Hi everyone,
Just wondering if it's ok to shorten the tap root of this adenium? As you can see it's almost as long as the main trunk. If so, Any suggestions where to cut?

actually.... do not remove any roots .... instead .... cut the main stalk just above that side stem near caudex

see copy of your picture

find yourself another pot ....a shallow azalea pot will work great .... whatever pot you use, will need a drainage hole in the bottom

next, layer in an assortment of rocks, about 1" or 25mm deep, in the bottom of pot.....

scatter a layer of potting medium on top of rocks ...then set your plant about a 1/2" or 13mm, higher than where it was ...then finish up with more potting medium .... wait a few days, then water in thoroughly

the rocks in the bottom of the pot will do a couple of things .....they provide drainage for the roots, (the most vulnerable part of an adenium) - restrict downward growth of those roots - and forces roots to grow outwards horizontally, instead of downwards vertically

raising the plant in the pot ...will expose more of the caudex and roots - this will give your plant that "bonsai" look

Hmmm.... my problem is that the tap root is so long I'll need a BIG pot to repot it!

yeah ... I get that ...but right now, there isnt any root to cut off ....

The following is a post from one of my threads July 20, 2015.

Rainbow said:There were a few DRs that had roots "cropped" when 5 mos. old. Main roots were cut off but leaving a radius of feeder roots at the base of the caudex (above the cut).


Here are a couple of results...picture was taken today.

~Kadie

Thanx Kadie ...learned something there

Wow, they look great!

Thank you guys!😁
I was new to growing adeniums from seed and was doing a lot of experimenting with them at the time.

Up to now ...my theory was always waiting to do any kind of "root trimming" until the plant was at least pot bound - and - threatening to break the pot (which happens to me a lot) ... and in my mind, (theory) any root trimming was to leave the main root or bottom part of caudex alone ...

but, Kadie just proved that theory all wrong ....

thanx, I appreciate something learned

You're welcome, James.