Hello,
I recently purchased this desert rose from a nursery. Since I brought it home I've been having issues with leaves turning yellow. The soil was already very moist so I didn't water it for the first week. I have it growing indoors under excellent LED grow lights. Humidity inside hovers between 50-60%. My hydrometer was still saying the soil was damp. The weather became beautiful so I put it outside for a few hours. When I brought it in the leaves looked even more yellow. I finally gave it some water with fertilizer. I hoped the fertilizer would help the yellow leaves. No improvement.
My main concern became root rot. My water meter was still reading the soil was wet a few days later. I don't know what to do now. My last idea is getting rid of this cheap plastic pot and using a terracotta pot instead. Plants rarely get root rot in clay pots. At least mine don't. Hopefully a sandy mix of soil will help as well.

Does anyone have any ideas? Is it too risky to switch the pot now? I did lift the plant out of the pot and put some fresh, dry soil underneath. Then I dropped it right back in. I'm hoping some of the moisture will get absorbed. The root ball stayed in one piece. Will the plant respond as if it was repotted? I was a little worried about that.










Here are a few pics. One thing I did notice was that at first, it was only the bottom leaf on each branch turning yellow. Now, it's the top leaves on the branch that are turning yellow. Is that a clue to anything? I also notice that the yellowing starts along the edges and makes its way inward. Not sure if that's normal.

@GigiPlumeria

I think it looks like it may have spider mites or aphids or something. Do you see any webbing? Have you looked at the underside of the leaves?

Stelios369 said: Hello,
I recently purchased this desert rose from a nursery. Since I brought it home I've been having issues with leaves turning yellow. The soil was already very moist so I didn't water it for the first week. I have it growing indoors under excellent LED grow lights. Humidity inside hovers between 50-60%. My hydrometer was still saying the soil was damp. The weather became beautiful so I put it outside for a few hours. When I brought it in the leaves looked even more yellow. I finally gave it some water with fertilizer. I hoped the fertilizer would help the yellow leaves. No improvement.
My main concern became root rot. My water meter was still reading the soil was wet a few days later. I don't know what to do now. My last idea is getting rid of this cheap plastic pot and using a terracotta pot instead. Plants rarely get root rot in clay pots. At least mine don't. Hopefully a sandy mix of soil will help as well.

Does anyone have any ideas? Is it too risky to switch the pot now? I did lift the plant out of the pot and put some fresh, dry soil underneath. Then I dropped it right back in. I'm hoping some of the moisture will get absorbed. The root ball stayed in one piece. Will the plant respond as if it was repotted? I was a little worried about that.










Here are a few pics. One thing I did notice was that at first, it was only the bottom leaf on each branch turning yellow. Now, it's the top leaves on the branch that are turning yellow. Is that a clue to anything? I also notice that the yellowing starts along the edges and makes its way inward. Not sure if that's normal.

Hello Stelios369! Yellowing leaves can be a sign of a few different issues, including overwatering, underwatering, or nutrient deficiencies.

It's good that you've been monitoring the soil moisture and adjusting your watering accordingly. If the soil is staying consistently damp, it's possible that you're overwatering the plant. Desert rose plants prefer well-draining soil, so switching to a terracotta pot with a sandy soil mix could help improve drainage and prevent root rot.

When transplanting your plant to a new pot, be sure to carefully remove it from the old pot and gently loosen any tangled roots. Then, plant it in the new pot with fresh soil, making sure not to bury the stem too deeply.

Adding fertilizer can also help with yellowing leaves, but it's important not to overdo it. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging carefully, and make sure the plant is not already stressed from overwatering or other issues.

In terms of the yellow leaves, unfortunately, they may not recover even with improved care. However, as long as the plant is still producing new growth and not showing signs of further stress or disease, it should recover over time.

I hope this information is helpful, and good luck with your desert rose plant!

