums just like any other succulent. Water well once a week during the rowing season and make sure the have the plant in soil that drains quickly.

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New Desert Rose Adenium Plant site growing planting

It’s been a very busy summer growing new hybrids of Adeniums (Desert Roses) triple, quads and doubles. If you have images have images of your favorite please post them with a comment of age, name of flower  and other details Desert Rose is a command name fro Adeniums. There are several sub species of Adeniums but they all have the basic same characteristics.

This site will have a cumulative how to grow, plant, shape, transplant and bonsai  Adenium Desert Rose plants. Look for future posts on growing from seed including different methods of propagation of Adeniums.

This weekend I will work on starting a photo gallery of desert rose plants acquired in South Florida and Thailand. Presently I am creating a seed growing area using LED lights  instead of florescent  top test growing speed and development of the plant. Since I live in South Florida the only time we need a little more control in growing desert rose Adeniums is during seed propagation. Have a great weekend!