I wish I could see your pix, but I won't sign into Facebook. Are your Pix anywhere else?

It could be a number of issues - over/under-watering, a nutritional issue, tight roots ..... no plant likes to be root bound. If they did, mother nature would have arranged for the roots to be growing in tight little knots right under the plant stem.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: More on being root bound

Thank you, Al. I was also wondering if you would be able to link your thread on soil mixes. I was searching for it, but as I am a blonde, I kept getting side tracked on other threads! :) I would be much obliged!

Amie

There is the second half of a long discussion about houseplant soils on this forum, but the one most people link to is the one below.

Because the plant has such special meaning, I'd be glad to send you some soil and offer suggestions on getting it back on track. They're pretty easy to tend when they're grooving along in fine fettle, but might need some extra attention if they're sick. Did you check for root mealies, by any chance .... and have you ruled out other pests, mealies being the only one that's really likely? They're easy to spot, as you prolly know.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: Click me and I'll take you to the other thread he was talking about.

"no plant likes to be root bound. If they did, mother nature would have arranged for the roots to be growing in tight little knots right under the plant stem."

Al, that is one of the finest growing statements I have ever read! I try to explain this all the time but you have made the statement concisely and quite clearly! Where do people come up with the idea plants "like" to be in such conditions?

Thanks!

Steve

They confuse the idea that because inducing a certain type of stress might help to produce a desired result, that the plant must like it. I think that's something akin to believing that if you can get a steer to do what you want by using a cattle prod, he must like shock therapy. It doesn't work that way.

The measure of how well a plant likes it's treatment lies in how close it can come to realizing its full genetic growth potential. ANY stress, and tight roots is certainly on the list of possibilities, inhibits growth. From that, we can infer that plants no not like stress - including being root bound. Studies show that for plants in containers, growth begins to be negatively affected at about the point where the soil/root mass can be lifted from the container intact. It will remain permanently affected until/unless something is done to correct the issue. This effect is most noticeable in plants that make wood or that have tree-like root systems, and simply potting up does not correct the problem. Root congestion affects the growth of all plants grown in containers.

As I noted, the grower may think it peachy, because it can be a useful tool for use in bending the plant to the will of the grower, but the plant's perspective would be something wholly different.

Al

Al,

That'd be great! And thank you for posting the link for the soil mixtures. If you could send me a bag of already mixed soil that'd be great. Like I said, I'm a newbie to caring for plants, and since my mom is now in AZ I can't just take em home and have her handle it anymore! lol! I don't think the plant had any bugs, I haven't seen any or evidence of any. It is doing better, but I would like to repot it into a different pot. I was at the store the other day looking at all the different potting soils and was overwhelmed! Then I found this site, which is overwhelming as well, but VERY helpful. I appreciate all your valuable tips and information you pass along!

:) Blessed Be,
Amie