Have you come across either of these posts? I had some very extensive caudex rot and was guided through it by forum members. After cutting (sterilize blade with alcohol after EVERY cut no matter how small) I finally got down to clean pure white flesh, sprinkled the cut with cinnamon and hung the plants to dry. The progress of one is below. The other has been potted up and is still trying to decide whether or not it wants to live, but we're still trying!

I also saw your post on the Adenium forum. Good luck. There is hope.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4257787/plants-receiveduh-oh

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4664407/amputee-update

Tyler

Tyler, that's exactly the kind of thread I have been looking for. Thanks for posting it.

Soooo - you think my best option is going to be amputation? That was my initial fear because I really liked the caudex, but I really like the upper part of the plant, too. So you didn't seal it with glue, but used cinnamon on the cuts? That's my go-to method as well, but I thought maybe the glue was important for DRs.

I did cut a couple of stems and they look clean. Whew! Glad you had a picture for me to compare with.

I have the plant indoors. It is sooo humid outside right now, and likely too humid until October. How long did it take your plant to callous?

Thanks, again!!

You know, Crenda, I can't say for sure. Maybe a week...? This was my 1st experience so I wasn't sure what I was looking for/at regarding callousing over. It was November when I got them. One of the forum members (Pagan) wrote that if I couldn't provide Summer-like conditions to just leave them hang until it started to warm up in the Spring. At least that was my understanding of what she said so that's what it was my intention to do. Hang them and forget them after initial periodic checking to make sure the rot had not continued to progress. One of them though ( the one that just flowered) started pushing out some new growth before the Spring so I went ahead and potted it up.

Even though I've had this experience I am by no means an expert. If you can save the big roots then you can try, but if you see ANY signs of discoloration, best to amputate in order to save the plant. I had another one that I rotted all on my own. By the time I discovered it, it was already too late. There were some white roots so I did an amputation of quite a bit of caudex but left the healthy root. Sprinkled cinnamon and hung it to dry. I then had an emergency where I had to go out of town for a couple of weeks. When I got back it was a goner. The rot had continued and there was no saving it. You can do your best but sometimes that's all you can do and you can just never tell.

Hopefully other more experienced growers will chime in on one of your posts.

Tyler

I had a hard time with rot in a Euphorbia lactea and it did the same thing as your lost plant - kept rotting. That's what I am afraid of here. I guess I won't know until I try.

On the up side this is not a rare plant. But to us it was very pleasing in form. <sigh>

Thanks again!

Crenda, I feel for you, it had such an awesome caudex...

Last month as my adeniums started to throw out leaves, I noticed two of them were not doing that well and actually felt a little soft. I unpotted them, and the bigger plant's main root was all black. Cut it back to healthy tissue, put cinnamon powder on the cut and left it. The smaller one had just a little rot in one of the minor roots. Same process. To my horror when I checked on them yesterday, the cut on the smaller plant was covered in mould... back to the operating theatre. (The bigger plant seems to be ok, and will be repotted again next weekend).

Now, this plant in question is a grafted adenium, one of 2 I bought through Ebay last summer. I've never seen it bloom, so I'm prepared to go a long way to get it through. I thought to myself that in the worst case, I'd be left with just the branches, which I would then pot in pure perlite on a heatmat to grow roots again (works >95% of the time for me).

Here's what I'm left with...

Didn't put cinnamon on it this time. Reading your thread reminded me to check on it, and here's the cut after 25 hours

Fingers crossed.

This is not the first time I (nearly) lost one, nor the first time the treatment has worked and the plant returns back to health.

You've followed the right steps, but it's hit and miss. Those remaining roots don't look they are going to stay healthy much longer, to my eye anyway. Personally I'd cut all roots until left with a flat caudex bottom, and reroot it in perlite as above.

I cross my fingers for your plant too. Good luck!

Crenda, that sucks:(. That Adenium looked like a beautiful beast at one point. That darn humidity!

Have you guys read this thread:)?

Adenium:)

Thanks for that thread, Kara! More good info.

Conny - Thank you for those pictures. Now looking at mine, I don't think the root cutting looks that nice after 2 days. (no cinnamon on these) More brownish.

And the rest of the caudex looks like more extensive rot that will eliminate those 2 big roots. At least to me.

I do see some whiter tissue on the outside of this cut. But I really have no idea how deep this rot goes. At least I have a better idea of what the tissue should look like.

So I am thinking that my next cut should be a biggie, along this line.

I seriously doubt I can escape the rot below the green upper part of the caudex, but I think it is worth a look. I have a liter of rubbing alcohol and a huge container of cinnamon, so onward we go!

Thanks for all the advice!

Crenda, have you cut it further yet?

The red line is where I would start as well, in which case you might be able to save (part of) that top root that runs along the line. I fear however you'll end up nearer to the potting line (where the dark green starts). I hope I'm wrong though. Let us know how you get on.

Crenda,

I have posted an extensive response on the adenium forum.

Maria Elena

Nice and clean like a freshly cut potato:).

Hi! Could you give me an authorization to use your photos? I want ilustrate an article about Adenium health.

Yes, please feel free to use my photos. Perhaps it will help someone else! Sorry it took me a while to answer.

Thanks! Whats is your name? I want give your credits.

I'm Crenda Pickering.

Hi Crenda glad to see you🙂!

Yeah, it's been a while!