Hello,

I wrote to the greenhouse I purchased this desert rose from, to confirm there was something wrong. They said that it most likely had mosaic disease. I know this is a virus. I have about 100 other indoor plants and fungus gnats. Do I need to kill this plant to keep the rest healthy?
Thank you, Kirsten

I agree, it looks like Mosaic but Mosaic is a virus and is incurable. Your best option is to seal it, pot and all, in a plastic bag and drop it into the garbage can. If it came with the Mosaic, I would ask for a refund and not buy from that nursery again. If it developed after you received it, you have a problem.

Mosaic could probably be spread by fungus gnats as any insect feeding on the plant or living in the soil can spread the virus.

The horticulturist seemed to think it wasn't a problem unless I had other desert roses. Would that particular virus be species specific? I know mosaic disease is caused by numerous viruses.
I agree I'm worried about the other plants. I did a very careful cleaning on them Sunday. I didn't see any evidence on any other plants and I'm working on gnat control. I keep that plant in particular pretty dry.

Multiple Mosaic viruses affect desert roses. Just glancing online the two biggies are tabacco mosaic and cucumber mosaic. Those viruses spread VERY easily to many plants. Discard the plant and keep a careful eye on the rest of them.

Tabacco mosaic in particular is often spread by someone smoking raw tabacco (like rolling their own). This is a likely vector for the initial infection in a greenhouse. Don't buy from them again.

edit: just in case, wash your hands between handling plants and isolate/sterilize your tools.

This sucks. This is from a super reputable greenhouse in CT. Wow.

Thank you.

@DammitJanet any update? I was looking for pictures of desert roses in NGA that shows mosaic virus and yours seem to be the only one that is confirmed. I referenced this thread in the Adenium Forum in the hope of helping other members spot what it looks like and not mistakenly think they are buying a variegated desert rose.

May I use your first picture as a thumbnail for the MV thread in the Adenium forum? My desert roses that I suspect has MV are showing normal leaf growth patterns after I isolate, cut back the branches and let it grow back.