How to prune a desert rose

How to prune a desert rose

1. 01

   Choose what to remove

   Before pruning, wear gloves, avoid sap on skin and eyes, wash your hands, and keep cut material away from pets. Prune branches or stems to reduce the crown or shape the plant. On a grafted Adenium, do not cut below the graft union. Do not cut into the caudex.

   Prune to reduce size or improve shape and branching. Pruned stem pieces can be rooted as cuttings, but not every cutting will take.

2. 02

   Prune at the right time

   Prune in spring, early in the warm growing season. Late-season pruning can lead to short, weak branches the following season. Go by the season rather than a fixed date.

3. 03

   Make one clean cut

   Adeniums can be pruned for size and shape, but a grafted plant must be cut only above the graft union. Treat any removed stem as a separate cutting decision rather than leaving it to dry by default.

4. 04

   When pruning will not help

   Late pruning weakens the next season’s growth, and Adenium care is not the same as traditional bonsai. Cold, wet conditions also threaten the plant, so protect it through the seasons.

5. 05

   Care for the plant after pruning

   After pruning, keep Adenium warm and bright in a well-drained pot, and avoid late-season growth that would meet cold. Do not keep freshly pruned growth cold and wet.