Hi, Birdie. How long has it been since your last repot? One of the symptoms of tight roots is shedding of lower and interior foliage. If the internodes (distance between the leaves) are growing shorter, your plant needs a repot, but winter and early spring are poor times to consider repotting - especially for plants that are stressed and very low on energy reserves. Root congestion can promote blooming in some plants, but root congestion IS a stress, and as such limits growth and vitality to a degree that varies with the amount of congestion. I think the wise thing to do would be to get your plant healthy again, and THEN worry about blooming. Sound reasonable? When did you last fertilize? Often, plants starved for nutrients, particularly nitrogen, shed foliage after 'harvesting' mobile nutrients from older leaves so new leaves can grow. Culturally, you can treat your plant like most succulents. Letting it dry down completely IS a stress, so try to time it so you're watering just before soil is completely dry. Humidity is no problem for this plant. It's glossy leaves are very high in cuticular wax, which helps guard against low indoor humidity. I'm sorry, but I disagree that a fertilizer with a high middle number is a good choice for any containerized plant. There are no plants that use more P (the middle number) than either N or K (first and last numbers). The excess P adds unnecessarily to the level of salts in the soil and can actually contribute to leaf loss and deficiencies of other nutrients ...... particularly iron and manganese. That may be more information than you need, but others too, may be curious as to why high P fertilizers are not such a good choice for container plants. Best luck - let me know if there are any other questions you think I might help you with. Al

We had one for valentines day that did the whole "crispy" thing as well. We decided to cut off the spent blooms and dying foliage and it was planted almost bare in march. It has responded well and is putting up a new flush of leaves. I doubt it'll bloom this year but we have other hydrangeas in similar locations that bloom regularly and we don't expect any differently from this one in a couple years. Plant it now and I'm sure you will have the same results. Just give it a good start with good soil with lots of organic matter (manure/compost) and a slightly sheltered location (depending upon the amount of heat you get). The more heat the more shade normally. But part shade is best for most. Good luck.

they say that fluoride in water can cause leaf damage. I have several Calatheas, but the easier ones: Calathea princeps and vittata. and also Stromathe tricolor. they do get dried tips - but usually in winter and on old leaves. i don't sweat it. your humidity is probably good if you have a lot of them? and keeping them rather moist , not letting them dry up more then 1/3 of pot height? and light on feed with periodic flushing :))))? i looked at the first pic - it seems like you have tiny dots on yellow part - mites can cause that easily. and they are mite magnets ...even with high humidity.

Thanks for the additional pictures. Gotta say, I would have been thrilled to have this vintage bathroom in my house. Even the vanity and counter look to be in tip top shape. Bathrooms are one of the most expensive and disruptive rooms to remodel. Working with quality vintage elements can be such a huge time and money saver!!! (Btw, I love the skirted toilet. Not vintage, I know. :) Could you share the brand? It looks to be on the compact size which is what my bathroom needs.) The flooring is sheet vinyl? Usually easier upkeep than a tile floor. More comfortable underfoot too. The vintage pattern is subtle and the colours are harmonious with the dusty pink tile. If it's in good condition, I'd totally let the flooring and tile determine the colour palette: dusty pink, ivory and gold. The vanity looks to be in good shape as well. If its storage worked for me, I might consider changing its hardware if the current handles didn't feel comfortable in hand. (Hard to see in pictures but the shape of these door handles remind me of those thin vintage metal handles with edges that feel sharp in hand.) If they're comfortable though, I'd just see if a bit of polishing would work. I'd want a subtle gleam for the hardware. Three other elements I'd consider in this bathroom: 1) Lighting: Is it optimal? You might want to assess the quality of artificial lighting in the space (does it cast a yellow light on everything? Is it positioned to flatter?) and upgrade if budget allows. Decide on the lighting situation before painting the walls because you might want to install wall sconces. (Straight on light is more flattering and functional than overhead light. The lack of casted shadows is appreciated when shaving and doing makeup, for example. ) Btw, the current light fixture makes sense style-wise in this bathroom but you certainly could consider a different style direction if you wished. 2) Window dressing: I love the unparalleled light control and privacy blinds offer but these look at bit "heavy" and utilitarian in this room. Depending on privacy needs and budget, I would consider something softer. Maybe privacy film and soft curtains? Plenty of options. Depends on your style direction. 3) Storage: A recessed medicine cabinet is a treasure in my books. A hinged mirrored cabinet door could be made for this one. If you don't like the look of the wood vanity, you could probably paint it. Or even sand and stain it, depending on the quality of the wood. I'm tempted to search for pink and gold bathroom images but I'm rushed for time. Besides, by the time I hit submit on this comment, I'm sure 10 other comments will have been posted. I do ramble. :P