Temperatures dropping to 40 degrees signal it is time to bring indoors favorite plants that have been growing on the patio all summer. Plants that need to be brought indoors are those that are damaged when temperatures dip below 40 degrees and those that cannot survive freezing temperatures like today’s featured plant, the desert rose.

Here are some tips before bringing plants indoors for the winter.  

• Check for and discard diseased or rotting leaves. Inspect for bugs in the soil, on foliage, and bottoms of pots before bringing them in. Clean off spider webs and egg cases.

• After a summer of watering pots may have a white residue that indicates salt accumulation; clean pots with clear water before bringing indoors.

• Give leaves a fresh luster by washing off dust with tepid soapy water, rinse with clear water then dry with a soft cloth. Never polish leaves with butter or oily products as these plug the tiny stomata that are essential for photosynthetic activity.

• Patio plants have been growing in strong light all summer so place them in east, west, or south exposures with strong light.

Now the featured plant, desert rose, a succulent that makes a terrific winter houseplant.

The desert rose is a charming flowering succulent that thrives on summer patios. Give them bright light and warm temperatures and desert roses will delight indoor gardeners all winter. As succulents desert roses do well in dry soils and do not require a lot of maintenance, a prime attribute for an indoor houseplant.

Desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a South African shrub with a swollen, succulent stem. The origin of its scientific name comes from its provenance close to the desert with a floral display that is as red as a rose. Because desert roses are sturdy strong plants that can survive unfavorable environments their flower language expresses “be strong and love, never give up until death” (theplantaide.com).

Desert roses are used as bonsais because of their short stocky growth habit and thick trunk. Botanically the trunk is called a caudex . A caudex serves as a water storage system, widening and swelling with age; fat trunks indicate healthy plants. The caudex tapers to a spreading canopy that bears large trumpet-shaped blossoms.

Desert roses are sensitive to overwatering and grow best in dry soils. Before bringing in a desert rose from outside check the soil. If soil has become water-logged repot in a light, well-drained potting media amended with sand and perlite.  

The accompanying photo of a blooming desert rose was taken by friend and Lubbock A-J reader Helen M. of Lubbock. Give a desert rose bright light, warmth, and dry soil and they will bring months of winter enjoyment.

Ellen Peffley taught horticulture at the college level for 28 years, 25 of those at Texas Tech, during which time she developed two onion varieties. She is now the sole proprietor of From the Garden, a market garden farmette. You can email her at gardens@suddenlink.net