Question
QUESTION: I have a tropical plant indoors, and it is not doing so well. I transplanted it into a clay pot 2 months ago because the plastic pot it was in was not enough room. Well, recently, most of it is dying, the main stem is soft and discolored, the leaves are slowly dying off. Can I save this plant? There is one section of it that seems better than the rest... any help will be appreciated!

ANSWER: Rick, I need a bunch more info to help you, give me details on your transplant technique, don't leave anything out. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I bought a new clay pot, and new potting soil. I added some new soil to the clay pot, and carefully loosened the soil/plant in the old plastic pot, and was able to remove the plant (with most of the old soil still attached to the roots. I placed the plant into the new clay pot, then filled the rest of the space with new potting soil. I filled it to a certain height, then compressed the soil slightly around the main stem. Then I added plenty of water to the new soil. I believe that is all I did. This holds true for 2 plants that I transplanted.

When I noticed things were not going so well, I bought miraclegro plant spikes to see if this would help. It seemed to help for a little while, then they seemed to take a turn for the worst. So far I've done two treatments of plant spikes, each a month apart.

It seems that the soil dries so much more quickly than it used to in the plastic pots...I'm guessing this is because of the clay pots? But they never did like to get too much water anyway.

Thanks! Rick

Answer
Hi again, part of the problem is indeed the clay pot, they are very porous and will dry out extremely fast, especially with a light potting mixture; the bottom of any container should be lined with a drainage medium (crushed stone ect.) The spikes are not really effecting anything at this point, the plant will not feed until it has established itself after the transplant, and is obviously in transplant shock right now; from your description it sounds like the stem is rotting, and that is usually a case of too much water that isn't draining off. This is where I find it peculiar that this would happen in a clay pot, but the indicators are all there. The roots could also be in trouble; I would make sure the soil is slightly damp from top to bottom (evenly) and at this point, just place it where it can get morning sun only; then all you really can do is wait and hope. Nick