How to Prevent Diseases for Adenium

Prevent disease by keeping your Adenium free of caterpillars, mealy bugs and mites.

Preventative measures can help keep your Adenium disease free. Known as the desert rose, Adenium (A. obesum var obesum) is prevalent in tropical areas but also is a popular plant in the United States. Excessive moisture is the number one enemy to Adenium, leading to rotting and disease. Adenium are prone to fungal leaf issues, and pests such as mealy bugs can invade. Inspect your Adenium regularly for insects and keep an eye on moisture levels to keep the plant healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Well-draining potting soil
• River gravel mulch
• Lava rock mulch
• Water
• Bacillus thuringiensis
• Neem oil
• Sabadilla
• Insecticidal soap
• Cryptolamus montrouzieri insecticide
• Beauvaria bassiana insecticide
• Fungicide
• Loppers
• Clippers
• Disinfectant

Instructions

1. Handle Adenium roots with care to prevent damage when planting. Apply river gravel or lava rock mulches around Adenium but never organic mulches. Plant in a location with adequate drainage to prevent rot and disease.

2. Choose a well-draining potting soil. Locate Adenium in full sun for optimum warmth and to keep the plant dry. Water Adenium consistently but not in excess. Allow the soil to dry before watering again. Mist leaves without soaking. Limit or cease watering during periods of rain or cold temperature.

3. Inspect regularly for pests, particularly in the beginning of the growing season. Remove mealy bugs, caterpillars, mites and any other garden pests on the Adenium. Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), Neem oil or Sabadilla to Adenium leaves. Mist with insecticidal soap when insects invade. Apply Cryptolamus montrouzieri and Beauvaria bassiana insecticides to prevent and destroy mealybugs.

4. Apply 3 grams per liter of fungicide to Adenium foliage once every two weeks. Remove damaged or dry leaves and flowers. Trim rotting stems with clean loppers or clippers. Disinfect tools after each use. Pull dead stubs from rotting branches. Cut damaged stems until you reach a healthy white portion.

Tips & Warnings

• Mealybugs are extremely difficult to control. Inspect your Adenium regularly to prevent infestation.

References

• Tropica Nursery: Adenium Problems
• Miami-Dade County/University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service; The Desert Rose, Adenium Obesum; John McLaughlin et al.
• John & Jacq~s Garden: Adenium Obesum (Desert Rose), Attractive From Top to Toe
• University of Wisconsin; Desert Rose - The Hot New Houseplant; Dan Mahr
• Penn State: Healthy Plants Start Here: How to Treat Common Garden Pests
• University of Connecticut; Managing Mealybugs in the Greenhouse; Leanne Pundt