Hi, I've just joined this group and hope someone might answer my question please. This desert rose was a gift and I'm guessing it's from a cutting as it has no caudex. I know it's in the wrong sized pot but what should I do with it? Cut it right back? To what 2", 4" or taller? Any useful suggestions much appreciated. Thanks.

@Pye the deep red color is beautiful!!

I'm still learning to grow adeniums so I am not the best person to respond to your question. But other more experienced members here will soon respond.

If it is my adenium, I would wait until the bloom is done to cut it but I might repot to smaller pot. You might get seedpods from your blooms and then you can grow your own seedlings that will have caudex.

P.S. you can also stake it since it is too heavy! Wish mine will bloom like that!

@GigiPlumeria


wait for flowering to end ....let flowers fall away freely .... then allow about a week to pass to see if any seed pods form at the ends of stems ...

to make your cutting "less Lanky" and encourage the stem to be thicker, more "trunk like" ....cut current stem just above where it starts to bend

this new cut will force 1 to 5 new stems to emerge ...... you want as many new stems to make it, as flower buds form at the ends of stem tips

as new stems emerge, pinch out leaves that shade out, or crowd other leaves

I would repeat the cutting (cut the top off) once every 2-3 years

Pye,
That's a beautiful red flower.
You might consider obtaining a seedling which will develop a nice caudex and grafting the stem cutting on to the seedling.

Keeping my fingers crossed that @Pye will get a seedpod.

2ManyPlants said:Pye,
That's a beautiful red flower.
You might consider obtaining a seedling which will develop a nice caudex and grafting the stem cutting on to the seedling.

@2manyplants

How to obtain a seedling from the plant ?

Aashna said:

@2manyplants

How to obtain a seedling from the plant ?

Mine self pollinated but Here's info about hybridizing

https://garden.org/thread/view...

Aashna said:

@2manyplants

How to obtain a seedling from the plant ?

I meant grow or buy a new common seedling, chop his top off and replace it with a small piece of your beautiful Red seedling.
This new plant will have the same beautiful flowers and a large caudex when it grows up. You will also still have your of original Red seedling.
Just an idea.

2ManyPlants said:

I meant grow or buy a new common seedling, chop his top off and replace it with a small piece of your beautiful Red seedling.
This new plant will have the same beautiful flowers and a large caudex when it grows up. You will also still have your of original Red seedling.
Just an idea.
:hogrin:

@2manyplants

I thought if I don't remove the spent flowers then only the plant will make seedling 😀

GigiPlumeria said:
Mine self pollinated but Here's info about hybridizing

https://garden.org/thread/view...

Thanks @gigiplumeria will check.