Are you dreaming of turning your home into a green and luxuriant oasis filled with gorgeous and thriving plants? Or maybe you are just looking for a few plants that give your home that cozy, welcoming feeling.
Do you feel like every time you buy new plants, they just deteriorate quickly and sometimes even die? Well, the good news is that this isn’t inevitable.
With a few easy tips and tricks, you’ll be able to salvage your existing plants, help new ones thrive, and create the indoor sanctuary you’ve always dreamt about. All you need to do is get familiar with the most common indoor plant issues and know how to prevent them from happening!
So, here are three common indoor plant problems, their potential causes, and some easy solutions to prevent or fix them.
The Leaves Are Dropping
Is your plant dropping some of its leaves, and you don’t know why? This is one of the most common indoor plant problems. This is usually an indication that you’ve been overwatering your plant. This is especially true if you notice that the leaves are turning yellow before dropping. Some of the things to consider when watering your houseplants include the following:
Overwatering
Letting the soil dry out before watering your plant again is critical, especially for certain species. For instance, drought-resistant plants such as cacti or succulents need a longer time between watering than other plants such as Alocasia Polly. So, make sure to follow watering instructions when caring for your indoor plants.
Wrong Plant Pot Size
You need to get the pot size just right, if your plant pot is too big, it will contain too much soil and the roots will struggle to soak up all of the water. This means that the roots will retain too much water for too long, causing root rot, yellowing leaves, and leaf drop.
Lighting
You should carefully consider lighting when buying a plant, as lighting is one of the most common reasons indoor plants are not thriving. If you notice that the leaves of your plant are drooping, you should ask yourself whether there is enough light for your plant. For instance, if you only have north-facing windows, buying a hibiscus might not be the best choice as they need plenty of light, and you should instead opt for a peace lily or prayer plant.
Another tip is that if you notice that the leaves are reaching toward a light source and are even bending, that’s a clear sign you need to provide more light to your plant.
Temperature Control
Is the temperature in your property adequate? Some plants are particularly temperature-sensitive, and leaf drops can be due to your plant being too close to a window or door when it’s cold outside. Ensuring that you’re not subjecting your plants to temperature fluctuations or cold temperatures when they thrive in warmer climates is critical to ensuring your indoor plants are healthy.
The Edges Of The Leaves Are Brown
Not only do brown leaf tips mean your plant is suffering, but it’s also unsightly. Here are some of the most common reasons that lead to brown leaf tips.
Heat Stress
If you notice that the tip of your plant’s leaves are turning brown and feel crunchy like a potato chip, the cause might be related to heat stress. It simply means you need to water your plant more regularly.
Overwatering
While brown leaves could mean that you’re not watering your plants often enough, it could also mean you do it too much! That’s because overwatering your plant can lead to root rot which ironically can prevent the plant from absorbing moisture from the roots to the leaves. And as the plant ‘’dehydrate,’’ the leaves start turning brown.
Wrong Humidity Levels
Another cause for brown leaf tips could be linked to humidity issues. Some plants need high humidity levels, and your home might not be a suitable environment for them. For instance, orchids or philodendrons appreciate high humidity. So, if you really want to grow this type of species, you might need to purchase a humidity tray or a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
Too Much Fertilizer
Fertilizers provide your indoor plants with precious micronutrients such as zinc or iron. These are often deficient in indoor plants, and that’s why adding fertilizer every now and then can be beneficial to your indoor plants. However, you should carefully research the amount needed and the frequency at which you should fertilize your indoor plants.
That’s because adding too much fertilizer to a plant can lead to chemical burns causing the leaf tips to turn brown.
Cold Temperatures
Just like with yellowing leaves and leaf drops, cold temperatures can lead to the tip of your plant’s leaves turning brown. Cold can kill some of your plants’ cells. For instance, avoid placing your indoor plants against a window in winter and ensure that you maintain appropriate temperatures around your house.
Your Indoor Plant Is Not Flowering
Have you bought a plant that featured a couple of gorgeous flowers and never saw these flowers ever again after that?
Lighting
The most probable cause is that you’re not providing your plant with adequate lighting. And to fix this, the only solution is to research the amount of light your plant requires and position it in your home to get what it needs.
Wrong Type Of Fertilizer
If you notice that your plant is producing a lot of green foliage but isn’t creating any flowers, you might be using the wrong fertilizer or adding the wrong amount. So, check your fertilizer regimen and ensure you’re using the right type of product to initiate blooms instead of growing foliage.
Pests
Have a close look at your plants, and if you spot any type of insect, try to identify the pest by comparing them to the most common indoor plant pests. Once you know what kind of bug or insect is affecting your beloved plant, you can treat the problem accordingly.
Some of the most common houseplant pests include:
Scales
Mealybugs
Spider mites
Whiteflies
Fungus gnats
These are the three most common indoor plant problems you might be facing as you care for your plants over time. Some other typical household plant issues include sparse growth or lopsided growth and stretching. If you need any help identifying the root cause of your indoor plants suffering, or want to keep updated on helpful tips and tricks like this, subscribe to our site and get articles like this dropped right into your inbox.
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