Pittosporum (Mock Orange) Root Rot: No Drainage = Death Sentence

Your 4-ft pittosporum in a 3–4 gal pot without drainage holes + rocks at bottom = guaranteed root rot. Rocks don't create drainage—they raise the water table.

Emergency Triage

1. Unpot immediately.
2. Inspect roots: Firm, light = hope. Mushy, dark = discard.
3. If healthy roots exist: Repot into smallest drained pot that fits rootball. Prune all dead stems.
4. If few/no healthy roots: Discard.

Hard Truth

Pittosporum needs cool winters (40s°F) — poor indoor plant. Even if saved, it will struggle.

Lesson

Never use pots without drainage holes. "Drainage layer" is a debunked myth.