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I have an adenium that is starting to grow. It is living on my windowsill until warmer temps come around. All of the leaves have grown in about 3 or 4 days- it seems to like the windowsill. I have a lot of questions about care for it, but here is what it looks like:





1. I've read that they must be pruned for proper shape and flowering. Should I be pruning it now? And where, if so? I've never pruned anything before so tips would be greatly appreciated.

2. I would like to repot it so that it stands straight. Should I do that at the same time as pruning? And does it look like it needs a size bigger pot or same size? It is currently in a 3" plastic pot and is a little less than 7" tall (but would be taller if it was straight), if that helps.

I haven't tried pruning, so I'm no help there. You might be pleasantly suprised when you repot, you may have the start of a nice caudex that can be "raised" so you can see the fat part of the plant. I believe the roots/caudex tend to grow to the size of the pot, so putting it in a slightly larger pot would not hurt. Also, when you do repot you can both "raise the root and put the trunk upright at the same time. That looks to be a small/young plant, so you may want to wait, both for better advice AND to find out if age matters, before you make any drastic moves.

http://www.tropicanursery.com/adenium/cultivation.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great site for Adenium care.

1. Should I be pruning it now? And where, if so?

Yes, it can use some pruning. About half-way down or lower should do. Don't worry about the plan not having any leaves left, it should form new branches and leaves in a few weeks. Be sure not to over water the newly pruned plant, since it will not have any leaves, it will not be able to produce food - via photosynthesis - and will rely on it's reserves till new leaves are form, thus requiring much less watering needs. You can treat the upper portion much like a cutting but bear in mind that it will root but will not form any caudex as the mother plant, but will produce flowers and seed. And keep it away from direct sun, bright shade will be fine.

2. Should I do that at the same time as pruning? And does it look like it needs a size bigger pot or same size?

You can re-pot the plant as you prune, but remember NOT to water after re-potting, give it a few days for any root damage to heal before watering. It looks to me like it could use a bigger pot to give the tap root (caudex) more room.

What a great thread!
Except, now I WANT this plant as well!

Thank you very much orion for the specific information! I will follow your advice.

GreenThumb, it's a cool little plant.

I sure hope this advice works. I just chopped the tops off of a couple of very "leggy" plants -- an A. somalanse crispum hybrid and an A. aribicum. I believe the somalanse is supposed to be a tall and thin plant, but I'm hoping for at least two tall and thin trunks!

EDIT- I got confused, I pruned my A. aribicum x obesum, and A. boehmianum. It was the A. boehmianum that was the most "leggy", not the somalanse.

@Harriet, keep us posted!
@ Jolene. Yes, I think I've caught a new bug!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Okay, I made myself do it today. Here's what the poor thing looks like now:

Stick the top in some soil too, you may end up with another plant. (No caudex, but flowers!)

Harriet wrote:Stick the top in some soil too, you may end up with another plant. (No caudex, but flowers!)

Cutting adenium will form caudex, but will take longer time
Hendry

hendryterok wrote:

Harriet wrote:Stick the top in some soil too, you may end up with another plant. (No caudex, but flowers!)

Cutting adenium will form caudex, but will take longer time
Hendry

This advice came just in time. I'll have to do such with my 'freak adenium chimera' (as Hendry calls it). I wonder if that Works?

I am glad to know I may get a caudex on the cuttings. I had read elsewhere that it would not happen.