Question

plant   QUESTION: I have no idea what sort of plant this is.  The base is bulbous and then slenderizes as it goes to the top.  It produces small, green leaves.  Leaves keep turning brown and fall off.  I water when needed, have sprayed for mealy bug, none are apparent.  How do I keep this plant alive?

ANSWER: Hi Jill,

Your plant is commonly called Desert Rose and is known botanically as Adenium obesum. The small plant growing out of the soil is unrelated and is Oxalis, commonly called Shamrock. I am sure it got in there by accident.

Desert Rose is a succulent member of the Oleander family. (Note: Oleander family member plants are poisonous to pets and children.) It has a bulbous, water-storing stem at the base (called a caudex). Succulents need to dry out quite a bit in between waterings.

Desert rose must be in direct sun all year round if you want it to flower. That pretty much limits it to an unobstructed south-facing window. The long tapering stems suggests that yours has not been getting enough light.

In winter, desert rose has a dormant period during which it should be allowed to dry completely and kept in cool temps (55 to 60 degrees). It will shed most of its leaves during dormancy so don抰 be alarmed. If yours got too dry recently that may account for its leaf loss, but I suspect poor light and over watering are more likely problems. If you have not allowed the top third of the soil to dry out, then the roots may be rotting and dying.

In the spring, resume normal watering and fertilize sparingly. Flowers usually appear in April and again in September. In late fall, as the light decreases, leaves will start to drop. That is a signal that it is going into its dormant period.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have many succulents and a few cacti in small pots, they were my daughter's.  She watered them every two weeks.  I've been watering them every week. I guess this is incorrect?  I will soon be moving and am getting a plant stand with grow bulbs because my new apartment faces north and gets no sun.  Should I keep the lights off during winter?  If so, when should I turn the lights off?  Or should they get some light during certain hours?  And is watering these small potted plants the 15 and 30 of every month sufficient during summer?  During winter same schedule?  I don't want any of them to die, they were hers, but I've never been good at keeping cacti and succulents alive.

ANSWER: Hi Jill,

How often a plant needs to be watered depends on light, temperature,humidity, pot size and species, so I resist giving calendar formulas for plants with which I am unfamiliar. However, can be more helpful than that.

If the light you are providing is about the same as the light that your daughter provided, then you should follow her watering schedule. If you are providing less light, then it will take her plants a bit longer to dry out between waterings. If you have more light, then they may need to be watered a bit more often. In northern climates, the dry heated air often dries out plants a bit sooner in winter than in summer, but there should not be that much difference seasonally.

An uncovered north windowsill will provide better light than artificial light from a plant stand. Artificial light should be left on for 8-16 hours per day, with 8 being the minimum and 16 being optimum. Turn them off and on at the same time each day.

For success with succulents, provide less water and more light when in doubt.

~Will

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Plant stand is open on both sides, bulbs hung from top of fixture, as seen here:
http://www.buyplantlights.com/compact-light-cart-g22a.html

Most of these plants are in 4 inch pots.  The stand will be in front of a terrace door (top floor, terrace is covered overhead so sunlight only touches edges of terrace).  So they will be getting natural light, just no sunlight.  Do I need the plant stand at all (it's expensive), or should I use it in conjunction with the placement of the stand and leave lights on four 8 hours?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Jill,

I assume the terrace door is glass so that lots of indirect light comes through. If so, then the natural light is better than the fluorescent light and probably adequate on its own. The fluorescent light is a worthwhile supplement to the natural light, but I don't think it is worth the cost shown on that link, although it does look like a well-made, well-designed cart. If you do use it as a supplement, leave it on from sundown to bed time.

~Will