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Normally when I buy a new desert rose, especially when they have blooms I don't touch them until they are done blooming. But what I discovered buying these, some are newly repotted and there are no dirt in the bottom of the plastic pots exposing the roots against the hot plastic pots in our hot summer days. So I learned to just take time to check them and this is what I usually find; roots are exposed:
I would normally repot to bigger pots, expose the caudex slightly but if caudex is too small, I would use the same pot until it is done blooming.
I just add fine mulch and then use the media form the, make a mound in the middle then put back the plant and cover with the rest of the media.
Exposing the caudex gives them instant bonsai look:
Compared to before when left adenium caudex was buried, right adenium was leaning:
I top dress with crushed granite for looks and display in pretty pots for instant gratification of bonsai look:
Once it is done blooming some will be pruned and repotted in bigger pot and well draining potting mix. Usually just potting soil, fine mulch and perlite mixed with bonemeal and slow release. Then weekly weakly but liquid fertilizer while actively growing. The heavy pots will keep them stable and keep them from being blown away on windy days.
