Hi there! Soft branches can be from dehydration but are most often due to rot from cold exposure and / or having stayed too wet for too long.

Rule out if it's dehydration first. If it's not dehydration then you will have to resort to removing the soft parts.

If that ends up being the case, we'll walk you through it.

Beautiful flower, btw!

Thanks! It is the higher up branches and only some of them. I have a drip waterer near the base and the soil is moist. Is it too much water? I haven't really changed anything since last year.

When is the last time you fertilized?

I muse miracle gro every 6 weeks or so but have cut back due to drought. Still, ground is moist under mulch and tips are flowering but only a few small leaves. I'd hate to cut more bt have taken off excess branches ans potted for friends, usually with a box cutter. Should I have been sealing the cuts? how?

I don't think the root cause relates to taking cuttings without sealing the cuts. You are in a drought anyways so its not as if water is sitting in those cuts. I think Emily has it right with the most likely reason is dehydration particularly if the plant was recently transplanted or is in a container.

Based on the info provided that may be the best/safest answer for you. If you have an opportunity to post pictures we might be able to help out further.

K.

Thanks so much! It is in the ground and on a drip . I have moist soil, maybe TOO wet? What now? What kind of fertilizer? I have cut a dozen branched to pot and just let them heal. I'm no expert ! It's been fine for years. Should I seal any future cuts?

You can seal them with caulk or pruning seal or liquid electrical tape. I just use brown tinted caulk to fill in the soft center. This is a pruned branch on a Penang Peach.

Pruning and Clean Up · More Info

So now that you are thinking its too wet. Can you turn or plug that drip line temporarily and perhaps rake the mulch away from the trunk to help the soil dry out?

I will do that right now!