It looks so fantastic with its bizarre growth, thick trunk and bright flowers! You just can't get enough of it and want to call several copies your own? Then multiply your desert rose!
How do you propagate a desert rose?
Propagation of a desert rose can be done by sowing seeds or cuttings. When sowing, the seeds should be sown in sowing soil and kept moist until they germinate. When propagating cuttings, 10 cm long top cuttings are placed in potting soil and kept moist until they form roots.
Propagation Method 1: Sowing
The desert rose seeds are available from specialist retailers. You can sow them at home all year round. But be warned: It's a long way from sowing to a stately plant. As a rule, the seeds are capable of germinating well. They are about 1 cm tall, elongated, narrow and light.
Sowing the seeds correctly
How to sow the seeds correctly:
- Fill seed tray or pots with sowing soil (€6.00 on Amazon)
- if applicable Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing
- Sow seeds 0.5 to 1 cm deep below the soil surface
- press lightly
- keep moist
Germination time, germination temperature and pricking out
It usually doesn't take long for the seeds to germinate. Ideally, the first peaks can be seen after just a week. The germination time can be up to 3 weeks depending on the ambient temperature and soil moisture. The germination temperature should be between 20 and 25 °C. From a height of 10 cm you can prick out the young plants and move them into larger pots.
Propagation Method 2: Cuttings
The second method is less time consuming. To propagate from cuttings, you need top cuttings from a he althy mother plant. Cut these either in spring or summer! They should be about 10 cm long and fleshy and have at least 2 pairs of leaves.
So it continues:
- maybe. remove existing buds
- Set cuttings aside to dry for 1 to 2 days
- Fill pots with potting soil
- Place cuttings in pots with potting soil (preferably several per pot)
- place in a warm place (e.g. over the heater in the living room)
- keep slightly moist
If the desert rose cuttings have developed roots and have grown strong enough, they can be pricked out. Afterwards it is crucial to overwinter them properly!
Tip
Attention: Desert roses started from head cuttings do not form a thickened stem base, which makes the plant look so characteristic and bizarre.
