Nothing remarkable going on except for what you said about the upper portion of the soil being dry and the lower being damp. It wasn't sopping or drippy but I did notice that the drainage seemed to be clogged in the lower third of the pot. That is a new development, however, as it wasn't like that last week. Roots seemed tan, and firm although not a very large root system. I was expecting more. No bugs, no signs of past bugs. Just cat hairs
Since the plant is now on life support, I took more drastic measures than I might usually and replaced any loose soil with fresh mix and put it in a fresh nursery pot. I placed the plant in brighter light, per Hoosier's observation, so we'll see how it progresses.
