I'm wondering why you want it to die :-). It's not uncommon for them to defoliate when you've stressed them. As long as tips show good color, it will be fine. I have a few that didn't like 32 degree temps. They will probably leaf back out in the spring. randy

Leave it dry and protected from cold and excess water. Once you see some new growth popping out, you can start watering. You can also trim back but you must INCREASE THE LIGHT. If you trim back and grow in the same conditions, it will continue to look the same at the end of next year. These will take full sun every day in So Cal. I've kept one alive through four Winters (see 'don't water while dormant', above by previous posters). A newly purchased plant bloomed this year and I am officially 'hooked'! I've been watching closely a Cactus & Succulent Guru who trims them down to stumps willy nilly and pots up as bonsai! I recently asked him about cutting my lanky bloomer back and his recommendation was to wait until spring and full growing season. I find with mine after winter dormancy is broken, plenty of water and some fertilizer will pop out those blooms! This adenium is four years old and has never been cut. It is in full sun all year, except for Winter (known as Rainy Season in SoCal) when I move it in and water about three times during it's indoor stay. (Still hasn't bloomed, but I only started working on that this year.) I am getting ready to 'raise' the plant so the fat root (caudex)is exposed, part of the allure to C&S growers for this plant. DISCLAIMER: None of the plants shown in the following are MY plants! They are examples of local-to-my-area C&S enthusiasts and their art. This plant, in 2008 took four men to lift up to the table. This pic was taken in 2006. The proud grower and plant in 2007.

Just checked the stem/tuber. Mushy and gone. Originally I had the plant in an orchid bark (finer grade)/ African violet/ Perlite type mix. Rather quick draining. Everything was fine if I was able to water the thing daily. But daily watering does not fit my hectic schedule and also having to do that with over 100 other plants, forget it. I'm going insane. I tried to mix it in something similar minus the orchid bark and cut back on the perlite. It still dried up even in that mix, so I went to revive it. I likely overwatered it in reviving it. The plant was badly wilted before I watered. It seems like I am having a huge bout of root and crown rot with my African Violets as well. Perhaps there happened to be some kind of pathogen or contamination with the soil I used. After all some of it was a few months old Schultz type mixes. It seems I have horrible luck with schultz soil mixes. I don't know when I'll learn. It's the only stuff I can find locally and can obtain. That is unless I wish to pay high shipping costs and order online. Possiblities: - Overwatering in attempt to rehydrate dried caked soil? - plant was already dried up beyond saving??? - Not enough aeration in soil mix? - high salinity in soil mix and hard water causing burn? - I am beginning to strongly suspect the last one being a problem. I'm noticing a number of plants being girdled by orange stuff even if I don't fertilize. I suspect high mineral content in the city tap water is also harming my plants. That said: the Begonia is dead. ;( Leaves taken are still limp. Only one is showing life but rot took half of it, This post was edited by fieldofflowers on Fri, May 23, 14 at 4:50

Thank you all SO MUCH for helping me out. As far as the leaves changing color, they became a little more yellow than normal, and just began falling. It was almost overnight and it was bare. I did notice today that there is a bit of new growth near the top!!! =) So if it is dropping older leaves, will this happen each year? Should I prune it almost to the ground? I pruned it about half in size this year (the previous owners had never pruned at all according to a neighbor) should I do it more next year? About the rain, it rained more in late May and early June: I never imagined I could have watered it to much. My perenials in that bed havent suffered (keeping my fingers crossed) except for a hydrangea that also has yellow leaves. Again, thank you all for your help. I am taking all suggestions.