dirtygardener,

W/O seeing a photo. Is it necessary to root prune it. If it is just a matter of repotting it and raising higher than where it was potted prior, you may just do a branch pruning to reduce size and encourage blooms.

If you are doing any major root pruning of the Haddock Roots (thick roots, such as finger), then dusting w sulfur dust and hanging it would be best. For atleast a couple weeks to make sure that the cut ends are callused over well.

I would be tempted w/o seeing to raise, cleaning off roots to check for any decaying roots. Replanting and giving it a short time to settle in after potting before pruning. It is always best to prune when in active growth. With new leaves being produced at the tips is just the beginning of new growth and not really active as yet. If done this Spring you should get a nice flush of new growth and blooms in summer.

I am not a big fan of cuttings, as they do not produce a true caudex which is my preference. They just grow a root mass which is raised and called a caudex.

Rick

Thank you, Rick. I don't believe I'll have to prune a lot of big roots, but if I do, I'll post a picture here to get further advice on what to do. It's been in this pot for 7 years, so it's about time to do something with it. I haven't really taken care of it as I should have, so it's a bit battle-scarred, but I grew it from a seed, so I love it dearly.

I know the cuttings don't produce a caudex, but I've seen cutting-grown plants that, down the line, produce some nice twisted roots and adventitious roots that can turn into a rather interesting base for the plant. Some people don't mind not having a caudex, they just want the flowers, which is why so many cutting-grown plants are sold at big box stores.

Yea, I have a couple almost 30 years old and have never root pruned them. Just give it some fresh soil/medium, and raise it up 3 or 4 inches above its current soil level. Even if its a bit shaky at first it will develop more feeler roots and sturdy itself, and you'll have a nicer caudex to look at. Probably takes a month or so to start re rooting and starting to produce new leaves. Maybe get a slightly bigger pot but go to plastic or other synthetic. They look decent and are alot lighter.

I was definitely considering a decorative plastic pot, because it's getting very heavy now in this big pot. I may do something extreme with the pruning, though. I've never liked the way it grows, and it seems to be a species that doesn't put out a lot of branches or get very full. I'll post pics soon to show what I want to do.

You have to prune the branches. Usually but not always when you prune you get two, three, or four, and maybe more new branches. Then in a couple years prune those. and so on and so fourth. Although they will branch and grow new branches from the caudey when in alot of sun and doing good. Nothing wrong with pruning heavily though, if thats what you want to do. You can put cinnamon on the open cuts if you want, to reduce the chances of infection although I never have and never had a problem. Even while pruning inch and a half thick branches. Youll love a light weight pot.

Sorry, not trying to hijack your post! I just want to clarify because I have the same question. It is okay to repot adenium, giving new fresh soil and raising an inch or two, and then heavily pruning branches (no roots) all at the same time? My plants are currently still indoors because night temps are not above 50 degrees yet. But I want to repot and prune as soon as they are able to go back outside.

You can. The only thing I would watch is moisture getting in the fresh cuts. You can use wood glue or even crazy glue to seal the cuts but if I were to repot and prune at the same time I would leave them inside for a couple weeks or more. And just moisten the top of the soil. Dont do any deep watering till you see some new growth. Just my opinion but I have not lost one yet. I shouldnt have said that but I have had a couple of mine for almost 22 years now. I've seen people pull the plant and heavily trim roots and scoop out root rot then leave the plant in the sun for a month (not in any substrate) before planting back in soil and prune them, and even cut the leaves, and they are fine. Other than root rot from too much water these plants can take ALOT of stuff (for lack of a better word)

Thanks. My poor baby has taken lots of abuse from being moved around so much when I moved 5 times in 5 years. It's been sunburned and scarred from moving, lost limbs when boxes fell on it in the moving van, and more. It's not a pretty plant, but it has character and I love it.

I've decided to let it put out one flush of blooms before I prune it, and hold off on repotting for now. I want to get a large, shallow pot for its next repotting.

If you find a nice shallow pot that is not ceramic or anything heavy please let me know where. I would live a 16-20 inch pot that is wider than deep but so far no luck. The plant(5'tall from the soil level) already weighs about 80 lbs with soil and plastic pot. I work construction and move heavy things all the time but this thing is a beast to move.

abrahamx - I have heard of people making large containers out of Great Stuff (construction foam), but I can't find any tutorials on it online.

I'll check it out. Real premade ones are out there as I have seen them in pics. I even have a thread going on it here, on this site somewhere. Even talked with folks in Thailand who have them but where they buy them dont have websites and they told me shipping would be to costly. I've been looking for upwards of 4 years all over and cant find anything except for heavy ceramic.