Question
Hi Will,

I recently asked a question about plant identification. (Thanks for answering all those questions so clearly.) Part of it though had to do with the health of a China Doll that I have. I wanted to fully explain its symptoms in more detail so you could help me figure out what's wrong with it. I'll send some photos of the plant too.

The China Doll was once about five feet tall and quite unhealthy. Leggy stems, constant leaf drop. so I decided to prune it back to the bottom of its stem to give it a new start on being a healthy, full plant. That decision seems to have back-fired and made it even more unhealthy. The new growth from the stems is very different than what I'm used to seeing. The new leaves are disfigured and have yellow edges. There are very few leaves per branch. And sometimes new growth will just turn black and die off. New growth takes the place of what died but it still looks unhealthy.

The plant is about 4 inches tall now and it's in a pot that is 10" tall, 10" wide. (That's really bad isn't it?) Gets good light from a tall eastern facing window with some light from a large south facing window as well. There's been nothing but cloud cover all winter so not a lot of direct light. It was last repotted about a year and 1/2 ago into its current pot that is far to big for it. (I definently skipped a pot size or two when I repotted it.) And the soil I repotted it with was also very bad quality. The soil resists water in almost every way so I don't think the root ball gets much water. It's hard to explain but the soil also stays moist for a long long time. So yeah, very bad soil. It's pretty obvious that I caused this plant to become unhealthy... painfully obvious LOL.

I'm hoping you could give me some insight to help my plant get healthy again or if I should just get a new plant. I'd understand if my plant can't regrow. But I know better now, and thanks in large part to reading your advice on this site, I am growing many healthy plants... just not the China Doll. I am also very happy to hear that you're writing a book! I'll be sure to buy it when you release it.

Thanks a ton Will,
Ben

Answer
Hi Ben,

No reason to be so hard on yourself. We all learn by making mistakes. At least you are observant and willing to look for answers so you don't make the same mistake over and over again.

China dolls are fussy and do not react well to anomalies in their environment, including temperature fluctuations and irregular watering.

Yes, the pot is too big. When new growth dies back, it is usually because the roots are staying too moist and are rotting. That typically happens when there is too much soil.

You have been bold in pruning your plant way back. Now be bold by unpotting it and removing the outer soil that you added when you repotted it 18 months ago. This may expose some roots, but that is okay. I hope you will find an inner rootball with firm, health roots surrounding it. If you find only soft, mushy roots, then you have serious root rot and the plant may be in jeopardy.

If the roots look healthy, then move it into the smallest pot that the slimmed down rootball can fit into. Water it throughly. In good light, it should dry out enough to need water again within 10 days. If it takes less time than that, that is even better.

If you have near constant cloud cover at this time
of year, then your China doll should be right in front of your sunniest window. Later on as the days get longer and, hopefully sunnier, you can then protect it from the direct rays of the midday sun. But good light now should help it recover faster, provided the roots are still healthy.

Thanks for all your compliments. I will keep you on my mailing list to announce my publication - but don't hold your breath!

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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