Thank you Fernando!
I watched a YouTube video about saving Desert Roses from root rot. This little Latino lady was very impressive! She was cutting the rot out with a spoon, like a potato, and then stuffed it with cinnamon. She then left the plants out of any soil until it dried completely and hardened. She said not to plant until the bottom was hard and dry.
I already repotted mine in very sandy cactus mix (before I watched that video)🤨 I pulled everything wet and funky out from the root ball, but I didn't try to cut every soft part out. There was a huge, empty cavern on one side. I didn't see any rot. I stuffed that with a little styrofoam and sandy mix.
One thing I definitely noticed was something that felt like a wet paper bag in the rootball. I think it was the skin from the underside of the trunk. Feels just like the skin from a potato. I posted a photo. I hope that wasn't all trunk that rotted away!
I haven't seen any leaves grow since I got it, but it is budding.
Should I give it a chance in the dry soil? It's totally dry. Haven't watered at all. I misted it a few times. I was hoping it would improve with time. The plant does have lots of healthy, white roots. This may be a stupid question, but: do I want the white roots to dry out too, or just the underside of the trunk? Don't the roots need to stay moist? I only mean when dealing with root rot.
I appreciate your help. Everyone's help!

Thea had it right too! I checked the leaves for pests but didn't see any. However, when I looked at it under an LED light and with a magnifying glass, I did see tiny, black bugs. I also saw bite marks underneath the leaves. I sprayed it with some diluted Neem oil. I also wiped down every single leaf, both sides. Needless to say, a real pain in the ass!
So, it's in very dry, sandy soil in a terracotta pot. It's also treated for pests. Hopefully I can stop messing with it now.
Will repeated Neem oil applications burn the plant? Some of my previous succulents have been killed immediately after being treated with Neem oil.

I've had the same experience with neem oil & I also hate how it smells so I mix up some safer soap according to directions & then just add a few drops of the neem oil concentrate into a quart of the mixed safer soap. They say neem oil has a residual effect. Whether it works or not idk

@Stelios369 Sorry I didn't read this sooner. If it is soft and mushy and wet I had better luck getting it totally out of the wet potting media and letting it dry totally. I am afraid there is rot, so you will have to wash the roots and check thoroughly if there is any rot and remove all the rotted part.

I noticed you are at MD so might still be winter in your area. Yellowing leaves usually mean there is trouble under the root. I just pulled several of my seedlings that had yellow leaves and they had the beginning of root rot. So they are not in any potting media right now, I cut off the rotted part and they are just out drying right now.

Calling @deepsouth @Kaktus @wildbloomers for adenium advice on root rot.

Stelios369 said:help!

This definitely looks like a root rot to me unless it already healed.

We have a thread that might give you an idea what yours look like.

The thread "Adenium HELP!" in Adeniums forum

It would be very easy for a Maryland nursery worker to overwater a desert rose.
I rarely see DR in our nurseries.

And the soil probably stays wet longer. Around this time in area where spring or summer has not arrived yet, the best thing for desert roses is to keep them on the dry side. If the tip of the leaves have no new shoots, chances are, it is still dormant and therefore it will not need any water at all. It is normal for the leaves to turn yellow and totally drop or go leafless (even in Florida) when they are at dormant state. And that is the time that no water is needed, they can last for a few weeks with no water.

My adenium obesum have gone longer than a few weeks without water several times & they aren't even a year old yet

for the s Thea!

Mine too just because I am lazy watering and I don't have time to be taking care of plants. This is the only plant that rewards me with blooms even if I am lazy

You're Gigi!

Idk that I'm lazy about watering, I think it's that I have way too many plants to keep up with

antsinmypants said: You're Gigi!

Idk that I'm lazy about watering, I think it's that I have way too many plants to keep up with

I do think that can be good for the plants!

Root rot. Remove it from the soil, cut out all of the rotten parts. Rub either fungicide power or cinnamon powder at the wounds and keep the plant in a shaded area or so. After about a week or so, prepare a fresh medium and replant it