In the Garden
Michael Miyashiro
Desert Rose
As our weather becomes increasingly warmer, days extending into longer hours, the desert rose is encouraged to produce more flowers. There are a few steps to make sure that your plants maintain this blooming habit so you can enjoy the flowers throughout the year.
Water is important in keeping your plants in a flowering state. Although many know that these plants require little water and care, seedlings and young plants in their active growth stage need good water, feeding and care until they become large, fat old plants.
Desert Rose show
Plant sale and demonstrations on desert rose culture and propagationWhen: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29
Where: Ward Warehouse Amphitheater
Cost: Free
The older plants can and will usually be in bloom and probably exist on minimal care, but young plants need more TLC to get to that point. It is best to water your plants in the morning so the plants can dry by nightfall. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of your pots. This will ensure that the entire root system gets a thorough flushing. If timed-release fertilizer is present, this watering will help feed your plants as well.
Plants that are potted should always be somewhat under-potted. Plants that are in huge pots probably will never grow if kept in this manner. The desert rose likes to be somewhat snug and gradually lifted one pot-size larger at a time.
Feeding your plants at this time will help increase new growth, which usually produces more buds and bloom. Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus (the middle number on the bag of fertilizer). I don't recommend Miracle-Gro because of the high salt content that accompanies frequent use. Peter's Soluble is a good liquid fertilizer, and Osmocote or Nutricote are good timed-release brands. Use a fraction of what is recommended and feed about once a week, with plain watering in between.
To keep your Desert Rose blooming, give it plenty of water during its active growing stage.
Prune older, thin lanky branches that produce just one or two blooms, and soon side branches will emerge bearing additional buds.
Don't be afraid to repot the plants into larger pots, even when they are flowering heavily, because this is also the time when they increase in size and growth.
This is also a good time to acquire new plants to increase your collection and have plants that will flourish in the heat when all others fail.
Michael Miyashiro owns Rainforest at Ward Warehouse. Contact him at 591-9999 or e-mail rainforesthawaii@aol.com.
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