Looks as though you have recently reported this plant? If it is in a very quick draining mix. You need to be able to tell just how moist the soil is. With newly transplanted plants in this mix, they sometimes need more frequent watering.

Is this plant new to you and leafless at this time? If so, do not keep in direct sunlight for a week or so.

I have moved plants from a move water retentive soil mix into a fast draining gritty mix and they have gone through a period of time where caudex has become somewhat pliably soft (not mushy soft) and with checking watering. It required water more often.

Rick

Thanks Rick and Pagan as I said it was neglected for a few days and It has been unseasonably hot on the Gold Coast Australia has just dropped to about 10 degrees at night. I put the little darling in the Hot House for closer observation over winter it is one I don't want to loose.

Rick because this is a young Adenium with a graft and when I received it I lifted it above its soil line, could that have made it more fragile? I have a miniature Adenium (so cute) and when I first received years ago, the same thing happened and as soon as I lowered it by about an inch below the soil it came good. The medium is extremely fast draining with a soil called plugger which is a mixture of pebble blended materials and soil, Diatomite (they seem to love the silica) and large perlite. Sorry about the multiple posts my server kept on dropping out. Thanks so much for you help appreciate it.

Maria

Maria,

I transplanted one of my plants into a bowl and raised it, had it in a free draining mix, more so than prior soil. It wanted to stay soft and I found that I needed to water it more frequently. Now after 4-5 mths. it is staying quite firm.

I believe it is as Pagan mentions. Shock from going into a much airier mix and needed to acclimatize.

With you in Australia, your weather is more conduscent to growing these, although you are moving into your winter.

I would keep so not getting temps lower than 15 C until it comes around. I am sure it will. Give it a feel over a day or so after watering. You should feel it become a bit firmer. Check regularly.

Rick

Rick is right. In fact, Rick is so right I really want to give myself a headslap. Fifteen degrees Celsius. I knew this! But did I listen?No!