Your plant looks very healthy. The cracking around the lower stem is typical for adeniums. If the leaves are yellowing perhaps it needs a bit more water. Is the soil drying out?

Thanks Dain! I'm new to gardening and this is my first adendium. The top layer is dry but about 2-3 inches in is a little moist. So you don't think the little brown spots are scale?

I don't see anything that looks like a scale. I could be wrong.

I wouldn't dig it up unless you start getting some leaf drop.

Thank you both for your responses. I'm new to the forum and have updated zone. I'm in Florida (10b). No, I have not repotted it yet. I'm not sure what kind of soil it came in but soil does perlite. As I stated in previous post, I have not watered since purchased. I came home today and had more yellow leaves . They look burnt. I've taken it out of the outer pot.

Here is closer pic of small brown spots. The caudex is firm.

I think your plant may need a drink!

...and just to ease your mind further, here's a couple of pics from some of my plants to show how normal that netted look is on the more mature specimens and also some similar markings to your spots.....both perfectly OK :)

Can you gauge if it feels heavy for its size? (You perhaps need to be more used to a new plant by using its weight as a watering guide though). That could indicate the lower soil levels are still wet/damp? I personally still feel twitchy about that soil as you say it's in the original mix and sadly as here in the UK, DIY stores are famous for getting it so very wrong with many plant species, (we never get to see Adeniums for sale here though) so give it a short while and let's see how it goes.

Hopefully someone else will chime in with further thoughts. Keep us posted and monitor it's water levels, above all, don't let it sit in the run off.

As Gill mentions, the skin of the Adenium is a natural process as it ages. There does not look to be any issues to me with scale.

The Yellowing of the leaves is even and it is on the lower part of the branches, which could just be a case of old leaves shedding.

Aslo, could be the soil and water retention. Most of the big box stores receive their plants growing in a peat or coco peat based mix. This would be the first thing I would change as it holds water too long and no aeration to the root zone.

Where you reside is definitely much warmer than many of us and you could probably use a good cactus mix with added perlite or something similar. I like the Gritty Mix. The only thing in your climate that you would need to become familiar with the watering requirements. They would need to be monitored just to get used to that the Gritty Mix dries back quicker than any fine particle soil will.

Checking for water needs is a basic need which is required no matter what soil we decide to go with.

The dark ends with the bark looking as it is rolling back a bit. This is from an old pruning site and is normal as the cut edges callus up at cambium layer edges. Part of the issue here is that whomever pruned it did not make the cuts at a 45 degree angle which is best to keep any moisture from collecting at this site.

I would definitely re pot this tree and give it a good pruning to give it more stabililty and better shape. You are in a climate that has a good length growing season. The branches are quite long and would definitely give it more strength to support blooms later on. It will push out more blooms after a pruning.

Rick

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and advice. The yellow leaves continue to drop. I purchased cactus soil and perlite this evening and will repot. Will keep you posted on the progress. I'm new to gardening and this is my first adenium so I fear I overreacted .

Wendy, I do not think you overreacted. You where concerned and wanted advice and support to make the right choices for you new acquisition. I still do this and probably always will. Good to have people as a sounding board.

Hope to see you posting and joining in.

Rick

When you repotted how did the roots look?

You live in a great location for these plants they love the weather out there. Though you like everyone else have had some changes. I have to keep mine in for the winter and spring is not about 40 at night. So here they will be inside for awhile.

Nice old plant

Hi Marica. Here are pics of the roots. I was so happy they were healthy. YAY!

I hope I can do as well

It's me again . I repotted the plant in clay pot with cactus soil and perlite. I read that I should leave caudex a bit exposed, so I raised it a bit. My question pertains to the exposed roots. Is this ok? Will it create problems or plant?

Looks great!