The swollen base of a desert rose can draw attention away from the container around its roots. Yet the simplest inspection is often underneath the nursery pot.
Lift it out of its cover and look for standing water. Good drainage holes in the inner pot do not protect the plant when the outer container stays full.
Let the root ball guide the next drink
Check the growing medium before watering again. Temperature, light, pot size and active growth all affect how quickly it dries. A timetable that worked outdoors in warm weather may leave the same plant too wet after a move indoors.
Do not deliberately leave the plant dry indefinitely because it is a succulent. The decision is whether this identified plant needs water in its present conditions, not whether succulents are supposed to thrive on neglect.
If growth deteriorates, record the light, recent watering and any environmental change before reaching for fertiliser. Inspect the base and stems without squeezing or damaging them. A soft or worsening area needs investigation; adding water or feed without checking the root conditions can make the original problem harder to identify.
Related reading: Desert Rose Care: Watering, Feeding and Light.