I'm finding a lot of mixed information on pruning. It seems like while there might be 'better' times you can in reality prune whenever you would like. Do you get different results when you prune at different times? I can see how pruning after the plant flowers would be best (seems to be the normal time to do it). What happens if you prune it after its coming out of dormancy. Other than not getting any flowers does the plant have better healing capability?

Thanks,

Ben

Pretty much if you prune as it was just waking up or still dormant, you will have to wait patiently for it to wake up properly again, especially if your also pruned the root zone too. No watering and be very patient. And it will be quite a long wait. Just position in the warmest and brightest area you can provide it till it can re-grow newer roots/leaves.

As you said blooming for the summer season may be missed...but sometimes, it may still try in Fall, especially if it did good active new leaf growth from mid Spring to Summer. It just depends how mature your plant is.

I @tarev

i usually prune either in the late winter or early spring ... the reasoning behind that - then, the pruned plants have all summer to "recover" .... may or may not get blooms ... and may or may not have seed pods

late winter, may be the best time, just because nothing is happening, including very limited watering.... and any cuts are in no danger of getting wet

spring is the next best time for pruning

the above also applies to lifting, repotting or pruning off roots

like tarev said, "patience" ......

most of my adeniums (obesum) will not bloom until June or July ...if I wait to prune after blooming (mid summer where I live) they will be recovering at the worst possible time ....that is ..within 2 months, will start cutting back on fertilizer & watering ..and nearing the time they move indoors (sunlight changes)

late summer, early fall is when seed pods begin to form / ripen ....pruning will remove any chances of seed pod development on that pruned stem

cuts heal over in about 3 years .... will try to upload pics of what that "heal" looks like in the coming days

Our growing areas are so different too, so over here, this plant is so happy with our very high heat and very low humidity during the long no rain period of 6 months. So recovery period for the Adenium is a just a tad faster on my side.

When conditions are way too humid, that is one of the problems faced by some, it easily invites fungal issues, so got to make sure you have good airflow around it.

I have found late winter to early Spring is a good time to prune it, as with most of my other succulents too, since light levels will gradually be longer and intensity stronger.