How to grow and care for Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.
plant care guide about watering, fertilizing, trimming, repotting, cutting, propagating Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad., Desert gourd, Vine of sodom, Perennial wild melon, Tumba, Alhandal
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. 101 - Plant Care Instructions
Bright direct light
16C° ~24C°
Every 7 days
water
How to water Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.
How often should I water?
check Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Every 7 days if it needs water when it’s very cold (below 5℃), water less frequently
When do I need to water?
the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry
Light & Location
How much light does a Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. need?

Bright direct light
Grow light
Light preference
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. likes Bright direct light, Grow light day. The brighter the space, the better this plant grows.
Check if there’s an optimal place in your house!
This plant prefers
2K ~ 20K lux to thrive!
0
20K~
2K
20K
Temperature
Natural habitat
-15
8~40℃
45
Houseplants
-15
16~24℃
45
Plants that grow in the wild and those that grow indoors prefer different temperatures. If you grow Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. at home, make sure the temperature is 16~24℃.
Humidity
Ideal humidity
0
40~70%
100
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. prefers humidity about 40~70%. If necessary, increase humidity by misting, humidifier.
Fertilize
Collective Knowhow
When should I fertilize?
Only when your plant is healthy
How frequently should I fertilize?
1-2 times in growing season. A pinch for a small pot.
Characteristic
The taxonomic classification of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. is as follows. - Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Cucurbitales, Family: Cucurbitaceae, Genus: Citrullus, Species: Citrullus colocynthis
Characteristic Name | Characteristic Value |
---|---|
Lifespan | Annual, Perennial |
Hardiness Zone | 10 - 12 |
Taxonomy Name | Taxonomy Value |
---|---|
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Cucurbitales |
Family | Cucurbitaceae |
Genus | Citrullus |
Species | Citrullus colocynthis |
Is your plant sick?
Track what happened. We’ll let you know the cause and treatment shortly!





1:1 Expert Help
You’ll get professional feedback within 24 hours from an expert on our team.
feedback will include