Hi Maria Elena, I think pruning your plant halfway down is a great idea. Go ahead and chop it. Also if you find you only get two branches from the new pruning - You could then prune both those new branches again about an inch above the first prune (on the new growth) - thus hopefully giving you four branches. :)

As for the leaves, this may be caused by too much intense sun. I have seen similar leaves like this on a couple of our plants when we get a lot of heatwave conditions here. (Mainly on our plants with light coloured flowers) It could also be a nutritional issue. This plant may just need more fertiliser if it’s using up the nutrients quicker. (It has grown a very thick trunk, so could be using all the nutrients to do that) Use a good balanced fertiliser that includes trace elements. In the meantime, try a bit less sun and see if that helps. I wouldn’t be too concerned....probably just needs some fine tuning for its personal growing/location likes. Happy growing :)

Thank you, Rachel. I agree with everything you've outlined. This was one of my 1st prunes ... I'm a little more experienced now and am averaging 3 - 5 branches, thanks to Martin (our in-house viking master teacher). In terms of nutrients, I am using a balanced fertilizer weekly at 1/4 strength and a bloom booster at 1/2 strength when buds first become present. I think it's just sunburn ... I have noticed genetic sensitivity to our USDA zone 12b / 13a sun in some of the trees. We are near the Equator and the sun is scorching hot here.

Maria Elena, your fertiliser regime sounds fine to me too. Your hot sun plus extra light intensity (being close to the Equator) is most likely the culprit. Your plants probably dry out pretty quick there!

Have you considered leaving the perlite out of your potting mix? My rationale for this is that seedlings in particular....in my experience prefer to stay moist for longer and with their faster growth rate, use more water then larger/older plants. If your potting mix is still free draining then the perlite is probably unnecessary for the seedlings/younger plants.

Thanks for your input, Rachel. I have mulled over all these questions and considered all the possibilities. Just needed to know if that looked like leaf burn to everyone. That's what I believe it is.

These are watered once a week, twice in summer if it doesn't rain. I want hardy plants, grown hard. These are under full all day sun, and get whatever rain falls naturally. Sometimes it rains three days in a row. That is my rationale for the perlite. It works well and I haven't had problems with rot. I think if they were too dry the tips would get crispy black ... That is not what is happening. You know, sometimes we get rain while the sun is out ... really weird. The locals say it's a sign that "witches are bathing" ... double weird! LOL. ... But that may be causing it also; water on the leaves under blazing sun. Another consideration. But it only happens to older growth. Maybe a repot will correct the issue.

All my other plants ... I have about 200 ... are doing well and are shiny green with no leaf burn. Like I said, it appears to me that some are just more sensitive than others. I have a few, about four, that I just left in full sun to see if they acclimate, but they just keep blanching or yellowing, like this one. I will have to move them to 1/2-day direct sun. It's how I keep my younger seedlings and they are all fine.

Thanks again,

Maria Elena

Hi, Roger ... Yes, they do get in your blood and your fingertips begin itching to plant something after awhile! You were one of the firsts to get me started!! Over the past two years, I have been starting about 100 seeds in spring and always have about 100 older trees either waiting to bloom or designated "keepers." I love giving away the plain pinks to friends, family, and neighbors. I'm trying to spread the love of adeniums. By the end of the growing season, I usually end up with about 100, then begin all over again in the spring.

We are well. You take care of yourself ... I wish you a great growing season.

Maria Elena

Maria the plant u have in the pic is a good example of why u should tip the plant when young i know every one wants to see what the bloom is so we let the main branch grow ,but now i tip my plants at a young stage it delays the bloom but you dont get the large scared trunk and a more squatter plant. Just a thought for everyone:×)

Hi Maria if you like the bloom just lower the fork down to where like it . It could de grafted where you have it marked

roger

brilliant roger!