Hello! I am your Adenium obesum, often called a Desert Rose. From my perspective, repotting is a significant life event. I need this when my roots have completely filled my current pot, often visible as roots circling the surface or emerging from the drainage holes. The best time for this is in the late spring or early summer, as I am entering my most active growth phase. This timing allows me to recover quickly and use the fresh energy from the new soil to push out new leaves and flowers. Please never repot me when I am dormant; I am vulnerable and cannot heal easily.
The choice of my new pot is crucial. Select one that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than my current home. A pot that is too large will hold excess moisture around my roots, which I, as a desert native, absolutely despise and can lead to fatal rot. The most important feature is excellent drainage holes. My new soil mix must be exceptionally well-draining. A perfect blend for me would be a cactus/succulent potting mix amended with extra perlite, pumice, or coarse sand. This mimics my natural, gritty habitat and allows my roots to breathe.
Please be gentle with me. To remove me from my old pot, you may need to tap or squeeze the sides to loosen the root ball. Once I am out, carefully inspect my roots. I need you to gently tease apart any tightly circling roots. If you find any roots that are black, mushy, or smell bad, these are rotten and must be trimmed away with a clean, sharp tool. This feels like a necessary surgery to me, removing the unhealthy parts so I can thrive. Allow my roots to air dry and callus over for a day before placing me in the new pot; this prevents rot from entering fresh cuts.
Place a layer of fresh, dry potting mix in the bottom of the new pot. Position me in the center so that the base of my large, water-storing caudex sits at the same level it did in the previous pot. Do not bury me deeper! Then, carefully fill in around my roots with the new soil mix, gently tamping it down to remove large air pockets and ensure I am stable. Do not water me immediately. I need about a week to allow any disturbed or cut roots to heal and settle into their new environment. Watering too soon could cause those wounds to rot.
After a week has passed, you can give me a thorough watering. Place me back in my favorite spot with plenty of bright, indirect light. Please hold off on fertilizing for at least a month. My new soil has enough nutrients, and my focus is on root establishment, not top growth. With the right care after this move, I will reward you with vigorous growth and a spectacular display of blooms, feeling happy and secure in my new home.
