Etiolated Adenium seedlings

[kak tus]

So I sowed some Desert Rose seedlings some time last year and they had excellent germination rates and were relatively easy to grow. Fast forward a year later and they were beginning outgrowing their pots and I knew it was time to repot them. Just when I was about to repot them, I had a family emergency and I had to leave them in the care of someone with no experience of growing succulents. Basically these were placed in the shade and the seedlings had to compete for light, resulting in what I believe to be etiolation (pics attached).

From what I know, etiolation is pretty much irreversible. My question is: does the age of the plant matter where some etiolation is still reversible in seedlings? I have seen photos from social media accounts of Japanese users of what I believe to be Adeniums or similar-looking plants where the top is cut off, presumably to encourage branching. Is this related to Bonsai or something C&S growers do in general? (I have zero knowledge of Bonsai but I am seriously considering learning the art - any resources with regards to this would be helpful!).

SO do I cut the top off or do I wait and hope the top will fleshen out?

[greenknight]

They don't look that bad, let them grow and see how they develop. You can always prune later, but i doubt you'll find it necessary.

[esp_imaging]

Relax, they'll be fine.

If you have a globular cactus which gets etiolated and grows into a bottle or pear shape, then that's irreversible.

Adeniums don't grow into a neat symmetrical shape anyway. Your seedlings are healthy and will fatten out at the base, grow branches and look "normal".

[kak tus]

Thanks for the information. Good to know I was just being paranoid.