From my perspective as a Desert Rose (Adenium obesum), my needs are dictated by millions of years of evolution in arid, sun-drenched regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The most fundamental concept for my caretaker to understand is that I am a xerophytic succulent. I have adapted to store vast amounts of water in my caudex (swollen trunk) and require conditions that mimic my native habitat to truly thrive, not just survive. An American home is a controlled environment, but it must be manipulated to feel like my ancestral home.
Light is my primary source of energy. I am an obligate sun-worshipper. For optimal health, I require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. In your home, this translates to a south-facing window being the ideal location. An unobstructed west-facing window is a acceptable secondary option. East-facing windows provide only gentle morning sun, which is insufficient for strong growth and prolific flowering, while north-facing windows are entirely inadequate and will cause me to become etiolated—stretching weakly with sparse leaves as I desperately search for light. If such a bright window is not available, you must supplement with a full-spectrum grow light for 12-14 hours a day to meet my photosynthetic demands.
My metabolism is directly tied to temperature. I am a tropical succulent and am extremely sensitive to cold. The ideal temperature range for me mirrors a warm spring or summer day in my native land: between 70°F and 90°F (21°C and 32°C). Within this range, my physiological processes, from nutrient uptake to flower production, function at their peak. It is critical to understand that I absolutely cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. Exposure to temperatures below 40°F (4°C) will cause severe damage to my tissues, and frost will be fatal. During the winter months, even indoors, ensure I am away from cold drafts from windows or doors. I enter a necessary dormancy period in cooler, darker months, but my ambient temperature should never drop below 50°F (10°C).
These two factors do not work in isolation; they are deeply interconnected. High light levels naturally increase the temperature in my immediate vicinity, which accelerates my growth and water consumption. Conversely, if I am kept in a very warm location but without sufficient light (e.g., a warm but dark room), I will be forced to use my energy reserves without being able to photosynthesize and replace them, leading to a slow decline. Furthermore, my watering needs are dictated by this synergy. I require thorough watering only when the soil is completely dry, and this frequency will be much higher during the hot, bright summer months compared to the cool, dim winter dormancy period when I need little to no water at all.
