How to top and prune Desert Rose?

Desert rose, also known as Tianbao flower, is a succulent plant of the Apocynaceae family. Its branches are very distinctive, like a thick green radish , and its flowers are gorgeous and the plant shape is beautiful, making it very ornamental. So how do you top and prune Desert Rose when caring for it? Let’s learn more about it below.

Desert Rose Topping

1. Topping time

The best time to top is at the beginning of growth in the spring when the plant is full of vigor and can recover quickly.

2. Topping method

Before topping, prepare sharp knives and carbendazim to disinfect the plants. When topping, keep about 3 cm of branches and cut off the top stem. If it is a seedling, top it when it grows to 10cm. When it grows to 15-20cm, top it again and remove the buds to promote the growth of new branches.

Desert Rose Pruning

1. Pruning time

The pruning time of Desert Rose is mainly concentrated in the growing season, which is roughly between April and October. In addition, pruning is also necessary after flowering to help the plant recover and accumulate nutrients for the winter.

2. Pruning points

When pruning, keep 3-5 cm from the last sprout position, cut off the top, and treat the wound to prevent infection. Be sure to choose a sunny day for pruning to promote the growth of side branches. When the new side branches grow to 6-10 cm and the main trunk is thicker, perform similar pruning again. Continue this process until the plant has abundant side buds on the top and a full crown, then stop pruning to promote rapid flowering.

3. Pruning matters

(1) Before pruning, choose sharp pruning tools to ensure smooth pruning. Be sure to disinfect tools in advance, especially those used to prune diseased plants, to prevent infection from bacteria.

(2) During the pruning process, the correct pruning method and sequence should be followed to avoid causing unnecessary damage to the plants.

(3) After pruning, the desert rose needs to be given proper care, including ventilation, light, appropriate watering, keeping the soil moist, and reasonable fertilization.

In general, topping and pruning of Desert Rose is an important maintenance task that can promote the plant to grow more luxuriantly and produce more flowers. During the handling process, you should be gentle to avoid causing additional damage to the plants.