Content:
Adenium translated from different languages means "desert rose". And this is not surprising, because the flower is actually incredibly beautiful. Also, the plant is familiar to many as the star of Sabinia or the impala lily. In nature, adenium can be seen in the Arabian Peninsula, Kenya, Senegal and Sudan. The world learned about its existence thanks to the researchers D. Romer and D. Schultz, who discovered this plant in Yemen.
Features of appearance
Desert rose is a flower that belongs to arboreal or shrubby succulents of the Kutrov family. This is an unusual plant, as it has a wide bottom (caudex) and original flowers, which are famous for white-pink and red shades.
There are dwarf species that barely reach 30 cm in height, and there are also real giants 5 m high and 2.5 m wide.
Adenium dwarf
In nature, the tree looks bare and unattractive most of the time. But everything changes approximately at the time when winter begins in Russian latitudes. The desert flower seems to be reincarnating: leaves appear on it and flowers bloom.
The roots of the plant are very thick and often intertwine above the ground.
Characteristics of species and varieties of crops
To date, botanists have not come to a consensus and cannot accurately answer how many species of adenium actually exist.
One thing is clear that the most famous representatives among them are:
- Arabicum. His homeland is the Arabian Peninsula. The peculiarity of this plant is that it has an unusual brown color of the trunk, as well as large leaves. If the tree lacks moisture, then its caudex will become thin, like a normal shrub.
- Obesum reaches a width of 1 m, and can grow up to 3 m in height.The plant has large attractive flowers with a diameter of about 7 cm.
- Multi-flowered. This species, as the name implies, is famous for its abundant flowering. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the plant is able to accumulate a lot of moisture in its stem. In natural conditions, it can grow up to 3 m.
- Mini. This dwarf species is very similar to bonsai. The flower grows slowly and in 5 years it can barely reach 20 cm. Nothing can influence the rate of its growth. Flowering begins at 2-3 years old and lasts for a whole year. This property is characteristic only of the Mini variety, other types of adenium are not capable of this.
Adenium flowers: growing, reproduction
Desert rose is a flower, care and planting for which will not be difficult. For her, first of all, it is important to choose the right pot, since the roots of the plant grow very quickly. Therefore, the capacity must be wide, but shallow, otherwise the earth in it will turn sour. In addition, the pot must be chosen white so that the roots do not overheat in the sun, and the plant does not die. Drainage with a thickness of about 3 cm should be poured onto the bottom.
Adenium grows very quickly, so it must be transplanted. This is done in the spring, when the plant has a period of active growth.
The soil that is intended for a desert rose should be loose and airy. The flower also cannot stand high acidity. The best option for him would be an orchid substrate, to which wood ash or coconut fiber is added.
Flower propagation
The desert rose can reproduce in 3 ways:
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- air layering.
Cuttings are taken in the spring when the tree is pruned. Their length should be about 10 cm. The cut is sprinkled with charcoal and dried. After that, they are planted in the soil and placed in a lighted place. Rooting should be successful after 1 month.
As for the seeds, they are first soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate, and then dipped in zircon. After a few hours, the seeds are planted in a mixture of sand, charcoal and vermiculite. Then they are placed in a warm place, and after emergence, additional lighting is provided.
Desert rose care at home
Since the flower lives in Africa, it is accustomed to a temperature of 30-35 ° C, and therefore it should be placed on the windows that face the south side. And if the temperature in the room rises to 38 ° C, care should be taken to increase the humidity.
However, the bright rays of the sun can also harm the plant. To avoid burns, you should:
- do not rotate the adenium if it has begun a growth period, otherwise areas that were in the shade may suffer;
- cover the tree trunk below if the plant is young;
- gradually accustom the sprout to the sun.
In winter, the daylight hours are increased to 12 hours using a special lamp.
If it is hot outside, the flower is watered more often, but if the temperature drops to 20 ° C, then you need to wait until the soil is completely dry, and then just water it. Well, if in winter the temperature drops to 15 ° C, watering is stopped altogether.
The tree also needs feeding, which is applied 1-2 times a month. In the spring, during the growth period, fertilization with nitrogen will be useful, and during the flowering period, phosphorus-potassium fertilization.
A desert rose needs pruning. It makes it possible to form a beautiful and lush crown. The seedlings are pinched before the start of growth, the branches are shortened for adult trees by 5-7 cm.
Major diseases and pests
Adenium, like many flowers, is susceptible to attacks by various pests and diseases. The most common ones are shown in the table below.
| Name | Signs of the disease | Drugs for struggle and treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Caudex rot | The trunk becomes soft and covered with black spots. | Only a cut of the root above the rotten part will help (watering is stopped for 2 weeks and the plant is transplanted into a new container.) |
| Aphid | The appearance of insects causes the leaves to wilt. | Will help aktellik, aktofit, ratibor. |
| Mealybug | On the surface of the plant, you can see tiny white dots that resemble cotton wool. | You can use aktara, fitoverm. |
| Root worm | The flower develops slowly and looks unhealthy, and white bloom can be found on the roots. | Actar, regent are recommended. |
| Bacterial burns | Brown spots appear on the leaves. | Spray with Baikal-em and treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate. |
| Viral diseases | The foliage becomes stained and the plant deforms. | The affected flower must be urgently destroyed so that other plants do not become infected. |
| Spider mite | The first signal of its appearance is a small cobweb on the branches of a rose. | Talstar, aktofit will help in the fight. |
In general, caring for a desert rose is not at all difficult.With a little effort, you can create a beautiful corner in your home that will remind you of hot and at the same time exciting Africa.
