I've trained roots with other kinds of bonsai, but this is my first time trying it with a medium sized, non seedling adenium. Last summer I obtained this plant cheaply (it's just a pink obseum) but I am practicing root training and will shortly begin wiring the branches. In time I will likely use it as grafting root stock or I may just keep it as a pink - it would make a fine gift for a friend someday. Here it is in it's initial training pot which was starting to get snug.

I depotted it and cleaned off most of the gritty mix. Then I trimmed back the roots to keep an overall flat profile that isn't getting very deep. I want the primary roots to spread out and around the plant in pleasantly formed wiggles so I had previously staked the roots into the desired positions with short bamboo skewers. Now the newer roots are coming in thin and straight, as you can see in the middle.

Once my new, shallower, broader pot is filled about 2/3rds of the way with gritty media, I then set my plant back in it, filled in some gaps and then began to position each and every root where I want it. I use cheap bamboo skewers, broken in half so they are about 3 inches long, to secure the roots where I want them. I like them winding back and forth with a few of them twisted or over lapping, spread to fan out away horizontally from the caudex. Bamboo also resists rot.

I forgot to take a photo after I positioned the roots but there are lots of photos online showing how to pin the roots for training. Once done, I covered the roots with a layer of gritty mix deep enough to hide the skewer tips so the roots can continue growing fatter and thicker. Bit by bit, every time I repot from here on out I can start raising the plant a little higher and higher to start exposing the roots so they'll show. Meanwhile I'm still looking for a nice dark top dressing like they use in Asia that will show the roots off better.

I'm figuring this out as I go but so far I'm very happy with the initial results. I will repot this plant about every 6 months to continue trimming and root training. This pot is 12 inches wide by 5 inches deep and is one I picked up recently at Walmart of all places. I'd be happier if the pot didn't curve inwards around the top at all but I'll keep checking so the roots don't get too snug in there. That's key with any ceramic pot or it'll break.