Small multitrunk diffenbachias- why so difficult?

Tucson, AZ(Zone 9a)

I used to grow diffenbachias with no trouble- they hit the ceiling, I'd cut them off and root them in an aquarium, the planted end would regrow, and so forth. I have two of the little multistemmed ones- well, I finally gave up on one altogether. I have lightened the soil texture and don't let them stay too wet or dry out for too long. i fertilize at least once a month. It doesn't look that great and the leaves are small. The have good light.
What the heck am I missing with these?

Portage, WI(Zone 5a)

Check for spider mites. Are you sure they are getting enough light? Sounds like too much fertilizer to me. Some pix might help. Gene

This message was edited Nov 15, 2014 6:19 PM

Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b)

I killed one of those too. I'm pretty sure I had no mites. I could not see anything I was doing wrong either. I wonder if there's something inherently 'wrong' with those clumps of cuttings rooted together (that is what they are right?)

Tucson, AZ(Zone 9a)

Not too much fertilizer, no bugs. Sally, I don't think they're cuttings rooted together, I had one that was recovering from a funk and it put out a new shoot, so they're supposed to be multistemmed, I'm guessing. They're in a south window (during the winter I pull a sheer drape over the window but it's still a lot of light.
Anybody know how particular they are about water (as in too much or too little)?

Baltimore, MD(Zone 7a)

Less watering is always the best option. Roots need Oxygen too-and if the
soil is always wet, no air can exist in the pot.
"Tapla" will tell you all about it!. Go find him...

More plants are killed from over watering by well-meaning people.
Some Folks just always think that if a plant is not doing well--or showing wilt--
it needs more water or it needs fertilizing. Both are bad choices.

Gita

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