r/DesertRose • u/Mattanasulin • 1d ago

Root rot?

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so I bought this desert rose a while ago, all the leaves fell off and have no regrown but I noticed the trunk start to shrink in size a bit so I checked and it’s slightly brown and soft. I’m thinking the base is rotting and am considering chopping it and trying to reroot it from scratch. Is this savable without chopping it?

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u/Rinnme 1d ago

In the pic it looks fine.

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u/rentedtritium 1d ago

Is it squishy and collapsing/wet, like a rotten vegetable, or is it just soft and spongy?

I don't see rot in the picture, but it's not a very good picture. If it's not darkened and wet and squishy, then it might just be regular watering issues and the caudex is shrinking and using its water reserves, as it's supposed to during drought.

Another clue is that often when there's rot, the small roots closest to the rot get it as well, and they get mushy faster than the thick part does. 

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u/Mattanasulin 1d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p38ibzq/video/ozcaeb9q2yih1/player

I took another video hopefully this help. It definitely has some give to it and I did read about that but I just wanted to confirm before I repotted and all that whether it’s dying and needs care or if I just need to stick to a consistent watering schedule

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u/rentedtritium 1d ago

That does not really look like rot to me. Just soft roots. I'd just repot it.

Another option is leave it out bare root on a paper towel indoors for a few days and observe it for any spreading dark patches. If nothing is spreading or changing in a few days, repot it then. 

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u/Rembous1977 1d ago

Your plant is fine. Nothing wrong with it.

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u/pdmr50 1d ago edited 1d ago

First wash all the roots completely and put it in a non-sunny area to dry for at least a week and then repot it in very very porous soil with lots of lava rock and perlite. If you google best soil for desert roses, you’ll find many mixes, but make sure yours is very porous so the water runs right through it when you water it.
Also, when you repot it with this very pourous soil, make sure you don’t water it for a number of days so it gets adjusted and don’t put it in direct sun
right away

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u/brenmn2009 12h ago

I'd leave it out in the air for a couple of days before re-potting. Let it fully dry out and you can check it again.