Alright, folks, let’s talk about my little experiment with desert roses and how much heat they can actually handle. I’ve always loved these plants, their chubby trunks and bright flowers are just so cool. But I live in a place where the summer temperatures can get pretty brutal, so I was always a little worried about whether they could take the heat.
Getting Started
First, I got a few young desert rose plants – different varieties, just to see if some were tougher than others. I made sure they were all healthy and had a good start, you know, no droopy leaves or anything.
Setting Up the Experiment
Then I created different “zones” in my garden. One got full, blazing sun all day long. Another got morning sun but was shaded in the afternoon. And the last one got mostly shade with just a little bit of dappled sunlight.
The Watering Schedule
Now, watering was key. I didn’t want to overwater them, because desert roses hate soggy soil. So I stuck to a pretty strict schedule: watering deeply only when the soil was totally dry to the touch. I used a simple moisture meter to be extra sure.
- Full Sun Zone: Watered every 7-10 days, depending on how hot it was.
- Partial Sun Zone: Watered every 10-14 days.
- Shady Zone: Watered every 2-3 weeks.
Observing and Taking Notes
I kept a close eye on them all summer, checking for any signs of stress. I looked for things like:
- Wilting or yellowing leaves
- Sunburned spots on the leaves or trunk
- Lack of flowering
- Slowed growth
I jotted down notes every few days, just simple stuff like the temperature, how the plants looked, and when I watered them.
What I Found Out
So, here’s the lowdown on what happened:
- The plants in full sun definitely grew the fastest and had the most flowers. But, they also showed some signs of stress during the hottest weeks – a little bit of leaf yellowing, but nothing major.
- The ones in partial shade did pretty well too. They grew a little slower, but they seemed happier during the heat waves, with no signs of stress at all.
- The plants in the shady spot? Well, they survived, but they definitely weren’t thriving. They didn’t flower much, and the growth was pretty slow.
My Takeaway
My little experiment showed me that desert roses can handle a good amount of heat, especially if they get some shade during the hottest part of the day. Full sun is fine, but you might see a little bit of stress. They’re tougher than I thought! Just don’t overwater them, and they’ll be pretty happy campers, even in a scorcher of a summer.
