Wow lots of interesting stuff here! I think there are multiple issues here, and, since the health of the plants isn't great, I would deal with all possible problems rather than hunt down one specific one. If it were me I would do the following, since doing them would fix any of the most likely problems that you may be having. I would change the mix to a free draining one. I would check the roots, and pot into a container that is only a little larger than the rootball. I would put them in a partially sunny position after the repot until they get used to their new mix and pot. I would then move to a sunny location once things started to settle. I would make sure the room had plenty of humidity with gravel trays or a humidity. I would make sure the room was warm, and provide bottom heat to the pots if possible. I would inspect for bugs. Mites and scale seem the most prolific - possibly mites in your case. Webbing is a telltale sign, and sometimes hard to spot, but not always present. I would treat with Toni's spray regardless (she can tell you the ingredients, or you can search previous posts.) If you do spot bugs, use Toni's spray or a suitable one for fruiting plants from a garden centre. I would water these (after the repot) only when the new medium was closer to dry than damp. In a new medium you won't have to worry so much over watering - if it is the right medium it is unlikely you will overwater unless you go nuts with it. Fertilize only very lightly until the tree is back to health, then feed with a high nitrogen feed every couple of weeks. Citrus bounce back, but they take time. These are not by any means the be all and end all of things you should do, they are merely what I personally would do :) Danny

hermustangs, if you'll read the "new to GW" thread below on this page (or if it's left this page by the time you read this, search for it) you'll find explicit instructions on how to post photos; very easy to do. I think you'll get many more responses if you include photos. I'm not good enough with colors personally to try to answer your questions without seeing the rooms. Good luck!

Hi Denise, you don't need to be so concerned about the exact time to water, it's not such an exact science. You just want to see the top one inch or so very dry, not moist. If it's dry two inches down and soil underneath is obviously moist, it's fine, just water at that time. If you water when the top half inch is dry, I don't think the plant will mind a time or three. So no worries. The point is that you don't want to overwater. Crotons don't like to dry out completely, but watering every day would probably be too much. I can't explain that comment by Exotic Angel. They grow in small pots with a peaty mix, and maybe those do dry out quickly and need watering every day. Some people buy EA plants and set them on a windowsill rather than putting in a larger pot, EA's comment may have been aimed at those folks. On your beautiful pics of those bushy crotons, the only way you can maintain that look is to keep taking tip cuttings, or pinching the tips off once they get a little tall. Taking the growing tips off forces new growth and branching lower on the plant. Russ

I don't mind the table and mirror and can't really think of anything besides art that would fit on that wall. Can't see the table details well but could it be painted? How about red to match your lovely door? What would say "fresh and cozy" to you for that space? Have you thought of a new light fixture? A runner and a larger rug in the entrance could look good. I don't find the clock visible from the door to be welcoming so I'd be tempted to remove it.