|
A China Doll is a very fast growing plant with lacy looking glossy green foliage. China
Dolls appear very compact and sturdy when you first buy them. Those in 4” and 6” pots look perfect on tables while
the larger ones in 8” and 10” pots make beautiful floor plants. This look comes from the fact that the growers
have given them growth regulators that make normal sized leaves grow on short stems. As this regulator in the soil is used
up, a China Doll will start expanding in any & all directions just like the outdoor plant it really is. Instead of a dense
plant with lots of leaves, it will soon look open and feathery. It may even become leggy and thin over night if you’re
not careful. A China Doll, with its soft delicate leaves, makes a beautiful houseplant, but you must put it in very bright
light and frequently pinch it back
Houseplant 411 for the iPhone & i Pod Touch
|
CARE OF CHINA DOLLS
Light: A China Doll must have very bright light, placing it in front of a window with an East, West, or South exposure
is best. During the winter, you can even place a China Doll in direct sunlight.
Water:
China Dolls need to dry out at least several inches down before you water. The foliage will turn a pale green when the plant
needs water and will be very light when you lift it. Be sure to water around the entire soil surface so that water reaches
all of the roots.
Temperature: China Dolls like basic household temperatures
between 65-75 degrees. Keep them away from drafts and cold windowsills or the leaves will fall off.
Fertilizer: Feed a China Doll monthly in the spring and summer and every other month in the fall and winter with
a good balanced houseplant food (10/10/10).
Pests: Spider mites, aphids,
and mealy bugs are all a problem for China Dolls. It is difficult to get rid of them once they infest a plant because the
numerous lacy leaves offer so many good hiding places. Spray every part of the plant with the green solution, and repeat the spraying every 10 days for at least a month or more.
Pruning:
Keeping a China Doll well pruned is very important otherwise the plant becomes leggy, thin, and unsightly. You cannot prune
this plant too much as long as you always allow a few leaves to remain on each stem to produce food for the roots. The new
growth will make the plant stronger and bushier.
 |
CHINA DOLL FAQ’S
1. All of the leaves on an entire stem of my China Doll are drying up and falling off. If I water it more will they
come back?
Your China Doll got too dried out and that part of the plant is dead. You can’t save the stem
and leaves once they become crisp. Cut that section off and new foliage will grow back.
2. There are tiny white sticky balls on my China Doll. They look like cotton. What are they?
Those are mealy
bugs. If there are just a few, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and wipe them off; for a large infestation spray the entire plant with
the green solution. Repeat the spraying every 10 days for at least a month.
3. My China Doll has
leaves at the top but the stems below are bare and so thin that they are bending over.
Cut your plant back at
least 2/3 and move it to a very bright location. It will grow back with stronger stems and lots of foliage.
4. The green leaves on my China Doll are falling off. What should I do?
China Dolls
lose their leaves when there is an abrupt change in watering, temperature, light, or if you repot it. Cut your China Doll
back by at least ½ and it will grow back quickly. Be sure the soil isn’t too wet.
5. All of the stems on my China Doll and all of the leaves are drooping as though it needs water, but the soil is wet.
You have over watered your plant so much and so often the roots have rotted. You can try cutting the plant all the way back
and allowing the soil to thoroughly dry out. If there are any roots left they may put out some new growth. More realistically,
the plant may be headed for the trashcan.
|
