Desert Rose
(Adenium obesum)
I saw this pretty lady at a Flower & Garden Show in April 2005, and she definitely wanted to come home with me! I must have been drawn back to look at her at least three or four times until I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy her, a seed-raised plant, for $10. She became my very first bonsai!
I don't know where the style of this one is going, I just know that I like her!
On July 4th, 2005 at Bonsai Buddy's house, I trimmed her a little.
When I put her on a turntable on August 26, 2005, I noticed that there was some sort of white fuzzy spots underneath a couple leaves. I tried to investigate to see what the problem was, and it seemed to be aphids, and the solution seemed to be using a commercial pest treatment. The only treatment I had in the house was Schultz Expert Gardener Houseplants & Gardens Insect Spray, which is made from chrysanthemum flowers, so I sprayed the leaves as per the directions, and snipped a few of the bigger leaves.
And here she is after her trim and treatment, looking a little sad....
Great news! Not only has my Desert Rose survived and flourished, but now (May 2006) she has just put out her first-ever blooms! They're beautiful!
The Desert Rose gallery can be found here.