Gill, I wish I can give you some answer, but I don't even know. Your little chubby arabicum is very cute.
Don't worry so much, the growing season is here and it's probably replace a new set of leaves right away.
Marie

Marie, thanks for responding. I do hope you are right that the new season will give it a chance of replacing the yellow leaves real soon.

I was hoping to get a definite answer saying that it is suffering from a nutrient deficiency of some kind and that I would be able remedy it with a feeding regime, but everyone has gone to ground it seems, oh well : (
Gill from the UK.

Gill,

It's just the lower leaves? If so, it's starting to shed as it grows new ones, no? If it's not....I don't know. I've heard that a dose of iron chelate can be beneficial, but I think that might have been just for citrus trees, so I guess if we had an Adenium forum we'd get a swift and sure answer.

Gill, you're getting new growth on top so just take a deep breath and give things some time. I doubt/can't believe it is a nutritional thing. It is definitely cute and I'd love to be growing other Adenium.

BTW: How did the seed I sent you work out.... or not? I sure hope you got some to grow. I'd send you more seed if you want.

I think I'm paniking over what could well turn out to be 'natural wastage' as the leaves age, so thanks Jeff and Howard for your replies. Let's hope that no more turn yellow other than the current 2 seed leaves and the one above. It's just that this is the best of my 3 arabicums that I am trying to succed as their form is very different from the obesums. Yes, if we had the forum, no doubt we would be able to get the answers to many of our questions.
Howard, you have email : )
Gill from the UK.

Gill,
i started seedlings two winters ago. and had many leaves turn yellow and fall off. i am no expert but believe that all three of my seedlings did the same thing as they grew.

i have also yellowed a few leaves with too much or too little water. i would not worry if the roots look good and the caudex is firm. here is a photo of one of my a while back, i took the photo to show the roots (as they were grown in straight turface).

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Hi Doug, thanks for that. Guess these pesky yellow leaves of mine could as you say be too much/too little water. They do drain quickly in my mix and the weather has been really sunny, so with the addition of small pots for small plants they can and do dry out fast. Maybe I didn't water enough, maybe I drowned it, or it was hungry for food, who knows?? Odd that the others are OK though.
I have never come across 'Turface' for sale here. Does it actually retain any of the water, or does it drain instantly and fully? Any nutrients must be added manually at watering time as it's inert? I'll have to make some enquiries as I've just read that it's used by orchid and bonsai growers. I feel a visit to a garden centre looming...again!! In the meantime, it's fingers crossed for my little guy.
Gill from the UK.

1. yes i do add nutrients.

2. yes it does retain water pretty well, and drains fast and allows for air in the mix.(when it gets hot i water often, when it is cold i water maybe once a week or less)

3. i would keep with the care you are providing, as a change in the leaves reflects care from a week or so ago i would imagine. not present conditions. i have also read that all leaves will yellow and fall off when they are becoming dormant. maybe it was thinking about it.

4. i would not worry. if it is not rotting, it is still doing pretty well!

Thanks for taking time to reply again Doug. I will keep an eye on it and trust it will be OK.
I'm off to work now, temps have taken a dive from low 20'sC to 8C today, so it's back to normal and it's definitely NOT Adenium weather, brrrr!!
Regards, Gill from the UK.

You know Gill, maybe hubby has been about with the paint brush just to get you out of sorts with so many plants around the home.... he's getting jealous and wants more attention...

LoL....no comment!!! (: P)
Gill from the UK.