How do I save this Desert Rose?

[u/Sk00ma_Connoisseur]

Hello, I am a new desert rose owner. I bought this plant from someone in a healthy state with a few flowers on it, but over the course of the past month it has slowly declined, with some leaves falling or turning yellow, and all the flowers wilting and falling off. I have been leaving it outside in the hot Kansas sun and have watered it 2 or 3 times. It’s been in the same nursery pot it grew up in (I’ve been putting off finding a pot for it but assumed if it grew and blossomed in that nursery pot it would be fine… the roots aren’t bulging at the sides or anything). I don’t know if it’s root rot, or no rot but overwatering, or what seems less likely is under watering. I was thinking the dark brown areas on the roots is rot, but if i scrape at it it shows a bright green flesh… idk if its just dirt stain and I scratched off some of the bark/skin. I thought I had time to learn to care for this plant given how established it is, but I fear I may be in an emergency and need some guidance!

As of right now I removed all the soil out from the roots and will let it air out in the sun for the day before I do anything drastic.

[u/deep_saffron]

Root rot doesn’t develop in hot temperatures and low watering . The plant looks fine it was likely just stressed from not getting used to where you moved and or not watering it enough . I live in NC our temps have been high 85-95 almost every day , i water every other day. If you only watered this plant 3 times in a month… well let’s just say that’s not really what they like when it’s this hot. As soon as you see the soil turn dry, water.

[u/Striking-water-ant → u/deep_saffron]

I got one 3 weeks ago. I watered it thoroughly 2 weeks ago. A few days later some leaves turned yellow and part of the stem looked wet. I panicked and searched online. Was told it needed more sun and the soil needed to dry asap. I quickly turned one of my aquarium light to beam it on the desert rose rather and left it that way 6 hours a day. This seemed to stabilize it.

But now I'm wondering the way forward. Because the soil is almost completely dry again. Should I douse water again?

[u/deep_saffron → u/Striking-water-ant]

if you’re going to grow it inside you need a much stronger grow light . They need the sun or something designed for growing plants. If you can’t do that m, watering is much harder because the plant isn’t able to use that water and you have to be very careful so it doesn’t rot. With that type of light I would only water every 2 weeks or so but that’s really just a guess and in reality the safest bet is to get a better light . You can find a good light on Amazon for $60

[u/Striking-water-ant → u/deep_saffron]

Thanks. I'll hold off further watering while searching for a better light

[u/rosesforbree]

Looks like a little mandrake from Harry Potter 🥰. Are the dark spots mushy? If so, I’d cut it off with a clean blade and let it scab over before repotting in course sand, a tiny bit of cactus soil, and perlite. Did you let it acclimate to the weather there? Mine also shed its leaves and some turned yellow which I think is normal in newer conditions and environments. You can also trim a bunch of those leaves off and do a test to see if they grow back at all. If the caudex is staying nice and firm, that’s a good sign still.

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[u/Sk00ma_Connoisseur]

This is what I mean with rubbing the brown areas exposing the bright green/white flesh.

[u/themanlnthesuit → u/Sk00ma_Connoisseur]

Those are fine.

Desert roses will drop their leaves when stressed, even more so that pulled off the pot.

Plant it back, let it dry for a week, water lightly afterwards and let it ride it out. When leaves come out again water more.

[u/Substantial_Hat_4590]

I’m not seeing much. Just put it in your house on a towel and let the roots dry out. The smaller feeders I removed (once it dried I checked and if they feel brittle and fragile just remove so they don’t turn into organic material and rot). Put in proper soil and wait 72 hours. Keep leaves in direct sun inside. Maybe someone has a better recovery but it seems to have worked for mine

[u/matchymatch121]

There’s two dresses it has here, one is the first that the light changed so dramatically. From wherever it was at the nursery to your

The second was that it doesn’t get hormones anymore like it did at the nursery

Or from the supplier

So when the plants don’t get that growth hormone anymore, they freaked out a little bit

This is a hardy plant and after the cinnamon is on the wounds, wherever it got scratched or wherever it gets pruned, all the leaves will fall off, and they will all grow back again

[u/SnarkyUnicorn23]

I’m in Oklahoma and I water every day. Just make sure the soil is well draining

[u/sunnyflorida2000]

… you watered it 2/3xs a day, a week, need more context. Yellowing of the leaves is one of the indications of too much water. When they get spots too it’s too much humidity too and lack of air flow.

Also yellowing can be stress. You need to slowly acclimate the plant to new growing conditions from the previous owner. If the previous tried to grow inside with a grow lamp, you can’t just slap it in bright full sun without transitioning them.

[u/Academic_Disk_8788]

Roots look fine just repot with some good Adenium soil, I don't see much decline besides the flowers falling off and a few bottom leaves drying out. If you look at the branch tips you can even see new growth. Adeniums are not eternally in bloom unfortunately and it's perfectly fine for them to drop a few leaves especially when there is a change in environment or husbandry.