I repoted this desert rose plant in June 2020. Since then it has grown very tall but the caudex remains the same size. I use a moistur meter and only water it when it is dry ( in red ). It has lost some leaves over the winter ( I live in New York ) but it is still getting taller. It is in a 10 inch pot. Should I repot it into a smaller pot or leave it alone. I am attached photos to show hoe tall and how small the caudex is.

I would repot it ....

never know what that caudex is doing buried in a pot .... might come as a surprise

lift an inch higher to expose more of the caudex

Not sure if desert roses are like some succulents, when grown indoors they then tend to be leggy, as if searching for that natural light. Not sure if it will help that if you have a south facing window that it can get bright lights during the day. It usually helps my indoor succulents stop getting leggy.

And yes, Jason maybe right that underneath the dirt might be a bigger caudex. I read an article that to get a big caudex you have to trim the stems and get rewarded with 3 to 5 stems. I'm always afraid to trim mine. I only do it once in a while and grow the cuttings for friends who just like the blooms.

I was going to say it needs much more light. The leaves should be closer together. I would prune it down to 6 or 7 inches so it will branch and become bushier. I raise mine up each time I repot. That is usually only every 3 years or so.

Thanks Karen, so they do behave like my succulents that do not get enough lights and they become leggy.

Yes, when they are outside in full sun getting plenty of water, the leaves will be really close together and very green.

Great to know. I am thinking of bringing some blooming ones indoor, but I will make sure I move them to get full sun more often.

@woplou you can also grow the cuttings. I hate throwing them out. I had been growing them and when they bloom give them to friends who really just like to enjoy the blooms but don't mind not having a big caudex.

Do keep us posted of your progress.

Any suggestions on whether I should repot it into a smaller pot instead of my 10" pot.
I do not feel comfortable cutting it down. I tried it once on another DR plant and lost the plant.
Is there any other way to stop it from getting taller without cutting it?

move to a shallow 8" pot

repot with a chunky, fast draining potting media ...add plenty of rocks, pebbles, lump charcoal, coarse sand, perlite, poultry grit ... bark, twigs ....(think; desert conditions)

the reason for the elongated / stretched / stems is the lack of sufficient light ...
sometimes, but not always, the plant may be pale in color and bent slightly ....where the bending of the stem is the plants response to "move towards the light" ....
this "condition" is called: etiolated
while not harmful "now", if same conditions continue, the etiolated stems will eventually flop or fold over ...
worst case: snap off

move into direct sun - or more consistent light ....being "near a window" isnt enough .....supplement with a plant light that provides at least 6500K light .....

cut back on nitrogen - use a balanced fertilizer such as 14-14-14 (once plant is getting proper sunlight) and use a secondary fertilzer with all of the trace micronutrients

with
@GigiPlumeria
and
@plantmanager

cutting each stem off by half will give you more branching ...more branching = more stem tips ....more stem tips = more flowers

from each cut stem / branch anywhere from 1 to 5 new stems will emerge

plant will recover faster if: outside, under full sun, watered to saturation, fertilized, & air circulation improves

Important - do not allow freshly cut branch-ends to get wet ...once the cut surfaces "heal" or harden-over - then it will be safe to get wet

Thank you Deepsouth,
Should I use crazy glue on the cut stems to seal them? Can I propergate the cut pices and How?

You're

Some people use wax, others use crazy glue ...i wont use anything - i want it healed over asap ...using nothing gets it there faster .....make every effort to not allow any water on the cut surface while watering

heal / harden-over - if its humid outside - it will take longer ....figure anywhere from 5 to 10 days

you can propagate the cut tops ..... be aware that those cuttings will never develop a fat caudex ...the main stem will thicken over time ....they may flower, they may even produce seedpods with viable seed fertile enough to grow ... but will never develop the "fat plant" caudex

so - cut off your stems ...use only the top third to half of the cut stem ....leave leaves attached ....allow the cut surface of stems to dry / harden-over a few days ......

in the meantime - get some sand and a few pots with drainage holes .. doesn't matter what kind of sand ...do use pots big enough that wont tip over ....

once the cut stem end dries & hardens-over ...... soak sand until saturated allow excess water to drain out..... find a stick, pencil, wood dowel or chop-stick - slightly bigger round than stem ...poke a hole into the sand ..... drop stem down hole ...firm sand around stem ....keep moist but not dripping wet .... place in a part sun location and wait

not necessary but helpful ....to "help" increase chances of a successful rooting ...dust end of cut stem with rooting hormone powder

if it takes (roots develop) ..you will see new growth at top of stem ....if stem withers, leaves - it probably didn't take

leave in sand a couple of weeks ....pull from sand - then give each stem its own pot ...repot in chunky, fast draining potting media

pruning and re-potting is best done early spring ...this gives the plant the entire summer to recover - and best chances to survive long winters indoors

Thank You.

no problem ....

Great advice @deepsouth