How to Prune Adenium Obesum
Adenium obesum, commonly known as the desert rose, is native to dry climates in Africa. The plant needs pruning to allow the branches to produce more blooms. Pruning the plant also removes diseased branches so that the plant remains healthy. The Adenium obesum plant does not require much maintenance and grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 10 and 11. The plant blooms flowers in the summer in shades of white and pink. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Put on gloves to protect your hands. Prune the plant to shape it to your desired size and remove any branches that rub against each other. Shaping the plant allows the air to circulate and the sunlight to penetrate the flowers. Do not remove more than one-third of the plant.
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Pinch the seedlings during vigorous growth. This will help new branches to develop on the plant.
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Remove stems in the spring that no longer produce leaves. This will allow new growth to develop.
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Cut off the dead stems and decaying branches down to the trunk or the main stem. Root rot is common to the plant. Always clean the pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to prevent spreading any diseases.
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Remove suckers that grow from the base of the plant. The suckers will steal the energy that the desert rose needs to grow.
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Prune the roots when you transplant the desert rose. The roses often outgrow their containers, so the pots need changing every other year. Cut the roots at the thickest part of the stem before transplanting the Adenium obesum to a new container.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear gloves and wash your hands after handling the plant because Adenium obesums produce a toxic sap. Immediately contact a doctor if the toxic sap contacts your skin or any other areas on your body.
References
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