Does your trash or compost pile up a graveyard for dead houseplants? You may even be wondering why you have been cursed with a case of the fearsome aphid! Well, don’t hesitate chances are, you’re doing at least one of the following 15 things to kill the greenery in your home.
15 things you do wrong if your houseplants always die.
1. Ignore instructions.
What’s the best way to avoid a dead houseplant? Read and follow the care instructions, of course! These will tell you everything you need to know about your plant; your needs and preferences in terms of food, water, electricity and more.
Have you read the brochure and are still stumped? Consider whether or not he is doing any of the following.
2. Too much water.
Ask any gardening expert or florist what the number one killer of indoor plants is, and they’ll tell you it’s too much water! With many plant species, there can be a fine line between overwatering and underwatering, which is why it’s so difficult to measure the precise needs of indoor plants.
Overwatering causes death as it cuts off the air supply to the plant’s roots, removes vital nutrients, creates the perfect environment for fungi and mold, and leads to root rot. Common signs of overwatering include wilting or yellowing leaves, soggy soil, a heavy pot, loose bark, and mold on the ground.
Generally speaking, you can avoid excess water by allowing the soil to dry to the touch between watering. You can also insert a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle or test the bottom of the soil through a drainage hole to see how wet it actually is.
3. Under irrigation.
To complicate matters, insufficient watering is just as detrimental to the plant as overwatering.
Plants that don’t get enough water will look droopy or wilted and may have yellow or dry leaves towards the bottom. This occurs because smart plants try to conserve what little water they have for the stem and roots while neglecting the leaves.
You can also see some root sticking through the dry, cracked soil that shows how dry the plants are.
Avoiding under-watering is simple: know each plant’s watering needs, stick to a schedule, test the terrain, and arrange for someone to take care of them when you’re out of town.
4. Not enough root space.
Like children, plants go through periods of accelerated growth. Once they have grown too large for their current container this leads to them becoming ‘canned’. As the roots twist and turn, the health of the plant is compromised.
Signs that a plant has outgrown its current container include:
- Roots sticking out of the bottom of the pot.
- There are more roots than soil when you remove the plant from its container.
- Clumsy, pale plants that have stopped growing.
- Water immediately runs down the bottom without soaking the soil.
- Top heavy plants keep falling.
When gently changing your plant, be sure to loosen and remove as much of the old soil as you can between the main roots. You should also prune damaged roots and carefully try to separate tightly knit roots so that they are encouraged to spread them out in their new pot.
5. Using the wrong soil.
Just as outdoor plants need a specific type of soil, so do indoor plants. Make sure the soil or soil you use is suitable for your houseplant. An indoor potting soil is generally sufficient for most plants, although some, such as orchids and cacti, need special mixes.
6. Providing the wrong light levels.
When it comes to caring for plants, mimicking the natural environment as much as possible is often one of the best ways to ensure plant survival. This is especially true when it comes to light levels.
For example, plants that generally thrive in the desert, like succulents, will be used in full sun and that’s what you need to provide. Ferns tend to grow on the forest floor, so they are used to low light levels.
If the leaves start to curl down, brown around the edges, or the new leaves are smaller than the old ones, then your plant may be getting too much light. Move it away from the window or filter the light through a curtain.
On the other hand, you may need to bring your plant closer to a light source if it is starting to look slender, the stems grow abnormally long, the leaves lack color and are too small in size, or the leaves start to fall off.
7. Exposure to extreme temperatures.
Most home and office grown plants thrive between 60- and 75-degrees F. While outdoor temperatures can rise above 75 ° F (23 ° C) without damaging the plant, this is usually not the case for indoor plants, when air humidity and sunlight are absent. in line with natural outdoor conditions.
Temperatures that are too low damage growth and kill plants, especially when they are also being overfed.
Maintain a moderate temperature throughout the year and your plants will thrive. If you are taking an extended vacation, when the lack of heat or air conditioning can be a problem, consider taking them to a friend’s house.
8. Providing the wrong humidity levels.
Most, but not all, houseplants need humid air to thrive, usually between 50% and 60%, however the humidity level in the average home is often much lower.
Plants require such high levels of humidity because the pores through which they breathe lose most of their moisture when the surrounding air is dry, and they cannot always replace this through the root. In general, the thinner the sheet, the greater the need for moisture. Thick, leathery, waxy, or hairy leaves can survive at lower levels.
If the edges of the leaves are curled and brown, the tips of the new leaves dry out, or the buds brown and fall off, you should turn on the humidifier or try some other way to naturally humidify your home. You can also move the plants into the kitchen or bathroom, or increase the humidity around the plants by placing the pots in a bed of damp gravel.
