Hi, after hours of watching videos for weeks and reading articles I was led to believe that cutting a stem would lead to 2-4 more shoots developing each with a flower attached. Maybe I just haven't seen it but so far I have yet to see a single shoot with this many buds. I want the tree to develop and become a monster so a little unsure where to go from here. Hypothetically if I cut down the line how many buds can I expect per stem or is this just normal (this many buds)? In regards to planting the cut shoot what's the best procedure and when is the best time to do this? I'm in 7b and currently everything is under my grow light setup which has yielded great results (plan to move everything outside once it's warmer)

cutting off stems will produce anywhere from 1 to 5 new stems emerging from the edges of the cut surface .....after cutting the tips off stems.....sometimes - but not always - new stems will emerge lower on the stem

how many "new" stems, or groupings of flower buds you get is anyone's guess .... but, temperature, lighting, moisture & nutrients all play a significant role

7b plants are more or less in a semi dormant state right now .... I wouldn't expect a lot happening .....

you can root and grow adenium cuttings (stems) ...but plants will never grow a fattened caudex

deepsouth said:
cutting off stems will produce anywhere from 1 to 5 new stems emerging from the edges of the cut surface .....after cutting the tips off stems.....sometimes - but not always - new stems will emerge lower on the stem

how many "new" stems, or groupings of flower buds you get is anyone's guess .... but, temperature, lighting, moisture & nutrients all play a significant role

7b plants are more or less in a semi dormant state right now .... I wouldn't expect a lot happening .....

you can root and grow adenium cuttings (stems) ...but plants will never grow a fattened caudex

Yes mine are all under my grow light setup so mine are thriving atm. I just started in November and received this desert rose February 11 but plan to move outside when it warms. Any procedure for cutting the stem to ensure the wound heals properly? Also planting the cutting? What's the best way?

proper cutting procedure ? not really .... some might sterilize the cutting tool with alcohol .... others might coat the cut surface with powdered cinnamon or fungicide.....

but the 2 cutting procedures most important is to keep cut surfaces dry ....and allow the cut surface to harden over (about 10 days) before allowing cut surface to get wet -

the reasons for pruning ...cutting the top off - forces most any plant to bush-out ..... cutting all lower stems off - forces most any plant to grow more upright

on adenium - cutting the stems off - forces new growth to emerge .... this new growth = new stem tips = more flowers

adenium stems are relatively easy to cut ... a single edge razor, or xacto knife works good on smaller diameter stems -
by-pass pruning shears on larger stems

study the plant first ...study where stems are, where they are going and try to visualize those stems 5 to 10 years from now .... eliminate any stems that cross or touch another stem ....

bear in mind - new emerging stems/leaves may crowd or shadow-out - other emerging stems/leaves ... to keep this from happening - pinch out larger leaves .....

plant cuttings upright an inch or two deep.... in 100% sand ....sand *must be* very well draining .... keep sand moist but not dripping wet ... place in partial or part sun ...in about 14 days check for new stem / bud emergence - cutting should be rooted .... transfer cutting to fast draining potting media

Wow thank you so much. When is the best time to do this? After each flower blooms? How long do the flowers last for? Lol my GF wants it to stay up and bloom I just want it to grow. I have 50+ lbs of Diatomaceous Earth, lava rock, pumice, fir bark but sand I'll have to pick up. Oh also when cutting, should I allow the cutting to callous first?

pruning - wait until spring .... plants are outside ... plants will recover faster and will have all summer to recover

adenium take forever to respond to changes and especially pruning ... but will respond faster if given warmer daytime temperatures, natural sunlight, watering once every 5 - 7 days & fertilization

before moving outdoors - ensure nighttime lows are a sustained 50° or higher ...temperatures lower than 50° may damage the plant - freezing will kill the plant

flower buds form in clusters at the ends of stems - each Flower lasts about 10 days ...each will fall off on its own ... the flowering cycle is a little over 1 month ...then sporadically the rest of the year

your cuttings should callous over before sticking in sand ...... find a straight stick, pencil or length of bamboo ..."punch a hole" in the sand .... then stick cutting in hole ....water thoroughly

tried and true adenium potting mix

Mix together:

2 Part: Coconut Coir -
1 Part: Poultry Grit (chicken grit) /or Pea Gravel - (sift out any fine grain silt)
1 Part: Sand - coarse Builder's Sand, or Leveling Sand, or Horticultural Sand - (sift out any fine grain silt)
1 Part: Lump Charcoal - Break-up (crush larger pieces) - (sift out any fine grain silt)
1 Part: Lava-rock – (volcanic cinders or pumice) (crush larger pieces) - (sift out any fine grain silt)

Optional: mix with above

1 Part: Redwood Bark / Orchid (Phalaenopsis) Mix - Break-up, cut or crush larger stems & bark
1 Part: Perlite - coarse

In a Adenium re-potting mix pinch?
Can substitute regular Soil Mix for Coconut Coir

Can safely substitute a half and half mixture of Orchid / Phalaenopsis Soil Mix (mostly bark and rocks)
mixed with Cactus / Palm Mix
(both available in bags at most Big Box Building Stores)