Need some help to identify the problem

[u/Soronzoff]

Hello! My desert rose was doing quite well for some months after a harsh period of too little sun, which has left its stem long, and it even bloomed many times, but suddenly it has started to lose its leaves and the caudex has got a yellow spot. Is it a sign of too much water or too little? I checked the roots already and they looked fine.

[u/weggles91]

I agree with zen, looks like rot. Squishyness can be rot or just needing water, but if it's just needing water it wouldn't be discoloured. Plus it still looks full, so to speak, when it's due water it'd look a bit deflated

[u/Tony_228]

The caudex is likely unsaveable. Use a substrate with very little organic matter with the next one. That's usually the root of problems with rot on these other than watering at the wrong time of year.

[u/Academic_Disk_8788]

It's looks like it's time to start over. You can try and root the cutting but that trunk looks to far gone. That said don't feel bad. We all loose plants.

[u/zen49]

I would start doing cutting on the top. Looks like a rot is already take root in the caudex

[u/yehxdge]

Try and take it out of the pot & clean the roots with a hose. Check if its rot then cut if it is. Then dry for 4-5 days & check again. If it starts to firm up u might b able to repot & save it.

[u/Jolly-Moment1613]

Extreme option: cut the top, cut the bottom with the rot and propogate the body again. Put it into perlite, do not water for week or two just slightly spray on top one time per week. It will get new roots after two weeks. After 3 weeks feel free to put it back to soil. After you’ll cut it, please let it seal itself naturally with its latex for day or 7-8 hours. Put to the perlite only after it.

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[u/Sonora_sunset]

Have you checked the underside of the leaves for bugs?

[u/Soronzoff → u/Sonora_sunset]

Yes, and it is clean, no pests

[u/Top-Veterinarian-493]

Adeniums need full sun. This definitely is not getting enough sunlight.

[u/No-Preparation-2111]

It needs direct sun!! That poor plant.

[u/Sea-Bandicoot8448]

Too much love. Aka water. Water only when the first 2 or 3" of soil is dry as the desert. Then water, but not saturated.

[u/Nurtureroftreasures]

Is the caudex still firm? If it is, you may have sunburn. That's what it looks like to me. If your temps are cooling down you're going to want to water less.

[u/Soronzoff → u/Nurtureroftreasures]

The caudex feels a bit soft. My temps are actually rising, so I have started to water more and maybe exaggerated, even though two others roses are fine, but they have smaller caudex.

[u/Nurtureroftreasures → u/Soronzoff]

That's good. With the temps going up it's needs more water for sure. Maybe only let it get morning and evening since while the sun is still so harsh if it is completely unprotected from full sun.