I've had it a long time and know how to care for it, but it looks as if it's rotting. It had black areas and today I scraped that away hoping to prevent further spread. Underneath was sort of a scabby looking area. The soil is dry and I have it in a place where it gets plenty of sun. It started about 2 years ago at the top and I cut it back then, but seems to be spreading downward. It has a little bud where I first cut it back.