Wow, thanks! Stem on my plant definitely doesn't look like that. but then again its probably not nearly half the age of that one.

If you notice, in that link carol23 provided, the plants are all growing foliage from a cut-back stem. Yours look grossly etiolated so maybe cutting back and providing a lot more light will produce a similar result.

Nice looking link w/ great pix, but I've never seen it under than name, anywhere.

I know this to be Balfour Aralia, aka Polycias Balfouriana, one of my all-time favorite plants. (Also IDed as this by Brooklyn Botanic Garden.) Not particularly easy to grow, but so very handsome.

I've grown & lost this plant a number of times, but love it so much I'll buy it every time I see a small one come around.

I'd suggest more light (gradually) & placing it on a pebble tray. I'd let it grow a new leaf or 2. If it makes it 'til Spring, THEN I'd cut it back. I think cutting it back mid-Winter from just 2 leaves will kill it.

Karen, what do you mean 'cut it back'?

"Cutting it back" means whacking it off at 4, 6 or 8 inches or whatever height you prefer and allowing it to regenerate new foliar growth at that point. And I agree that waiting until later, when the plant is in active growth, would be a much more desirable time to do so.

btw, you could also very likely get the cut off top portion to root and become a new plant :-)

Another commercial page on it.

https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Polyscias_scutellaria.htm

Notice this comment:

All Polyscias prefer a warm sunny location. Cold drafts, cold water or cool room temperatures will cause leaf drop.

btw, you could also very likely get the cut off top portion to root and become a new plant :-)

==>>> google the latin name.. and add PROPAGATION after it ... learn how to root out some new pieces from what you cut off ...

and once they get going ... and when this old on just starts bugging the heck out of you.. get rid of the old one ... and grow the new ones ...

sometimes.. plants just too old ... to be 'easy' to care for ....[part of that is a function of your experience level ... and how willing you are.. to do what needs to be done to rejuvenate an older plant ...]

ken

I was thinking more about rooting the top, but certainly it's possible to do both.

Thanks to that link, I just put up a tiny remaining spring from a Ming Aralia I just lost into a hydro setup & I'll see how it fares. Should be interesting.

So I have not cut it back yet...still pretty cold.

It produced new leaves, and was doing awesome...watered it, drank the water right up..then watered it (not much water tho) again about a week or so later. But now the top part is starting to get softer... and the leaves are not looking good.

What should I do?!??

I'm assuming don't water it for a bit longer...

Should I repot it? I've had it for about a year, from my cousin, so I'm not sure when it was last repotted...

Or should I go ahead and cut it back??

It sounds like it may have gotten too dry.

I've been watering it anytime the top ~1.5inches get dry.... is that too little or two much?

The stem is soft down until about the last 3inches. (its 9inches tall)

Should I cut it back at the 3inch mark???? since that seems to be the healthiest...

Its last leaves fell off...and the tiniest one died a couple days ago:/

Any advice is obviously welcomed....But honestly I would really rather NOT throw it out...So if there's anything I can do...let me know.

they don't usually recover from that kind of die-back

Plants, like people, have a life span. And this plant has reached the end of life. Treat yourself to a new one.

I do not think there is a save for this one but you can always see for yourself. Nothing is lost but a little effort if you try.

As far as watering, most all land plants can deal with too little water better than too much. Too much rots them. Plants usually tell you when they need a drink so you can develop the right watering schedule from those cues.

Sorry but there is nothing left to save here.

Likely a light tug will pull this dying stem right out & you'll see down below it's dead or dying.