Hi folks.
This is a desert rose that I cut back drastically last year.
It is growing back its leaves and its caudex is nice and
chubby, but I've been noticing brown spots on leaves and
some leaves are dropping. Am I watering too much? I usually
water it sparingly about once a week. On the photo you can
see a one-centimeter spot on the leaf in the middle of the
picture.
David
New York City

Your Adenium should be dormant at this time of year...requiring little water, if any. If you've managed to duplicate it's southern hemisphere in a NY apt. Please share your methods!

I wish. No, Carol, I'm worried that I've been watering too much for an adenium that is in dormancy. These brown spots worry me.

fungi causes most leaf spot .....bacteria causes the rest

too much moisture present will cause fungi & bacteria

that moisture is from over-watering and/or high humidity

also ...dead leaves & stems resting on top of the potting media is prime real estate for fungi & bacteria to thrive

control the fungi & bacteria by reducing or cutting back on the amount of water given
- and - allow air to circulate more freely around each plant (give it its space) and "rake-up" any downed leaves

if all that doesn't work - consider spraying plant(s) with a fungicide

spotting at the *tip of leaves* is either caused by under-watering or over-watering - to test which:
stick a finger down into the potting medium, if potting medium is:
dry - it is time to water
wet - wait until medium dries out for next watering

I recommend watering adenium once and only once every 60 days ....
thoroughly soak the potting medium - for example:
a 5" pot will get 2 cups of water -
an 8" pot will get 4 or more cups of water -
then, next watering in 60 days

ensure whatever water you put on flows freely out of the drainage holes - and never allow adenium to sit in a dish of water

David, If it's not growing new leaves, it's dormant. Quit watering until you see signs of new growth. This might be a good time to take it out of the pot to see if it has any roots left, clean it up and raise it a bit.

I think I'll give it a little vacation from water.

The history of this plant is that last spring, when it was getting leggy,
I cut off its long branches and prinked up the potting medium. I essentially
cut the top of the plant off. It responded immediately, putting out beautiful
new foliage. That was gratifying. But what was even more exciting were the
cuttings, which I stuck in small pots with some nice airy medium. The scions
started popping out leaves on all the bare little branches.

It's because of these successes that I'm now worried about the little
brown, dry spots on the parent plant.
Thanks for all your help.
David