Ken,
You will find that Adeniums shipped abroad have their leaves snipped of and bare root. The sending bare root is a procedure from Agriculture Dept. of both Importing and Exporting countries to prevent any soil diseases from one to another. This you are probably aware.
The leaves are taken off to reduce the stress on the plant while in transit. They will transpire if leaves left on and this stresses the plant.
Many people shipping plants within the same country will send with leaves, but many times this has the same result as stripped plants, as the leaves shed once received and potted up.
Weight of soil and pot is one factor also (for shipping cost).
Rick
