Aucuba japonica

snowyy

Bought one of these last autumn and it wasn’t looking too healthy this spring, thought it was being over watered or under watered due to leaves drooping. Potted on 2 weeks ago from a 3.5” pot to a bigger planter but it’s still not picked up yet, noticed tips are black. This plant had a really good root system and I put some fish bone and blood powder around the roots when potting. Why is it like this and is there anything I can do?

GardenerSuze

I think first of all your pot is too big. I you type in aucuba crotonifolia at the top there will be help on the blackened leaves.  I you are not sure about watering push your finger into to compost if it is dry water if wet leave it. Hope this helps.

Fairygirl

If it's been in a tiny pot until now, it won't have a big root system, and I agree- the pot you have it in now is too big. Better to pot on gradually - something about an inch bigger in diameter would have been better. A 6 inch pot or thereabouts, is an ideal size to go to, from one at 3.5 inches. 
Fine roots are at risk of sitting in wet soil for too long, and they aren't as good at coping with wet soil as the common green forms. I expect that's the reason for the blackening, although new, soft growth can get hit by frost too. 

Shrubs take months and months to get a big enough root system built up, so it's hard for them to support the top growth until then. What you've got is basically a cutting from last year, that's very slowly growing  

snowyy

Thanks for the comments. I’ve reported it into a smaller pot adding gravel and sand to give good drainage. A lot of the roots fell off when lifting up so suspect root rot, I’ve snipped the black roots off leaving only white roots. I’ve included pics of the roots before I shipped and in its new pot. Also another aucuba that I did at the same time that has done far better.

Fairygirl

Very little root system there - it definitely looks like it's been waterlogged.
Sand is always a good thing to add. You need to be sure it isn't building sand. It isn't suitable, as it's what's used to make concrete, and can make things worse. Grit is better for drainage, and just mixed with some decent compost at this stage, although a bit of ordinary soil is also fine. 

GardenerSuze

@snowyy That is exactly what can happen two plants can be grown the same way but one can do better than the other. One of those things. 

snowyy

What type of sand should I be using?

Fairygirl

If you want to use sand, it needs to be gritty stuff - coarse. 
If you have grit, you don't need anything else in with the soil/compost though. 

punkdoc

I find it odd how many people hate this plant. In the right place, in my case a shady, dark woodland, I find it excellent. The shiny leaves reflect any light, which is very useful.

Cambridgerose12

I also love Aucuba, though I prefer the plain green versions (e.g. 'Longifolia'). I think they make a wonderful structure when mature. But too often they're pruned. A garden near me has just planted Aucuba omeiensis so am looking forward to seeing that develop. @snowyy, I hope your transplanted one pulls through.

Astro

I've lost one of these before to root rot ,  this was after I'd planted it in the ground and kept it "well watered". The soil held too much moisture for it and after droopy leaves that blackend it never recovered.