If you want your desert rose to have a better-looking caudex and to burst with blooms, pruning after the flowering period is key.

Desert rose (Adenium obesum) - hearing this name, many people assume it is a kind of rose, but it is actually a very striking succulent, because it has a swollen caudex, and with good care its caudex will grow as thick and shapely as a bonsai ficus, giving it great ornamental value.

The flowering period of the desert rose runs from May to December. Nowadays many people like to grow desert roses at home, but if you want your desert rose to bloom more and have a thick, sturdy caudex, pruning after flowering is very important. If the branches are left to grow wild without pruning after the flowering period, not only will it be difficult to bloom next time, but the ornamental value as a bonsai will also suffer.

After the flowering period, cut off the branches that have grown too thin and too long, so that nutrients are concentrated and not taken away by excess branches. Also, pruning the side shoots is very important, so that nutrients are concentrated in the main branches and the caudex, making them thick and sturdy, and steering the overall shape in the direction you want it to grow. So this is also an essential step in pruning desert roses. Also, if there are poorly growing or rotten branches and buds, they must be cut off without hesitation. Only then can you grow a desert rose with a beautiful shape.

Now let's talk about how to prune. First, it is recommended to use a scalpel or utility knife for pruning, because a thin blade is less likely to damage the wound. But remember, the knife must be disinfected first. (As for the disinfection method, decide for yourself - alcohol, high temperature, whatever you like! Everyone knows this!) Now you need to shorten the branches that have grown too long; do not keep them too long, because if they are too long, the side shoots will grow and bend or break the branches later. So just cut about 10 cm above the root. Make the cut clean, so as not to cause too much damage to the cut surface.

If you want the caudex of your desert rose to have high ornamental value and to burst with blooms, pruning after the flowering period is key.

Cut off all the long branches; you can temporarily keep the small branches. Keeping some leaves makes photosynthesis easier, so the nodes on the branches can quickly grow new shoots. After some new shoots have grown, then decide whether to cut off the previous small branches. After cutting, the wound will ooze some sap; remember to wipe the sap away and let the wound dry. Then apply carbendazim to prevent the wound from becoming infected.

After finishing, move the plant to a cool, ventilated place. Remember, you must not water it, and it must not be exposed to sunlight; wait until the wound has healed. Once the wound has healed, you can give it two hours of sun a day, and once new shoots have grown, you can return to the original full sun.

If you want the caudex of your desert rose to have high ornamental value and to burst with blooms, pruning after the flowering period is key.