Does that pot have drain holes? If not, then use a different pot. (A holeless pot can be used for a decorative cache pot, but should not have a plant planted directly in it.) When you did your repot, what did the roots look like? Overwatering and severe under watering both have the same outcome -- dead roots. If the roots were already dead or dying before the repot (from the soil being too wet), a repot will not be an instant fix. If the roots were dead from desiccation, watering will not be a quick fix -- you'll just rot off the dead roots. I am guessing that your plant has little to no viable root system. From what you described about the media, adding perlite was probably a very wise choice. However, if the roots were few to nonexistent, then recovery will take a while. You might try the following: Make sure the soil is only LIGHTLY moist ... NOT wet. get a clear plastic bag large enough to easily envelop the plant -- pot and all. Put the potted plant in the bag. Inflate the bag like you would if you were blowing it up to pop it. Tie it closed with a twist tie. Place the "bubble" in a warm, bright area. NO DIRECT SUN. Once every couple weeks, open the bag to make sure the soil is still lightly moist and to freshen the air in the bag. If the soil is dry, give it a little bit of water. When new growth is evident, then the plant will have rerooted. The bag can be removed at this time and more water given. (You can also ease the plant's transition back to "normal" humidity conditions by unbagging the plant only for an hour or so before rebagging. Over the course of a week or two, leave it unbagged for longer and longer periods of time until the bag is dispensed with completely.)

Elf, I agree..it's a nice experiment of course, but PP's are sold at HD for something like 3.49 in 4" pots..I'd like the variegated..that'd be worth rooting or sowing, but if they don't come true to seed, there's no sense wasting time/soils/energy.. Bird, did the flowers have a well stinky odor? LOL..when I worked at HD in the gh, we got in a bunch of PP's in bud. As time went by the buds opened..I smelled something sour..Tried detecting the source, and sure enough it was flowers from PP. Did you notice an odor? Toni

Hi Purple, First, congrats on getting your PP to flower. Even though they have a strange smell, they're interesting. Cute. IMO. PP is one of the prettiest purple-leaf plants around..Ever notice when sun shines on foliage, fuzzy hairs high-light? Purple color deepens? Many moons ago, 'lived in an appt so plants remained indoors year round,' I had a PP that, like you mentioned, reached the floor. It lived many years, insect-free. The 3rd floor appartment had windows facing all four directions, so light wasn't a problem. During summer, PP hung before NE windows...winter, SW windows. To be honest, there were times PP tips grew spindly...they were simply trimmed off. No biggie..come spring, new growth sprouted. Besides, rooting PP in water was no more difficult than breathing air. My PP lived many years. Well, it did until ex and I seperated. Don't want to go in details, but he killed it..among other plants. It was years before I decided to buy another..In fact, we were living here. I purchased a variegated PP, 'not as pretty,' and standard. Not two weeks went by when I noticed both had Mealy. Mealy is one insect I cannot rid/kill. Mealy were living on top, inner crown. They did quite a bit of leaf damage, so instead of risking other plants' lives, they were tossed. A year or so went by and I bought another..Same problem: Mealy Bugs. It too went in the trash. So, although PP's are my favorite purple plant, I give up. Can't fight or better yet, win the Mealy battle. :) Please keep us posted..I'd like to see a 21st century PP grow to the floor. :) Toni

Yes, they do this kind of thing on Plants Exchange all the time, & there's always a guide posted over there somewhere. In a nutshell, you just take the cuttings, wrap the cut end in a damp paper towel, put the paper towel end in a baggie, fasten the neck of the baggie, either with a bread tie or with the baggie's zip seal, to keep the moisture on the cut end, put some crumpled newspaper in a Priority Mail box marked "Perishable: Live Plants", gently place the plants in there, add more crumpled paper, & send it. (I once received a plant that had been wrapped in padded plastic in a bubble envelope, but neither the plant nor I was happy about it.) Best luck, & I hope your friends & family enjoy the plants!