Dying plants. What to do next?

Capt. I know this sounds weird but the first time I had a root bound
plant a friend who is a horticulturist told me to aerate the root mass
by pushing a small diameter rod, like a bamboo stake down through
the root mass about 4"out from the stem, do it every 2" around the root
it worked wonders, don't use nutes for awhile the plant hasn't used any
and they have been building in the soil.

Very good to know. Thanks oldman. I'll try doing that when I get home. Much appreciated.

The plant I had that was the worst off I did that to I almost wrote her off,
I perforated the root mass and about 5 days later presto!, dark green and
growing like it was getting paid to. I didn't give her nutes for 31/2 weeks
then only 1/4 strength, she will drink a lot of water when she gets going.
You should see a huge difference in less than a week.
Happy times to the Capt.