At least Im not the only one. I looked at the cuttings today and they dont look good. Im going to cut a little farther back and hope that there is at least a tiny bit of life. I wont get another one until I know what went wrong!
-Alex

Alex, if I read Laura correctly on another thread, she said she waters her dormant DRs more than her dormant plumerias in winter. Check her recent post on her overwintered plants waking up, near the bottom of the page. I don't have much experience with them myself. Laura's look like she knows how to care for them.

I haven't done it myself, but my mom told me that you root DR cuttings just like plumeria. Wait for the callus and then just stick them in soil. Hope you can salvage something!

Here is a link that might be useful: loveplants2 post

That is the post I was referring to.Laura's DR are definitely green! I did water mine, several tmes during the month, more so than my plumerias. Frustrating! I am guessing Mike and I would welcome suggestions! Jennifer

Her desert roses look a little moist and very healthy, so thats probably what I did wrong! I feel bad because it made such beautiful white blooms. I got it at a local nursery and I guess I will be giving them a try again this summer because I really love their blooms!
Thanks for the advice!
-Alex

Hello Everyone,

Hi Alex....I just saw your post of your DR....SOrry to hear the bad news...Is the Caudex rotten as well?
I have never rooted a DR...don't know if it roots like the Plumeria...I have heard mixed things about rooting DRs (like they are very difficult to root).

It sounds like it needed a little more water...I think that alot of people leave them alone...I do probably watch more than I should...but I feel like I would rather give a little more than less...but when I do give water...it's only maybe a 1/2 cup.

I hope that you can cut it back and wait and see...post a pic...that will help...I know that you really liked this white one...I'm so sorry..I hope that it pulls through for you...

Please let us know...

Take care everyone,

Laura in VB

Unfortunately the entire base is completely rotten. The cuttings I took are also showing signs of rot. Dont change the way you care for yours Laura, you are doing a great job! Apparently neglect isnt the way to go with Desert Roses, or at least not complete neglect. My plumerias are asking for a ton of water lately too, especially the one I have blooming which I have to soak 2 times a week now to keep it from wilting! My guess is it needed more water. But the base wasnt shriveled and it rotted pretty suddenly (or at least I didnt notice it). My next desert rose is going to be by a sunny window during the winter and watered more frequently (but still allowed to dry out). I wont buy it until the summer so at least it has a few months of weather to enjoy!
Thanks!
-Alex

You know when I think of it, I was watering my DR like the plumerias, a little more so, I just now realized I forgot how small the pot was, and that it was left way too long between waterings. I cut off the stems, it was difficult because they were so mushy and pulpy. Wll have to wait and see! Mine has red with white blossoms. So pretty! Thanks Laura. Good luck Alex!

Jennifer

Thanks Jennifer. The pot on my desert rose was EXTREMELY small and the soil in the pot was so high up that even when it did get watered, the water never soak in too much. I definitely think the lack of water is what killed it and I'll have to try them again! I hope your desert rose makes it. If the Caudex is nice and healthy then it will have no problems!
-Alex

So I had the same problem with my Dr today so I researched how to propagate but one Guy said said if you propagate from cuttings the don't get the fat cuadex does anyone know about this? Please help I don't want to loose my beautiful DR and I do want the big cuadex it was my favorite part!

GAgirl,
I read that you getting a bigger caudex faster with seeds, that it takes longer with cuttings.
Not that it won't have a nice caudex from cuttings, but it takes longer.
So do it, you have nothing to loose anyway.

Michael grows his desert roses, from seeds that he buys from Thailand, and other countries. He starts the seeds in cold frame storage units that he builds himself. I had never even heard of them before seeing his, he has at least 20 of them. Michael is from Germany, and loves growing everything. Every time I go to his house, I come home with loads of vegetables , and plants. He sells his desert roses at Rockport Market Days, which is once a month. He sells out within 4 hrs hundreds of $5 and $10 desert roses. I have helped him when he gets swamped, and he needs to bring out more plants from his vehicle. He has grafted desert roses for me, from his treasured plants. He only does grafts, and not cuttings. Barbra

I have my desert rose in a clay pot.. I do not water it until it is dry about an inch down. And cut back on water in winter. It is in a south window and gets lots of light in the winter. It goes out on my covered front facing south after all chance of frost is over. It loses some leaves in winter. I have had it for three or four years. I took a cutting alert it dry out on the end put in spot of regular miracle grow potting soil and it has started putting on leaves.. I would love to try planting from seeds.. My cutting even got water logged and started to turn mushy on the end and I cut it off jammed it back in soil and it started leafing out again. I think over watering is what kills most cactus roses.. I also fertilize with mirical grow and alter with blooms fertilizer in summer.

I had two DR that suddenly had rotting calyx, I felt the excessive rain it was exposed to caused the rot. I scraped the rot away, placed them in an area with better sun and air, the bad spot dried the remaining calyx apparently is enough to supply the plants needs and that was two years ago, all is well and thriving

DRs can be tricky. Some water, but not too much in winter. And warm and sunny temps in winter.

Then in Spring SLOWLY increase water as it begins to stir. Eventually when outside in full growth mode, I think it probably can't be overwatered easily. Reduce watering again as you move into Fall.

I've lost many of these, and it seems the best luck was keeping them in a warm sunny spot over winter with some water. Cooler, darker locations and I've lost them.

Plumerias are much easier!