Adenium obesum (Desert Rose) Stem Collapse: Root Rot Diagnosis

Ariana's 4-year-old Adenium obesum: watered per schedule, not below 65°F, moved to sunny 70°F office. New growth drooping, leaves dropped, trunk soft.

Diagnosis: Root Rot

• Leaf drop in fall is normal.
• Stems should NOT go limp. Only cold or root rot causes this.
• As succulent, Adenium needs soil almost completely dry between waterings even in summer.
• Small, porous pot essential. Repotting rarely good.
• If not allowed to dry weekly, roots rot slowly, unseen. Plant survives on reserves, then stems soften and collapse.

Prognosis

Once roots die, no recovery possible. Soft trunk = end stage.

Prevention: tiny pot, gritty mix, extreme drying between waterings.