When I did my pruning I have done it in 12Feb2016. So the plant is dormant, and it was my first time to do it, so was hoping for the best. I just cut off some off the taller branches, but I also trimmed down the feeder roots, leaving the main caudex without the tiny roots. The reason I did this, I wanted to return the plant back to its container. I watched endless youtube videos how pruning is done, to educate myself and to feel confident doing it. It is a nice funny looking container, makes the plant look like a muscular little man
I needed more soil space and the feeder roots were occupying a lot.
Before pruning:
After pruning
Since it is still dormant, just replacing it back to the container with a new batch of well draining media. I use cacti mix and lots of pumice, tiny little lava rocks, clay rocks, akadama/kanuma japanese soil, some compost. All of this mixed into the soil. No watering done, after transplant, since it is still asleep. It does not need to be this complicated mix, but I just happen to have them around, so I used them. Ordinarily just cacti mix and added pumice is also enough. I have a compost bin, so I always have access to some compost.
It actually responded well to the pruning done, really lovely blooms come July 2016 as we start getting into the peak of our very hot and dry summer, temps in the 100F ++. I was glad it did not skip its blooming time too.
Jun 2016
Jul2016
It really taught me a lot, how this plant behaves, the timing when to do the pruning and giving it as much direct sun and heat during the hot and dry months, to get as much blooms.
Patience will be your friend while you wait for the plant to wake up. Year to year it is different. Sometimes it wakes up early but last year it was really late, but once awake and conditions optimal to its needs, it blooms and grows quite well.
