Grow a desert rose bonsai from the comforts of home! With this step-by-step guide and kit, it’s easy to have a thriving desert rose plant.
Table of Contents
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Today, I’ll guide you through the delicate process of nurturing your very own Desert Rose from seed using the all-inclusive Modern Sprout Terra Cotta Grow Kits. Trust me, it’s simpler than it sounds—you’ll marvel at the reward this little DIY project yields. I personally was shocked at how all of the seeds germinated and how quickly the plant grew. I highly recommend this kit if you want to grow your own desert rose plant. And of course the kit isn’t necessary, but it does make the process so much easier as it uses hydroponics!
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Materials to Grow a Desert Rose
All you need is the Desert Rose Bonsai Terra Cotta kit from Modern Sprout (you can get it here and use code ABCRAFTY for 10% off!)
Instructions to Grow a Desert Rose Plant
So, first up, wash those hands and clear out everything from the planter. Then make sure you have everything from the Terra Cotta Bonsai Kit.
Then add 1 cup of water to the terra cotta planter. Set it aside.
Next, take the net pot (the mesh pot) and pull the wick loop up. The top of it should end up about half an inch below the planter’s top. Try to keep the ends of the wick even – this is what is going to suck up the water into the grow medium.
Fill the net pot with the grow medium (the rocks), ensuring it’s half an inch below the planter’s top. Rinse it under warm water until the water runs clear.
(You’ll see I first put the net in the planter, but it makes more sense to just pour the grow medium into the net pot and run it under water. Then put it into the pot.)
Note: Make sure the bottom of the net pot isn’t touching water. If it is, pour a little bit of the water out.
Pop the coco disc on the grow medium and then pour a little water on top the disc expands fully. Spread it and fluff it gently on top of the grow medium.
Then sprinkle the activated carbon evenly over the top.
Remove the seeds from the packet and place them evenly. Gently press them into the medium, covering them only slightly.
Pop it in a warm, sunny spot or in a greenhouse like I did (this is the one I have). The desert rose needs to be in 72-90 degrees Fahrenheit with at least 6 hours of light each day so make sure you can place it somewhere with these conditions.
Make sure the grow medium is slightly damp at all times. If not, spritz it with some water (it’s helpful to check on it each day to make sure).
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After just a few days you should start seeing sprouts! At this point you can start fertilizing it so dump out the water that’s in the terra cotta pot.
Then in another container, mix together a cup of water and 1/8 a teaspoon of the provided fertilizer (I personally don’t measure it, I just shake some granules into it). Then pour half of this over the top of the grow medium (making sure not to touch the plants) and the rest into the base of the planter.
Check on your plant frequently and continue to add the water and fertilizer mixture. Just make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the mesh basket.
The photo on the left is after just a few weeks. Then I chose to repot 4 of the plants. I actually reached out to Modern Sprout’s support to see if this is something I should do and they advised against it. But in my mind I knew there wouldn’t be room for all of them in the terra cotta pot so I took my chances and rehomed them using a specific cactus and succulent mix from Highland Garden. Only one didn’t make it so now I have 4 fully thriving plants.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take for desert rose seeds to germinate?
Mine only took 3-5 days, but the kit says it can be up to a month. Be sure not to plant them too deep and that the growing conditions are correct (not too wet nor too dry and that the temperature is in the optimal range of 72-90 degrees Fahrenheit).
When should I transplant my desert rose seedlings to their final pots?
If you want to transplant the seedlings, you want to do so before the roots grow through the mesh pot. Be careful not to damage the roots.
Can I grow my desert rose outdoors?
The short answer is yes! As long as the conditions are right (sunny and between 72-90 degrees Fahrenheit). Otherwise, you’ll want to grow it inside in a sunny window or in a greenhouse. I have found sunny windows don’t provide enough light so you’ll want to supplement it with a grow light (this is one of the ones I have) or with an indoor greenhouse (this is mine).
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Grow a Desert Rose from Seed
Grow a desert rose bonsai from the comforts of home! With this step-by-step guide and kit, it’s easy to have a thriving desert rose plant.
Materials
- 1 Desert Rose Terra Cotta Kit
Equipment
- Measuring Cup
Instructions
- Remove everything from planter and add 1 cup of water to it (this is the kit).1 Desert Rose Terra Cotta Kit
- Prepare net pot with wick loop by pulling it up to half an inch below the top.
- Fill net pot with grow medium and rinse it.
- Place peat moss on top and pour some water on it to expand.
- Sprinkle activated carbon on top.
- Plant seeds, just barely covering them.
- Place in warm and bright location, such as a greenhouse (this is mine).
- After seeds sprout, mix 1 cup of water with 1/8 teaspoon of fertilizer. Pour half on the grow medium and the rest in the bottom of the pot.
- Continue to check on growth and replace water as necessary.
