| Houseplant
Cultural
information: "China Doll" is a beautiful,
fast growing houseplant with soft, delicate looking glossy green foliage. It is
botanically known as Radermachera sinica.
When you first purchase a China Doll plant at the nursery it is
full and compact. As time goes on the fast growing China Doll
plant tends to become a bit weedy and stretched looking. This is
because when the plant was new it was treated with a growth regulator
by the grower to slow the China Doll's growth, and to help the
plant maintain a compact shape.
Eventually the China Doll plant will become leggy as the growth
regulator wears off. Just cut the plant back to where ever you
like. Since the China Doll plant now has less foliage, cut back on
the frequency of watering a bit. Increase watering again as the
new foliage begins to develop. China Doll cuttings are very difficult to
root, so just add them to the compost pile.
Keep your China Doll plant in very bright natural light just
shy of full sun. East, south and west windows should do nicely.
Heated sunrooms and greenhouses are also excellent locations for a
China Doll plant.
Check the China Doll plant for water three times per week until you become accustomed to the plants water
needs. Keep the soil moist, occasionally allowing the soil dry
down to near wilting point. Allowing the plant to dry down will
help prevent Fungus Gnats from calling the China Doll's soil home.
When watering it is important to water all the way around the
plant. This prevents the soil from developing dry spots which in
turn will cause leaf loss. Water until liquid freely runs from the
pots drainage holes. Remove excess water from the drip try to help
prevent root rot.
Feed the China Doll plant monthly with Peter's Houseplant
Special when the plant is actively growing. Feed bi-monthly when
inactive.
Common houseplant pests can include: Aphids, Foliar Mealy Bugs
and Spider mites.
China Dolls are available in bush form in 3" and 4" starter plants to large 10" floor plants. A
healthy China Doll should have plenty of foliage from the top
to the bottom of the plant. A plant that is leggy at the bottom
has been neglected and should be avoided.
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