China Doll Plant
Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
3.8 out of 5 (30 experiences)
Fast grower
Survivor
About China Doll Plant
China Doll Plant is a super popular houseplant šæ that is isnāt challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light āļø and should be less than 1 foot from a window.
Plant parents describe this plant as a fast grower and being a survivor with a whopping 3879 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!š
China Doll Plant likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.
Taxonomy
Radermachera sinica
Radermachera
Bignoniaceae
Lamiales
Also known as
China Doll
How to care for China Doll Plant
How often to water your China Doll Plant
every 9
China Doll Plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnāt get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for China Doll Plant in your home
a window
China Doll Plant love being close to bright, sunny windows š.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
China Doll Plant does not tolerate low-light š«.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of China Doll Plant in your home š”.
How to fertilize China Doll Plant
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil itās likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your China Doll Plant after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.
-
Should keep her under the grow light
-
Hi everyone, my plant looks healthy, bright green, and I don't see any fungus or pests (or anything unusual), but it is losing its leaves. What might be happening? Thanks! #ChinaDollPlant
-
What is going on with my China doll?? š² #ChinaDollPlant My MeiMei has been struggling since I repotted her for sure but I thought she was rebounding. Then today I see these white growths on some of the leaf and stem junctions. When I turned the pot around I saw these white and greenish sprouts(?) at the bottom of her pot? What?!? Sheās probably past help but now Iād like to know what itās is and how to avoid this going forward and is it contagious to my other plants? šŖ“ TIA
-
Hello, some of my leaves are drying up and falling off. Iād appreciate any input, thank you #ChinaDollPlant
-
I recently got this beautiful China Doll and planted it near the west-facing window in coco peat. Any tips to to make this plant flourish? #NewGrowth #ChinaDollPlant #TipsandTricks
-
#brunchataudreys good morning sleepy heads!!! I hope the #HappyPlants family & #GreggersSupportingGreggers family are drinking their tea or coffee or something special for your day!! (I donāt wanna exclude diff time zone peepsš„) Houston! We have a moisture-humidity-too many things a meter! The plant box is around 60% humidity + 69F. My plant shelf is only 65F but 73%. Help! How to heat them but not cook or dry them :(. Puppy is acrobatic and fast asleep this morning (nail appointment this week š¤). Propagated monstera is still gonna give me this leaf.. and NO BROWN TIPS in the spare room?! Im shooook- my philodendron is SO DRAMATIC for wilting in there. And finally.. repot disaster :( no repot drama here. This is a full blown rescue mission. I will be doing a #leca repot today to hopefully save this China Doll plant! š¤©āØš±š„¹š„³ Happy Saturday folks! I wish you all many new leaves & free plant babies! Happy 2025 (leave your #PetsOfGreg #PetsAndPlants or your new #plantbabies below!!š¤©āØš± I love them all alreadyā¤ļøš„¹)
-
Black circles on leaves Hi, Noticing black circles on some of the leaves. Size of circles grows over time. What to do? Thanks in advance.
-
My #ChinaDollPlant has been crunchy so I repotted, now there are tons of new leaves that are much lighter & some darker ones falling off. Wondering if this is bad or just #NewGrowth ? #ChinaDollPlant #BeforeAndAfter #PlantTherapy
-
Omg look at this cutie. Ive had her for a few days but she's made great progress #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #newgrowth #newplantmom #proudplantmommoment
-
Guys can one of you please explain to me why my plant's leaves are drying up? #ChinaDollPlant
Care Summary for China Doll Plant
China Doll Plant
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 1ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Fast grower 18
Survivor 14
Browns easily 8
Large, lush leaves 7
Blooms easily 3
Easy to propagate 2
12/28/2021
have a love hate relationship with my chinadoll because while they grow so fast they can be SO temperamental when it comes to getting the watering and sunlight right on them.
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
Fast grower
11/29/2021
i bought this from an ikea, it was Ā£1 because it was literally on the verge of death with barely any leaves. i repotted it, cut off the leaves and it sprung back!! it is now doing amazingly, i love it <3
Fast grower
Survivor
Easy to propagate
Blooms easily
10/24/2021
I made the mistake of leaving these plants outside over night and boy was that the beginning of the fussiness. Initially all was well ever since that night I have been trying to explain that it was a mistake and I do love them! Ugh once you annoy a China Doll a grudge is to be had and your vying to win approval. That said what Iāve learned but forget often is this plant enjoys a little shower or over watering. Otherwise it will drop leaves and once itās dropped itās a task on your hands. Otherwise a very beautiful and interesting to watch mature plant. Good luck!!
Fast grower
Survivor
Browns easily
10/03/2021
Very picky with placement.
09/04/2021
She was beautiful for a while and kept loosing leaves. I could figure out what worked before she was at a point of no return.
IF I try again I will mimic the environment of the nursery.š„²
Browns easily
08/09/2021
Fussiest plant ever!
Browns easily
07/29/2021
This plant has been super easy for me. It was one of my first plants. It was originally by a south facing window and now a north facing window. Must be rotated occasionally, as it will lean toward the light. Needs well draining soil.
Fast grower
07/28/2021
Sheās new to me so Iāve been a bit apprehensive because all Iāve read about her being so temperamental. But sheās been great. I take her outside all day in indirect light and she has yet to lose a leaf. Fingers crossed š¤
Large, lush leaves
07/09/2021
Very easy to take care of, just requires lots of sun, kind of temperamental when you forget to water(droopy leaves)
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
Survivor
06/28/2021
This is a delicate yet busy plant , lots of tiny leaves. Not sure how to take care of her so she is in a large bay window getting Morning sun.
06/24/2021
Sheās a whore
Browns easily
05/02/2021
Snapped back after I over watered.
Fast grower
Survivor
03/31/2021
This is hands down the most temperamental plant Iāve ever dealt with. You move it less than a foot and it will lose half it leaves, miss watering by just a day- it loses leaves, not on top of fertilizing- loses it leaves. I named it Drama Queen for a reason. It might just be because of the climate (I live in WA), but I would not recommend for plant beginners.
Browns easily
03/10/2021
cutest little guys ever and easy to read
Fast grower
Survivor
Trending in your area
Similar to China Doll Plant
āØ Discover rare plants
Graptopetalum 'Marquiā¦
Picasso's Paintbrush
Betel
Burro's Tail
Eden Climbing Rose
Anthurium Fingers
Kudu Lily
Cleistocactus icosagoā¦
Hoya fitchii
Dinteranthus microspeā¦
Parrot Pitcher Plant
Vatricania guentheri
Hoya 'Millie'
Black Monkey Thorn Trā¦
Crassula 'Calico Kittā¦
Thelocactus macdowellā¦
Stomatium acutifolium
Hoya pottsii 'Khao Yaā¦
Gregās plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. āPlant Database.ā pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. āEncyclopedia of Life.ā eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.