Adenium obesum, known as Desert Rose, thrives in full sun with regular watering in the summer. (File photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Q: This last summer, I bought a beautiful desert rose plant. I transplanted it into a terra cotta pot and have kept it in a sheltered spot to protect it from frost. Now I just noticed that the thick stem is soft and squishy. What did I do wrong, and how can I keep this from happening again?

A: Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) is a beautiful and exotic-looking plant that actually requires very little attention. The overall form, with enlarged trunk base and gnarled branches, is similar to a well-trained bonsai tree. In summer, simple five-petal flowers appear in varying combinations of pink, white, red, and yellow.

The Desert Rose thrives in full sun with regular watering in the summer. When temperatures drop to 55 degrees or lower, you should cut back on watering quite a bit. Using a terra cotta pot is ideal, since this allows water to drain quickly. Use a cactus mix when re-potting and take care not to use a too-large pot.

If your plant is located where it’s getting watered regularly by seasonal rain, you may want to move it to a drier location. If the soil remains wet for any length of time, the plant will rot.

During the warmer season, when the plant starts to “wake up”, allow the soil to dry completely before watering thoroughly. The planting mix should be moist but not soggy.

Remember—nobody likes wet feet. Especially plants!

Q: I was given an air plant in a little hanging glass globe. It looked healthy when I first got it, but now it’s looking withered and dried out. Can I save it?

A: Air plants (Tillandsia sp.) are very popular right now. I’ve seen them sold in those glass globes, mounted on driftwood or in shells, or wrapped in wire.

They are epiphytes, similar to bromeliads and orchids. As such, they don’t derive their nutrients from the soil and are often happiest when growing on another plant.

They should be watered 2 or 3 times per week, depending on how dry your climate is. Healthy plants can be dunked in a container of spring water or aged tap water. I will often use aquarium water, since it has no chlorine and a moderate amount of nutrients. Make sure you shake the excess water off your plants, since any water that remains in the base of the plant can cause it to rot.

Tillandsia require good air circulation, especially right after watering. Sometimes the glass globes don’t allow for much air circulation. They also tend to collect moisture that drains from the plant after it’s been watered. This, too, can cause the plant to rot.

If your air plant looks like it’s dried out, soak it in a container of water for 30-60 minutes. After soaking, remember to shake off the excess water.

Make sure your plant is located where it can get bright filtered sunlight. If it’s in a glass globe, it may need less sunlight since the glass tends to amplify the effects of the sun.

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