Anyone know what this is?

roseanna.hart

Hello - my brother brought this back from Hong Kong as a gift but he’s not doing well - anyone know what he is / what he needs? 
Thanks 

Obelixx

Sorry to be mean but it is illegal to import plants from outside the EU without a license and definitely unsafe to do so without a plant health certificate.  Who knows what pests or pathogens may be lurking in there and what they may do to native plants and garden plants and food crops.

I take it you and your brother have never heard talk of Dutch elm disease, horsechestnut leaf miner, the disease that is ravaging rhodos and other such shrubs or ash tree dieback or the virulent disease  from South America that is wiping out olive groves in southern Europe and heading rapidly north?  Loads more too, all introduced by accident because of inadequate plant hygiene and border controls to protect our precious plant life.

Helix

I agree with Obelixx, this is not a good gift.  I would burn it, or disinfect it thoroughly particularly the soil.  Especially as one of the leaves looks as if it might have insect damage.

It is probably semi tropical and would do well in a hot, moist environment with middling light levels - which UK houses are not.  

roseanna.hart

Thank you for the education I will most definitely take the advice and burn it - I’ll also let my brother know so it never happens again. Any other advice how to safely destroy appreciated 

Obelixx

If you haven't got an open fire wrap it and all its compost up securely in layers of old newspaper and put it in the general rubbish bin.  Wash the container thoroughly and disinfect.