Hi,

I have this desert rose plant for over 20 years. I live in NJ so the potted plan is out
door from September - end of April.

Last week I noticed a branch was mushy & part of the plant was shrunk/kind of soft. I check the roots; they are hard and healthy. I cut off the rotten/mushy branch and repotted it.

Today the body of the plan, the shrunk part gets bigger. Is there a way to save this desert rose? Your help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Thuy

Ask this in the Adenium forum. LOTS of Adenium pros there. I am new to them myself as of last fall.

Unfortunately @Thuynguyen it doesn't look good if the branches are healthy you might be able to save the cuttings.

@deepsouth and @kaktus any chance this can be saved?

You might be able to save a branch or the lower base. It's hard to tell but it looks like there may not be enough clean material to work with.

Bare root it (un-pot & wash off soil), cut off anything brown with a sharp blade and apply cinnamon to all of the now clean cut (white) surfaces.

Let us know via a picture of what you have to work with and we can coach you on growing a cutting from a good branch or letting the remaining base sprout new branches.

I think it is a goner, the front part for sure dead, check to see if the right and back part still firm, the branch at 1 o'clock position still looks solid, try to slice the soft part starting from the front, slice until you reach the firm and healthy part, if there are still half firm area, maybe you still can safe it.

Thank you for your responses.
The back is still firm.

After I slice the soft part in the front off, do I put cinnamon on it? Can it be kept on the bay window facing the west?

The big roots are hard. Some of the small root ends are soft.

What is the next step? Please advise.

Cut the brown material out of the plant. Start with the squishy stuff (roots, caudex, branches) and then continue to cut the brown material out via visual inspection (color).

It may help you to see the procedure on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

You need to do it soon as the rot is very advanced. Good luck

Yes, follow the step as per the video, you may apply fungicide, cinnamon powder, or even super glue on the wounds, then let it air dry for 1 week before repot. While air dry, keep on monitoring the plant to see if the rot continue to spread, if it is spreading, then repeat the slicing process again.

Done as recommended. You are right; the plant is not healthy at all.

I hope it will survive!

Thank you again for your guidance

Thuy.
Here is its new look

Good luck! I hope you are able to save it.

You might try rooting your branch material. It looks mature enough.