Common Desert Roses for bonsai?

[kvan64]

This could be a way to combat root rotting problem in desert roses - train them like bonsai!
Just to share a video of how I did that to one of my adenium plants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdXt4-wfIgg

[KIRKY]

Great tree, good to know about the root rot. I tried one of these years ago I don’t think it liked Melbourne or my handling of it. Your tree is inspiring me to try again? Please share some photos once it flowers.
Cheers
Kirky

[bki]

that's a wow tree. same with your experience Kirky, i tried to grow for many years but the toughest one last only for two years.

[KIRKY]

Two years is pretty good mine didn’t see a month!
Cheers
Kirky

[kvan64]

Hi Susan and Bki. So sorry to hear about your not so positive experiences with desert roses. I think it's all about using suitable growing medium and correct locations/assisted climate for them to grow in your area. My parents live in Springfield MA of the USA and it's under -18 Celsius in winter and my Dad was successfully growing a large adenium desert rose for over 10 years there. He basically takes his trees in the house to winterise them. (The desert rose tree sadly passed away when he when overseas for a few months and my brother did not water it for 3 months and then drowned it for a week just before he came back home).
As mentioned in my video, I recommend soil mix with little or no organic maters. Also shallow, well draining pots are very effective to avoid rotting.
Chin up and keep trying as we all should!
Cheers
DK

[KIRKY]

Thanks Kevin, Brothers are not reliable when it cones to bonsai watering in my experience. I got my plant in winter it was very tiny and I foolishly left it outside so it was my ignorance of the plant that killed it.
I think for our temps I would either grow it inside or the green house especially over winter. Still beautiful plants will have to try again after my new green house arrives next month
Cheers
Kirky

[kvan64]

Yeah, way to go Susan. However, at least since it's Spring now, you may not need the green house for sometime. Desert rose grow so fast from seeds so I would recommend you try propagate some. I was told that the ones you start from seeds will learn to tolerate the conditions of your region a lot better than the one bought and brought to your area.
Cheers
DK

[kvan64]

Just some update. It looks like that it's doing fine with new growth and flowers. I am back to liking single/common desert roses over my double/triple flowering one for their flower size and light weight.
https://youtu.be/SWqkiXO-Jaw

[melbrackstone]

one of our members brought these desert roses for the display table yesterday...the photo doesn't do it justice, it really is outstanding to see in the bark. I don't know if any of you know of "the avenue of boabs" in Madagascar.....but this setting brings that to mind.

122685683_10224401957300732_6062914482782336412_o.jpg

[SquatJar]

nice desert rose,

off topic but how do you compress your photos? They are beautifully crisp for <1mb

[matlea]

Nice slab. Do you know any details of where they got it from?

[greg27]

off topic but how do you compress your photos? They are beautifully crisp for <1mb

High res + low quality is the trick to a good jpeg!

[melbrackstone]

Nice slab. Do you know any details of where they got it from?

The slab was available in three sizes from Oxley Nursery - western Brisbane. They've only got large ones left. The one in the photo is medium sized.

[matlea]

Thanks mel