Hi Judy,

I have had this houseplant for 8 years, which was originally part of an arrangement of several plants given to us after my nephew’s surgery. All the other plants in the arrangement unfortunately expired, and this is the sole remaining plant from it, which I’ve been taking extreme gentle care of through the years. But I’d like to know what it is, and if you have any pointers to help it grow more stems and stay super productive. I’m always concerned once the existing leaves expire that no more will grow back….it’s only ever had 3-5 leaves at most at a time. What kind of soil and fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.   would you recommend…I did transplant it about 2 years ago into the homemade pot I painted for it.
Thank you sincerely for your help!
-Melissa