I'm not sure why the picts came out side ways. Not much editing I can do to rectify that, Sorry!

Hi Dan. I saw your Adenium in the first couple of images thinking...hmm this plant actually looks pretty good! Not much here to do. As I read on I see that the second Adenium is the one in need of help. I am just learning about pruning so I won't give you any direct instructions. I will leave that for the pros. However when looking at the branches and trying to determine WHERE to cut, there are some things you should know about the nodes on the branches. I have another post that has some terrific conversation about pruning, and Martin was kind enough to chime in with some diagrams that he drew to help us understand the botanist's perspective, it can be found here.

It is somewhat of a lengthy thread but well worth the read!

Best of luck, Tracy

Thanks for the info Tracy, i'm going to read that tonight!

Thanks,

Dan

Ok well one piece of advice...I would focus on trimming the branches off that are not pointing upward toward the sky. Getting rid of some of the more scraggly looking branches that detract from the overall look of the plant. But before you cut, please do read the latter portion of that thread where we begin talking about nodes. If you cut in the prime location you can end up with tighter branching patterns that are more desirable.

Tracy

Dan, nice plant with beautiful Caudex shapes. Tracy gives good advice. Giving it a nice shape is the answer.

I had many photo's come through sideways. Sending from the iPad. Found out that if taking the pictures has to be done in landscape mode, not portrait.

If taking the photo's with an Apple product and through to a website and in portrait mode, they will come out flipped. Sending through to another Apple product, there is something that detects this and puts it right.

Rick

if that was mine i would trim them like this,the black marks were i will cut them off, and in time they will grow new branches around that area,

like this,

Hi Dan,

I myself am getting ready to do some pruning on my seedlings.
The communication exchange we have had, and
are still having in the thread Tracy created, is instructive and enlightening.

I have heard Rick say on several different threads to keep
form and shape in mind when pruning—good advice. There are numerous images of adenium plants
on the internet. Looking at pictures would
be helpful in determining the shape and form you might want to achieve with
Lady.

I have an old man myself; he’s a 25-year-old clone (I’m
guessing)—he was given to me 15 years ago. I had form in mind when I gave him a hard
pruning last year. Here’s a picture of
Bilabong: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3036205/may-blooms-gallery?n=39

Nice to meet you Dan, and I wish
you stunning success with Lady.

-Kadie

Thank you all for taking the time to give me advice. This is exactly the information I was looking for. I kind of knew what I wanted to do, however, I just needed some validation. Kadie, you did a fantastic job on Billabong! ;-) looks beautiful and I am leaning towards something similar. Now, Lady already has some buds sprouting on the tips of the stems, do you all think it would still be alright to do a hard pruning now or would it be to much stress for her?

Once again, thank you all for the information and insight.

Dan

You're welcome, Dan--glad we could help. And thank you for your compliment.

I'm a newbie in this arena--other members could better help and answer your recent question.

-Kadie

Ok, so I went ahead and hard pruned her today. I bought a new pair of sharp sheers (I wanted to make sure it was a clean cut) and Cinnamon powder. I must say that I didn't quite understand what you all meant when you said that the adeniums would bleed sap. I trimmed my smaller ones several times and got maybe a tad bit of sap, but when I pruned lady Oh wow!! She had a lot of sap coming out of her. When I pruned her, I tried to keep all of the branches at the same height, except for one branch which I could not bring myself to cut because it still had some nice new leaves growing on it. Call it a safety blanket if you will. I may end up cutting it off, but it's very visible in the picture. Let me know what you all think.

Thanks,

Dan

LOL, you would think i've never posted pictures before or something. I am using an Apple imac, and for whatever reason my pictures get resorted and flipped around. I apologize.

Thanks,

Dan

Looking good Dan! If it was mine, I would prune off the branch with the new leaves--this will force that branch to have more blooms and branches. Otherwise, it would look weak and spindly compared to the other branches that will have lots of blooms and branches. Just a thought.

-Kadie

By the way, I admire the caudex on Lady!

Thank you! BTW, I caved after posting those pictures and cut the last branch. :-) Now cross my fingers and see what happens. I will post updates, she is outside in direct sunlight all day. Full sun from the east and west so no need to turn her around or anything.

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,

Glad you decided before I made the suggestion. Yes, please post updates...would like to see Lady's transformation.

Oh, and I love the stand she is on...so Victorian and pretty. She deserves it.

-Kadie

Nicely done Dan! Please do keep us posted on Lady's progress. I am looking forward to seeing the results.

Tracy

Kadie,

LOL, that table is an old cast iron patio set which is slightly older than I am. My parents have kept it over the years and now I have it in my yard to enjoy with my family. Well, "Lady" actually got first dibs on the table, and yes it fits her nicely. ;-p

Tracy, Thank you for the information and help!

Do you all recommend any fertilizer or any other nutrients that she might need?

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

Dan

Table?? Then Lady must be huge! Unless it's a low table like for placing drinks and things.

Yes, fertilizer. Ask your mom what kind she has been using on her all these years. Also, other members here will be glad to advise.

Yes it's a small patio table for placing drinks on, LOL. I will find out about the fertilizer.

Dan

Dan,

How is Lady doing after her hard pruning? Lots of branches now I'm sure. Please keep us up-dated.

-Kadie