Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)

Different varieties of Adenium are similar in that they all produce attractive flowers and also usually produce a fat stem near the base (the caudex). However, although they all have beautiful flowers and fat/interesting stems, there is endless variation in these traits and little agreement amongst plant-lovers on which is the best!
Adeniums in general are well adapted to the hot dry conditions of southern Arizona from March through October, but have essentially no frost tolerance, so must be protected whenever cold temperatures are expected.
Because winter protection is required, Adeniums are almost always planted in containers, and moved when necessary to provide protection. As for all plants in containers, more attention is necessary than for plants in the ground. In containers, soil conditions change very quickly - soil in containers heats up and cools down much faster than does native soil; also, soil water content changes much more quickly in containers.

Light
Where native, Adeniums can grow in full sunlight, and if properly managed, they will also tolerate the full sun. Since we protect our plants in the winter by placing them under artificially warm conditions and under much lower light levels than exist outdoors, we cannot immediately place our plants in direct sun in the spring - they must be gradually adapted to higher light, and will likely do best if maintained under partial shade throughout the summer (20-40%). Exposure to full sunlight from noon to 5:00 PM in mid-summer can be especially dangerous. Under shade, leaves will be darker green and likely experience less damage from wind. Flower production may suffer if excessive shade is used.

Water
Proper watering is the key to keeping your Adenium healthy. Because every situation is unique, it is impossible to give a precise watering schedule that will lead to best results, but a few guide-lines will be given. Frequency of watering is determined by the soil mix and container which you use. A well-drained 'cactus' soil mix should be used to avoid excessive moisture around the roots, but such mixes will require more frequent watering. Plants in unglazed terra cotta containers will need to be watered more frequently than plants in glazed or plastic containers. Care should be taken to assure that drainage holes in the container are not blocked.

Special Helps
During the active-growing season (late-May through early September), application of a complete liquid fertilizer (one which contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) once or twice a month, or use of a controlled (slow) release fertilizer at the rates recommended on the package will satisfy nutritional needs. Slow-release fertilizers should not be applied after mid-summer.