Leslie, The best time to Prune is when the plants are in active growth. Not sure if this would be the case in Arizona right now? May need to wait a but longer.

It definitely needs to be cut back if you want a bushy and more compact plant. The main stem which is bent over quite severely looks as though it would not straighten up much. If it where mine, I would cut it back drastically down to where it starts to bend over. My only concern in what I can make out in your Photo, is that any New growth will have to come from a Leaf Scar/Internode (These are the marks that look like an upside down "D" on the stem). I am not seeing many of these until after where it starts to bend?

It looks like it's wanting to start growing, a couple of little red buds are showing. There is an actual small branch that started late summer at about the point where the bend starts, and a couple more a little higher up. If I cut it just above the lowest branch, , would that then become the main stem? And can I root the cut portion to make another plant? Since the main stem is so long, and there's so much room between branches, can I cut it into multiple starts?

I was at Summer Winds a couple of days ago, and noticed they have pruned all of their desert roses way back, so I'm assuming it would be ok to do it now...

My hope if I was pruning it, would be that it would produce a few branches from the nodes close down where the one branch is on the Left side in last Photo. This would give it a nice shape. It will only branch where you see the nodes or little reddish dots that show in photo. Having them in active growth is best, as this is when the sap is running and new growth will start.

You could take the cut piece and try and root it. With it being bent like it is you would not want the cutting bent over, so could try a couple.

The Farmer's Almanac: Gardening by the Moon Calendar shows Feb pruning dates for the USA as Feb 13, 14, 17, 18. If you did not prune today, I'd wait until the 17th.

If your temps are not yet 70 degrees F overnight, your adenium will not be actively growing. They are tropical and go dormant when the weather falls under 70. If you have overnight temps falling into the 40s, I recommend placing the tree in your garage where it's warmer until the overnight temps stabilize to 70.

When you do decide to prune, cut where the nodes are stacked tightest together and cut at an angle /. This will give you the best chance at producing multiple branches. The nodes are where old leaves fell off and new branches will develop. Pruning activates branching. Dab a little powdered cinnamon or curcumin / turmeric on the cut.

The branches can be rooted but many rot. Leave the branches out to dry 2 weeks. Place in moist (not wet) soil ... The branch has no roots to uptake water. Watch the branch at the soil line to make sure it doesn't get soft (rot). If it does, you can recut, dry again, and repot. Alternately, you can try air-layering now. This will allow the branches to root while on the tree. See this post: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3759660/has-anyone-tried-this-yet#n=63

All the best to you.

- Maria Elena

Just a suggestion: Check out "Tower-Style Adenium" ....you may not want to prune back that bean pole, yet. You are already 95% there. Train a tree-form Adenium...if that's what suits your fancy.

Repot, expose the roots, stake that plant and straighten out that drooping main stem. Pinch out the top ...to encourage branching at the top end...and train a tree. Hate the flowers? Graft the flower-of-choice onto your tall stem. Create the tree/plant that you want.

Nighttime temps below 50 degrees F together with damp soil....kiss the plant good-bye. Grow these plants hot, day and night....and in full sun. Quick draining mix in pot and water when medium is dry. Water should run out drainage holes...and suck in fresh air around the roots. Feed dilute ferts when plant is in active growth.

Your climate is probably fine for growing Adenium...except the low, night temps, are a problem. You've been keeping the plant alive for over 1-1/2 years, so you must be doing something right. Good advice posted on this forum. You'll get the plant you want, I'm sure.

Good luck.