I posted this in another discussion board, but I wanted to see if anyone here had answers. I have a group of adenium seedlings that I repotted out of a community flat. They were healthy and plump (about the size of a thumb). After repotting, I waited a week to water them. It has been about 2 and a half weeks since repotting and I have found that the roots right below the caudex are starting to shrivel. If you zoom in the picture you can see it at the base of the plant. This is happening in several of them. They have only had 2 waterings in 16 days and are in direct morning light with shade cloth cover after 1:00 pm. Any help on how to save these babes is greatly appreciated!

That does not look good ......... can you dump out the contents of the pot ?
and get a picture of the exposed roots and caudex ?

(doing both of the above will help diagnose what is going on - and will not hurt the plant)

Also ...it would be very helpful if told us where you are .... and what the day / night temperatures have been like

Thanks for your reply. Here are more pictures. I am in Tucson AZ. Zone 9a.

Daytime temps have been mid 70s to mid 80s. Overnight temps have been low 50s. I keep them covered under the porch at night.

This has happened with different species that I am growing. I water them with VF11 liquid fertilizer whenever they get water measured to manufacturer's directions.

afraid you have root rot .....

root rot happens when the plant gets too much water ...winter and early spring months are the most vulnerable

might be able to save it by measuring perhaps 1/8" above the shriveled root portion ... then cut off everything
below that 1/8" ........
with that cut - you should be in the "plump portion" of the caudex ....if the caudex is white ....allow to dry for about 10-14 days......

if you see anything that is not white....continue taking narrow slices through the caudex ....make certain it is all white ...if tan brown or black keep taking slices

once all white ...either coat with powder fungicide or cinnamon (cinnamon works really well) .... allow the cut to "seal" itself, aka, harden over ...then place the cut portion on top of sand or other fine potting media ...keep "just damp", but *not soaking wet*

in 2 to 3 weeks lift slightly to check for rooting ....

nights in the 50's are dangerous for adeniums .... add water, fertilizer or both during those cool nights and it invites root rot

I was certain it wasn't root rot since I only watered them twice over the past 2 weeks. But now that you mention the cold, it makes sense.

What is your watering regiment once the cut has been made, the drying out occurs, and it's been repotted?

Your input has been very very helpful. Thank you.

you want the media just damp ... for 2-3 weeks ... sand works very well for rooting .... it will not allow too much water - and when the sand is dry it looks and feels "crusted over"

oh yeah .... add a little warmth .... (might be beneficial to bring the plant inside)

and do not fertilize

wait until you have roots before you actually do a re-pot .... rooting you want fine media ....in the eventual pot, you want chunky media

Ok thanks!

I cut into one of the Adreniums that was showing the same symptoms but there was no black or brown inside. Is it possible to have root rot without the discoloration?

Thanks again!

yes ...if caught early ....

I missed a comma or two ..... tan, brown or black ... and root rot is often associated with a gooey, sticky mess and sometimes the caudex may be hollow .....

white is healthy, anything else is root rot

sometimes - but not always ...shriveled *stems* & roots may be apparent if the plant is lacking water .... but, the watering you have done since repotting, dismisses that ....

another symptom of the plant lacking water is that new leaves may look misformed, crinkled or not fully opening ...but as the season warms and regular watering resumes, leaves will look normal again

I grow mine in a fast draining cactus mix, and don't water until new leaf growth starts in as much sun as is available, and only brief periods of temps under 50 in winter. So far, so good. A second one doesn't show any new growth, so no watering yet.

watering mine in the winter is an all day job ....so an actual schedule works for me ....
during the winter months, while indoors they get watered once every 60 days ...in fact, have a watering coming up on April 19th

Once outdoors ....and night temps are steady upper 50's .... and day time highs in the 70's to 80's, plants get watered about every 10 to 14 days ....when day time temps hit the 90's then plants get watered once every 7 days .....
when day time temps hit the 100's then plants get watered once every 3 to 5 days

water in the morning ......avoid mid day or late in the day

any amount of rainfall ...is considerd a watering day (and a bonus because it is free)