9. Not using the correct amount of fertilizer.
Plants require three main nutrients to grow and be healthy: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
If your houseplants are not fertilized regularly, you may notice that the lower leaves lose color and fall off, the new leaves are progressively smaller than the old ones, and the stems are stunted. Make sure to regularly use a balanced houseplant meal and you will see their greenery grow.
However, too much fertilizer can also do a lot of damage. An over-fertilized plant may wilt even when watered, the leaves may bleach, or the tips of the leaves may brown. Fast growing plants with lots of foliage but few flowers (if any) may also be getting too much fertilizer.
10. Sunburn.
Also known as leaf scalding, sunburned plants can suffer irreparable damage and will eventually die unless you rescue them.
Leaf scalding is caused by too much direct sunlight on the plant. You will notice that the leaves turn brown at the tips, or they may turn white and fall off. Plants that are moved outdoors on sunny days to get a little extra sunlight, or plants that are suddenly moved from shady to sunny locations inside the home, are particularly susceptible.
To save an already burned plant, move it to a shadier location. Reduce watering if the plant has suffered leaf loss, increasing gradually as new leaves begin to develop (see tips on under and over watering). You should also cut back on fertilizer after leaf loss, increasing as new growth occurs.
11. Neglecting pruning.
Pruning your house plants helps keep them looking healthy and whole while discouraging pests and diseases.
Cut off dead stems or branches as they attract fungi. Similarly, it removes brown or yellow leaves that rot and cause disease and pest infestations that can eventually kill the plant or even spread to other indoor plants.
Another way to groom your plants is to gently wipe their leaves regularly with a damp cloth. This removes dust and helps the leaves get the least light exposure they need to grow. Dusting also kills insects, helps prevent pest problems, and reduces allergens in your home.
12. Frequent relocation.
Plants work hard to adapt to their environment, so every time you move them to another location you stress them as they need to readjust again. If your plant is thriving in a particular area based on temperature, lighting, and humidity levels, moving it can be detrimental to its health. Once you find a place where your plant is happy, try to leave it there.
13. Ignore the pests.
Various insects and other pests feed on indoor plants, which will eventually weaken and kill the plant. Some of the most common and troublesome pests are:
Aphids – suck the sap from the plant and can cause new growth that is stunted and distorted. If you think aphids are attacking your indoor plants, try these natural ways to get rid of aphids.
Spider mites: Almost impossible to see, these mites usually attack new leaves and shoots. Affected plants will lose their green color and appear tanned or washed out.
Mealybugs: similar to white cotton tufts, these insects extract sap from the plant.
Scale insects: oval creatures that resemble small brown limpets. They suck the juices from the plant, slow down growth.
Soil insects: they live in the soil and come out during watering. They are not as harmful, although large populations can cause wilting and poor plant growth.
Thysanoptera: very small, thin, brown insects that drink the juices of the plant and cause the leaf to distort with noticeable scars.
Powdery mildew – a common fungal infection that affects a wide variety of plants. Learn more about how to prevent and treat powdery mildew
While it may be tempting to kill these creatures with a chemical pesticide, they contain ingredients that are detrimental to the health of humans and plants.
Instead, consider using a natural, homemade pesticide, such as insecticidal soap. When it comes to mealybugs and scale insects, touching each one with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol is a sure way to remove them. Also use a few drops of neem oil mixed in water and apply with a spray on the leaves of your affected plant, that is very helpful.
14. Letting your pets mistreat them.
Maybe you’re too hard on yourself when it comes to dead houseplants … your four-legged family members may be to blame!
Dogs and cats alike enjoy chewing on leaves, pulling roots out of potted soil, and if they can do their business in the fresh soil! All of this can seriously compromise plant health. Of course, it can be a two-way street – many plants are toxic to both dogs and cats, so pet owners should be extremely cautious and do their research before bringing a plant into the home.
If your pet has liked one of your non-toxic plants, try placing the plant in an inaccessible place. Since this is more difficult when it comes to cats, a possible remedy is to place a sheet of aluminum foil under your plant that extends six inches on each side. Since cats hate aluminum foil, they will have no choice but to leave your plant alone.
If digging or urinating in the soil of the plant is your main problem with pets, lay aluminum foil on the soil or add loose pebbles or pine cones to the pot.
15. Giving up too soon.
Everyone goes through poor settings, and plants are no exception. Even if they have suffered the negative effects of excess water, have been sunburned or have suffered an aphid attack, give your plant a chance to get out of that problem before relegating it to the landfill.
Plants have an impressive ability to regrow after trauma. By providing a little TLC (and avoiding the common mistakes listed above) you may be able to nurture your houseplant and bring it back to its former glory.
You should also be aware that some plants are seasonally dormant, including poinsettias, amaryllis, and cyclamen. Once you leave them, these plants can suddenly come back to life.
