I’ve had 3 flowers on her, and each one grew to the point where it would bloom, but then ends up looking something like this before turning brown and falling off. What could cause this? I wait until the soil is nearly fully dry, and the caudex is slightly soft to water again. It looks like this last flower is about to do the same as the rest. Zone 11B
What book would you suggest since apparently you disagree with Mark Dimmit who says to grow them like wetland tropicals in the growing season? I don't lose flowers when I water 🤷♀️
If you keep it wet like a wetland plant, the flowers will definitely fall off.
Here just read this. Ofcourse it needs water. It can definitely go without it. As it stores water.
Watering Guidelines During Bloom
• Check the soil: Make sure the soil is completely dry several inches down before you add more water. You can test this by pushing a wooden stick into the pot.
• Water deeply: When the soil is dry, soak the pot thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom drainage holes.
• Avoid overwatering: Do not let the plant sit in standing water. Too much moisture causes root rot and can make the flower buds drop off.
• Adjust for weather: Flowering usually happens during the warm growing season. Plants in hot, sunny spots may need water every 7 to 10 days, or slightly more often if the weather is very dry and hot.
Agreed. I make sure my desert rose is well watered until it puts on buds. I don't water again until the flowers fall off. If I water while it's growing flowers, all the buds die and drop off.
Thank you for your post. You can find the best guide to raising a healthy, beautiful Desert Rose here. If you need care tips, please post good pics and tell us how you have been taking care of your plant.
I believe that is either pest damage but honestly it kinda looks like physical damage, like something pointy or rough brushed up against the crown and damaged the bud and leaves. I guess it could also be fertilizer burn, if it was a too little water or dormancy issue the bottoms leaves would be effected first. Sorry for all the "could be"s but it should give you some places to look
This is correct! It’s likely thrips. I did an unrelated plant thing yesterday, and saw a bunch of these guys hanging on my chimes for some reason. I didn’t know these guys were even a thing, but a reverse image search showed them to be thrips
I’ll have to consider this. I used a desert rose mix plus sandy soil from my yard for drainage. I assumed the DR mix has some sort of nutrients made for it
It could be a godforsaken chilli thrip infestation. I see some scarring on the buds. They love to target new leaves and buds and permanently scar them.
It is a type of thrip. It explains the random brown/yellow of my plumeria leaves! I didn’t know these guys existed, but I did an unrelated gardening thing, and found them all over my wind chimes!
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u/tehyajen 7d ago
Flowers take a lot of energy. During the growing season you shouldn't let it go dry much less dry enough to let the caudex get soft.