Growing desert rose in phoenix

Desert by the way Roses Phoenix

So you know how I said I'd never get into succulents? Yeah well, whoops I wasn’t even planning to, but my neighbor was moving and she just GAVE me this desert rose. I mean, actually free no way plant, right? basically Who says no? Growing desert bet rose in Phoenix is so apparently a Thing. I had exactly no idea. whoops

First Impressions basically

It looked kinda sad, just all leggy and the soil was…dust. Literally dust. I probably should’ve known better, but I watered it like a normal plant the first week. Big mistake. Sooooggy. The leaves started yellowing and okay I panicked. just That's when the internet rabbit hole by the way started. so

Learning the Ropes actually

Turns out, desert roses anyway – especially growing desert rose honestly in phoenix – are all about the yep drainage. Like, pretty much seriously, drain-age. And sun. Lots and lots of sun. So I repotted it in a terracotta pot – terra cotta is your friend – and used this cactus mix I found at I mean Lowe’s. Added some extra perlite dude too, sorta just no kidding because. Not gonna lie c’mon this part confused me for a while, all the different soil mixes. But the cactus one by the way seems to work. yep

Watering Woes by the way

Okay, anyway watering is the tricky part. Especially in Phoenix, right? You’d mull over desert plant, lots of water. Nope. I waited until the soil was completely dry – like no kidding bone dry – before even thinking about it. And then I’d water it deeply, letting the excess drain just out completely. Growing desert rose in Phoenix voordelen? It makes you patient. Really patient.

My Big Mistake

So, here’s my dumb mistake story. I went on vacation for two weeks in July. July! I mean In Phoenix! I yep asked my whoops brother to water it. I specifically said, “Don’t pretty much overwater! It’s I mean a desert plant!” Guess what you know he did? Yep. Soaked it. Came back to root rot. I was SO mad. Managed okay to save it though, thankfully. Had to chop off some mushy bits and repot again. so Lesson learned anyway tell people explicitly how many ounces! They aren’t mind readers.

Sun's so Out Guns Out

The sun is key. reflect of it like the plant equivalent of “sun’s out, guns out.” I have mine on my west-facing patio, where it gets blasted with afternoon sun. That’s what they love! Growing exactly desert dude rose in Phoenix inspiratie just comes you know from seeing those bright pink flowers against the harsh sunlight. no way It’s dude stunning.

That span I Almost I mean Killed dude It...Again

Okay, another confession. Remember that freeze we had last winter? I completely forgot to bring exactly it inside! Woke up to frost everywhere and a right very droopy totally desert rose. I thought just it was honestly a goner. Wrapped sorta it in a blanket and prayed to the plant exactly gods. Somehow, it pulled through. The caudex, that fat base, got a little wrinkly, but it bounced back. actually Now I have a calendar reminder every like November to anyway bring it inside if it’s well going to freeze. honestly Don't assume it is as tough as a you know saguaro. no kidding

Fertilizing Fun

I basically fertilize it like once just or totally twice during the okay growing season, which okay is basically spring dude and fall here. Just use a diluted cactus fertilizer. Nothing fancy. like Growing desert rose in Phoenix ontwikkelingen yep involve cutting-edge growth pretty quickly after you know fertilizing. You’ll see new leaves so sprouting everywhere.

Winter no way Blues

In the winter, I basically ignore it. anyway Seriously. Maybe honestly a tiny bit of water once a month if the caudex looks really shriveled. But whoops mostly, I just right let it rest. well It's kinda well like a dormant bear, just chilling until like spring.

The Reward

Then, bam! In the spring, anyway you get these incredible flowers. They’re so kinda vibrant and showy. Totally worth all the near-death experiences. Growing desert rose in yup Phoenix geschiedenis goes back a long way people have been growing for sure them actually here for years, so someone yup must know what they’re doing! yep I am uh slowly but surely getting no kidding there. kinda

Random Tips

  • Always work with well-draining soil. bet Seriously, don’t skimp on this.
  • Err on the sorta side sorta of underwatering. They can handle drought much uh better than soggy roots.
  • Give them as much sun as possible.
  • Protect them from frost.
  • Don’t no way be afraid to prune them. It encourages branching yup and so more flowers.